"However, I am genuinely curious whether you’ve thought about *why* we have the corrupt systems we do today. " Sure, I have thought quite deeply about it. Probably more than I write here. As to "why" we have these corrupt systems: human beings are corrupt. They have their good angels, but their corrupt angels too. As humans are corrupt, the systems they create (be it government, private sector) will have corruption in them. (As well as good things too).
My perspective is that civilization — in fact, any humans system — is a series of negotiated compromises. Trade offs, if you will. Most definitely, I agree. And I also think, it's a matter of what "bad" tradeoffs a person, or group of people, are willing to put up with, at a certain time - like you said, compromises. I would add another kind of "trading": how do cultures form (good and bad ones)? They are formed primarily through exchange, some kind of trading of information. I also worry you underestimate just how fragile that balancing act is, and how many of the behaviors you decry are in fact rational reactions for avoiding anarchy. - Don't worry:) I don't underestimate the fragility of this balance at all. LIFE is fragile. Therefore, the systems human life creates, and hence the ensuing balancing act, is fragile. Us, sitting in front of our keyboards, spouting our opinions, we most definitely take the fragility of life for granted. I can't say that I too, am above taking things for granted. I would add though, not all human behavior is "rational". There is greed, hatred, prejudice, love, joy, "it feels good", "it feels bad", *self-cherishing/egoistic/natonalistic/religious pride*...all these non-rational elements are "caked" into human society, whether government or non-government. And undoubtedly, at least to some extent, these non-rational feelings and sentiments go into how they feel politically, belief-system-wise, and in the actions they do. So the rational reactions you site is really a combination or rational and non-rational elements, which is what we our-selves, are. Remember that there is a "self", or at least a concept of a self, that is attached to every thought, every opinion, every viewpoint, and hence, every action or decision that emerges from those viewpoints. To your point about reactions/intentions for avoiding anarchy - if you mean avoiding anarchy in terms of government laws and regulations: Sure. Apart from anarchists (which I am not), that's the intention of government: to avoid anarchy. And yes, Ernie, I absolutely respect that intention. But it must be understood, and I have said this several times: *The road to hell is paved with good intentions.* There is a saying that "government creates the very problems it tries to solve." I would expand that to say "*in trying to solve the problem of anarchy, government can create even more problems*." I have a keen understanding of all of this, which is why I hold the views I hold. Our great founding fathers, particularly George Washington, most definitely understood this. Of course that doesn't mean we shouldn't have government - of course we need it. But, limited (and of course, the degree of limitation desired, varies by individual) So, sometimes, when we try to solve one problem, another problem emerges. And so, the series of negotiated compromises you speak of: We can also state, that each of us is part of an interconnected web that is the whole, that is full of interdependencies: *When this happens, that happens*. This, causes that, to happen, good or bad. (And what is "good" or "bad" is really just definitions we in society create). On Thu, Nov 13, 2025 at 8:22 AM Ernest Prabhakar <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Vik, > > I apologize; that came across snarkier than I attended. I don’t think you > are an anarchist. > > However, I am genuinely curious whether you’ve thought about *why* we have > the corrupt systems we do today. > > My perspective is that civilization — in fact, any humans system — is a > series of negotiated compromises. Trade offs, if you will. > > I also worry you underestimate just how fragile that balancing act is, and > how many of the behaviors you decry are in fact rational reactions for > avoiding anarchy. > > Happy to discuss specifics if that is too vague. > > Love, > Ernie > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Nov 13, 2025, at 05:12, Beaches & Nature fan <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > I hope we are not taking my words to extremes (as people often do, which > is unfortunate). > > I never support anarchism, and reject anarchism as a way of life or > society. > > I do absolutely believe heavily in marketism/customerism forces being the > solution of a lot of things, more than "typical" Democrats or Republicans. > > But that said, marketism/customerism cannot be the solution to > **everything**. Again I ask that you all refrain from taking my words to > extremes - this is the kind of climate we live in today and that's > unfortunate. > > Unlike anarchists, I am keenly aware that there are certainly some things > the government does better (I outlined earlier what I believe should be in > government, and privatize the rest). > > > > On Thu, Nov 13, 2025 at 2:08 AM Ernest Prabhakar < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Dear Vik, >> >> > >> >> >>> So, would you agree with me that the nation state (as our fundamental >>> unit of political organization) is reaching its expiration date? >> >> >> > In terms of the "large" amount of government we have today, absolutely, >> yes. >> >> >> Any thoughts on what would replace it? Anarchy always sounds fun, until >> the bullies move in. >> >> That’s how we end up with empires, and the tangled web of social >> obligations and corruption that keep them alive… >> >> E >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On Nov 12, 2025, at 20:57, Beaches & Nature fan <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> >> In terms of the "large" amount of government we have today, absolutely, >> yes. >> >> On Wed, Nov 12, 2025 at 7:50 AM Ernest Prabhakar < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Hi Vik, >>> >>> > well if we want to reduce corruption, reduce society as a whole >>> >>> So, would you agree with me that the nation state (as our fundamental >>> unit of political organization) is reaching its expiration date? >>> >>> Love, >>> Ernie >>> >>> -- >>> -- >>> Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community < >>> [email protected]> >>> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism >>> Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org >>> >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/RadicalCentrism/EDAF7DEE-CEA8-412B-AC4D-976CC71E209B%40gmail.com >>> . >>> >> -- >> -- >> Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community < >> [email protected]> >> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism >> Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org >> >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/RadicalCentrism/CAK2f142j_v%2B2xizhqiZAo_smL0ORs%2BoKZdG4dH0ww%3DvKHxPcOg%40mail.gmail.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/RadicalCentrism/CAK2f142j_v%2B2xizhqiZAo_smL0ORs%2BoKZdG4dH0ww%3DvKHxPcOg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> -- >> -- >> Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community < >> [email protected]> >> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism >> Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org >> >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/RadicalCentrism/5D13006A-23E4-4A39-A2CF-2F988BA1096F%40gmail.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/RadicalCentrism/5D13006A-23E4-4A39-A2CF-2F988BA1096F%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- > -- > Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community < > [email protected]> > Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism > Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org > > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/RadicalCentrism/CAK2f1431vYueBJRb6aSJ4V3vifvRUFLS8NvoydcEKd4pj12i%3DQ%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/RadicalCentrism/CAK2f1431vYueBJRb6aSJ4V3vifvRUFLS8NvoydcEKd4pj12i%3DQ%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > -- > -- > Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community < > [email protected]> > Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism > Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org > > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/RadicalCentrism/0ED1DDE2-E006-4125-95E8-457C800E1DCA%40gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/RadicalCentrism/0ED1DDE2-E006-4125-95E8-457C800E1DCA%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. 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