I have a stupid question. What is the difference between decentralization and the classical free market economics of Adam Smith? Decentralization is always hailed as our savior, but I’m having trouble pinning down exactly what it is.
Nah, this is a good question! Basically when I talk about decentralisation I'm referring to the simplification of complex sociopolitical systems which tend to concentrate power into a few hands and institutions into ones where this power is more distributed and often times independent of each other.
E.g. USGov has steadily been centralizing power away from states and localities and into federal hands (has been going on since the 1820s). States used to have their own banks, their own effective armies, were the primary tax collectors, has effective sovereignty over their own territories, etc. Now pretty much all that has changed, which is centralization. Decentralisation involves that power flowing back to the "subunits."
Historically, centralisation in most empires involved conquest and subsumption of conquered areas as provinces. When times of collapse came, the provinces often tried to or did break away, etc. In some cases they just obtained more autonomy but not full political liberty, which still meant decentralisation of some power back to them.
Thanks! That's what I thought. These days, when most people talk about decentralization they really mean crypto or some other Web 3.0 architecture. That feels limited, since those are just tiny pieces of the larger decentralization philosophy. I didn't think that was what you meant, but I wanted to confirm. Language is a pain sometimes.
In essence, decentralization is a rejection of top down decision making in favor of bottom up decision making. Technology may or may not play a role. That's why Adam Smith came to mind.
Yes, though I'd also add that decentralisation - as a phenomenon that takes place during the collapse phase of DST secular cycles - is something that isn't necessarily "planned" (but plans can take advantage of it), but happens as an empire starts to lose control of itself.
Yes, my career is busy with some time-consuming contracts at the moment, and I was planning to return around end of January, beginning of February when they expire.
But if there's a general amnesty, I would immediately return with some threads and Substacks, but try to poast at a much slower rate, since my real life is busier than normal at the moment.
But yes I miss you and my other brothers very much, and definitely plan to return.
I have a stupid question. What is the difference between decentralization and the classical free market economics of Adam Smith? Decentralization is always hailed as our savior, but I’m having trouble pinning down exactly what it is.
Nah, this is a good question! Basically when I talk about decentralisation I'm referring to the simplification of complex sociopolitical systems which tend to concentrate power into a few hands and institutions into ones where this power is more distributed and often times independent of each other.
E.g. USGov has steadily been centralizing power away from states and localities and into federal hands (has been going on since the 1820s). States used to have their own banks, their own effective armies, were the primary tax collectors, has effective sovereignty over their own territories, etc. Now pretty much all that has changed, which is centralization. Decentralisation involves that power flowing back to the "subunits."
Historically, centralisation in most empires involved conquest and subsumption of conquered areas as provinces. When times of collapse came, the provinces often tried to or did break away, etc. In some cases they just obtained more autonomy but not full political liberty, which still meant decentralisation of some power back to them.
Thanks! That's what I thought. These days, when most people talk about decentralization they really mean crypto or some other Web 3.0 architecture. That feels limited, since those are just tiny pieces of the larger decentralization philosophy. I didn't think that was what you meant, but I wanted to confirm. Language is a pain sometimes.
In essence, decentralization is a rejection of top down decision making in favor of bottom up decision making. Technology may or may not play a role. That's why Adam Smith came to mind.
Yes, though I'd also add that decentralisation - as a phenomenon that takes place during the collapse phase of DST secular cycles - is something that isn't necessarily "planned" (but plans can take advantage of it), but happens as an empire starts to lose control of itself.
Always you provide very intelligent breakdowns of history.
Thanks!
Hey, you ever coming back to Twitter? I hear the new management is considering a general amnesty...
Yes, my career is busy with some time-consuming contracts at the moment, and I was planning to return around end of January, beginning of February when they expire.
But if there's a general amnesty, I would immediately return with some threads and Substacks, but try to poast at a much slower rate, since my real life is busier than normal at the moment.
But yes I miss you and my other brothers very much, and definitely plan to return.
Awesome!
Thank you... appreciate your insight