“The instability of non-fair systems” …

HelgaLombardi

by HelgaLombardi

Story
Lagos – Algarve – Portugal 2024

A quote from a keynote speech by Edward Snowden, mentioned in a video transmission at a ‘Bitcoin’ conference which took place in Nashville (USA) in July this year. Half an hour of profound facts and insights. On topics such as blockchain technology, artificial intelligence and cyber security. Snowden argues that the ultra-rapid advances in the field of AI have the potential to jeopardise cyber security and therefore also the anonymity of blockchain transactions. It is also about the collection of so-called metadata = as an extremely lucrative business model for a few global players. As we know from the international media = the keynote speaker (E. Snowden) has the necessary professional background and insider knowledge 😉 …

Watching the video caused another ‘bingo’ moment when I realised that there was enough “food” for another essay on StoryOne. Snowden started with a comprehensive diagnosis of the situation, followed by the explanation of a possible therapy = a solution to the problem. At the centre of the latter was a closer look at the concepts of ‘competition versus cooperation’. A topic that has been on my mind for what feels like ages. For example, in the final written assignment for my A-levels in English, the task was to write an essay on this topic: ‘Competition or Cooperation’. I was completely in my element because I had read a lot about this question at the time. And my conviction was and still is: it’s far better to build bridges than walls.

Back to Snowden and other thoughts from his lecture: Non-fair systems are causing dissatisfaction. And that is why it is difficult to keep them stable in the long term. Difficult means that the system operator has to take regular measures to ensure a reasonable balance. Measures usually mean investments at the expense of time, money, even credibility. We are living in a social and economic system based on competition. Quote: ‘Institutions compete with individuals. While the individual in turn competes with other individuals.’ (= e.g. for attention or acceptance)

The suggested solution favours a system in which collaboration = cooperation takes centre stage. This concept has already been explored by economics. In this context the ideas of the so-called mesoeconomics are worth mentioning. They tend to focus on smaller, manageable structures that facilitate coordinated cooperation between individual market participants. Agricultural co-operatives are one example. The concept of ‘buy local’ (shopping at the local weekly market) points to the same direction. In other words: less globalisation and less world-wide supply chains. Which can – as we recently have learnt – lead to far-reaching supply bottlenecks in times of international crisis.

Overall, I am convinced that the time has come to focus on new thoughts and ideas = in the sense of prioritising the concept of cooperation over the concept of competition. It all begins with a first step = Let’s go for it 😉 …

© HelgaLombardi 2024-12-28

Genres
Humor & Satire
Moods
Herausfordernd, Informativ, Reflektierend