Re: Fear of Letting People Get Things They Want

From: Adrian Tymes (wingcat@pacbell.net)
Date: Mon Sep 25 2000 - 21:36:31 MDT


"Peter C. McCluskey" wrote:
> As the size of the benefit gets up into the trillions of dollars, the
> effects start to resemble making one person a world dictator. It is
> this kind of consideration that would probably cause me to oppose a
> "benefit" of this sort that exceeded something like $100 billion.
> I will be reluctant to believe people who are claiming they would
> support giving someone $100 trillion until they explain why they
> aren't deterred by the maxim "power corrupts".

Do I get advanced (relative to most of the world) warning as to who this
individual will be? If so, then I can get a head start on corrupting
the recipient towards my views, like so:

* Cyber, nano, AI, etc. mean more power for those who master them

* Easiest way to get this is to fund its development for everyone
  * You still get a big head start; others can catch up, but by then
    you're doing something which might win you everything forever (this
    is probably a minor lie)

* I can make this stuff for whoever funds me

And just as the recipient is pondering this, the money arrives...

Who says you can't use evil in the service of good? ^_^



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