War is a source of endless profit.
The reasoning behind this is simple. When bombs and technology are needed, they are produced. There are two sides who need this stuff, so they both buy it. Then they use it to destroy each other’s stuff. More stuff is needed, so more is bought. This continues until war ends, at which point an economic slump usually begins from lack of growth and unemployment.
Anyway, you can imagine why you’d want to be in the business of making weapons. Even if war never actually happens, stockpiles of weapons are needed to compete for dominance even if there were never any intent to use them. Even in peace, you need the bigger stick.
Food is a source of endless profit too. So is the internet, but for different reasons.
The web is an endless frontier where people can create freely. The web will never be full, resources will not be taken up by overhead, and you can reduce competition with greater ease due to low switching cost.
The result of this is that more people will get rich, but on a smaller scale. They will be able to support their families, or maybe even their neighbourhoods. For most, that will be good enough. No rent for businesses means less of their work goes to support those that own the buildings. The new mom and pop stores will retain a sense of agency. They will have more personal time and be happier.
Every day that we work on the web, we are working towards creating something for ourselves– something that leaves us freer, happier, and (in the case of the social web) with a better support network. Every day that we work for a big corporation leaves us more dependent and alienated. That’s why I prefer to build my house here.
There are no bombs. There are no warships. You do as you please, and no one can stop you.
What do you think?
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