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Elon Musk Predicts How the Martian Government Will Operate at SXSW 2018
Inverse ^ | 3/17/18 | Mary von Aue

Posted on 03/17/2018 11:10:36 AM PDT by LibWhacker

Elon Musk has had his sights set on Mars for a while now, but at SXSW last Sunday, he shared his ideas for a government framework on a future Martian colony.

“Most likely, the form of government on Mars would be something of a direct democracy […] where people vote directly on issues instead of going through representative government.

This imagined colony could become a reality much sooner than expected. Musk can already boast the successful launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, which sent a dummy astronaut into space, but he’s already budgeting his plans for a human colony. Last year, Musk revealed his plans to pay for a colony on Mars while speaking at the International Astronautical Congress, so it only makes sense that the next step in planning would focus on governing systems.

Musk compared an early Martian community to a fledgling United States in the late 18th century, one wherein laws would be short and the democratic system would be immediate.

“When the United States was formed, representative government was the only thing that was logistically feasible,” he said. “There was no way for people to communicate instantly. A lot of people didn’t have access to mailboxes, the post office was primitive. A lot of people couldn’t write. So you had to have some form of representative democracy or things just wouldn’t work at all.”

While the future colonies of Mars will probably have more access to education and technology, their beginnings on the planet will be humble. He often compares Martian settlements to the earliest colonies in the Western hemisphere, admitting that “probably people will die.”

All existential threats to Martian-living aside, at least the laws will be simple.

“Everyone votes on every issue and that’s how it goes,” Musk said of the decision making process. He also would prefer to keep laws short. “There’s a few things I’d recommend. Keep laws short. […] Something suspicious is going on if there’s long laws.”


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: elon; government; martian; musk
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Oy!
1 posted on 03/17/2018 11:10:36 AM PDT by LibWhacker
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To: LibWhacker

He’s so open and transparent about his ideas, and about whats percolating through his mind - is this safe?


2 posted on 03/17/2018 11:12:31 AM PDT by GoldenState_Rose
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To: LibWhacker

He obviously skipped history lessons.


3 posted on 03/17/2018 11:13:03 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: LibWhacker

One of the purposes of colonizing Mars, or any other planet, is to establish a new civilization MINUS Christianity. There will be absolutely no Christian influence allowed. The laws will be based on materialistic humanism.


4 posted on 03/17/2018 11:15:11 AM PDT by I want the USA back (Islam is an open-ended declaration of war against non-Muslims. - Henri Boulad)
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To: LibWhacker

Mob rule on one hand versus a bunch of corrupt ‘representatives’ on the other, rock meet hard place.


5 posted on 03/17/2018 11:15:22 AM PDT by Stevenc131
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To: LibWhacker

Were the Martian Government invited to SXSW this year? Wow!


6 posted on 03/17/2018 11:15:48 AM PDT by Menehune56 ("Let them hate so long as they fear" (Oderint Dum Metuant), Lucius Accius (170 BC - 86 BC))
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To: GoldenState_Rose

Keep laws short. […] Something suspicious is going on if there’s long laws.”...

CANT ARGUE WITH HIM THERE!!

I wish more Rs thought that way.


7 posted on 03/17/2018 11:15:51 AM PDT by dp0622 (The Left should know saying Syrian rebels in anost back in Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR!)
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To: Stevenc131
"Mob rule on one hand versus a bunch of corrupt ‘representatives’ on the other, rock meet hard place."

Only one way around it, appoint Elon Musk Emperor of Mars.

8 posted on 03/17/2018 11:19:53 AM PDT by armourenthusiast (Trumperific)
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To: LibWhacker
He forgot to take into account the current ruling class.


9 posted on 03/17/2018 11:20:06 AM PDT by DoodleBob
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To: DoodleBob

Lol.


10 posted on 03/17/2018 11:23:49 AM PDT by laplata (Liberals/Progressives have diseased minds.)
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To: Da Coyote

And medical school. There is no way to even get there safely at the present.


11 posted on 03/17/2018 11:28:43 AM PDT by erlayman (yw)
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To: LibWhacker

tanstaafl


12 posted on 03/17/2018 11:30:53 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: erlayman

And medical school. There is no way to even get there safely at the present.


We are so far away from safe travel to Mars that this is really a form of L Ron Hubbard dreaming, at the moment.

Get back to me when you have a propulsion system that can cut the travel time down to 10-14 days... and when you have an army of robots on the surface that have pre-dug tunnels and pre-built underground living quarters. And when you’ve pre-positioned a few years worth of everything you’ll need in your little dug-out living spaces.

Then it’s realistic.

Right now it’s humorous fantasy. Just don’t tax me for it.


13 posted on 03/17/2018 11:36:45 AM PDT by samtheman (LetÂ’s elect as many Republicans as possible in 2018)
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To: BenLurkin

I grok that.


14 posted on 03/17/2018 11:37:13 AM PDT by Kriggerel ("All great truths are hard and bitter, but lies... are sweeter than wild honey" (Ragnar Redbeard))
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To: LibWhacker

Is Musk more akin to

Bricklin or Deloren ?


15 posted on 03/17/2018 11:38:03 AM PDT by vooch (America First Drain the Swamp)
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To: LibWhacker

Direct democracy - is that where we can’t stand Bob’s BO and so vote to exile him to the outside and we keep the suit since resources are limited ... ?

Musk is an idiot leftist when it come to government. The Mars government will be and do whatever Earth tells it, else no supplies. See?


16 posted on 03/17/2018 11:38:44 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: LibWhacker

Lynch mob mentality; genius!

Let’s vote on who gets hanged!

Hope the gravitational forces there don’t let ropes work!


17 posted on 03/17/2018 11:40:48 AM PDT by CincyRichieRich (There are no more accidents.)
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To: LibWhacker

Another great idea. Our government should send him another $20 billion of taxpayer dollars.


18 posted on 03/17/2018 11:42:38 AM PDT by boycott
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To: LibWhacker

I think the Indigenous Martians will have something to say about it ,LOL


19 posted on 03/17/2018 11:44:50 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: LibWhacker
"...he shared his ideas for a government framework on a future Martian colony."

I'm tired of Musk and his grandiose schemes for re-engineering human society.

Shut up and enjoy your government subsidies, Musk.

20 posted on 03/17/2018 11:48:45 AM PDT by Windflier (Pitchforks and torches ripen on the vine. Left too long, they become black rifles.)
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