tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8519949.post109644258621103560..comments2023-05-18T11:56:25.829-04:00Comments on Info Theory: Transnational LiberalismUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8519949.post-1099260358820097992004-10-31T17:05:00.000-05:002004-10-31T17:05:00.000-05:00I would say that economic reform and democracy do ...I would say that economic reform and democracy do go hand in hand. There is no reason why in different instances one may not precede the other. Also, I don't see that one can make such a blanket statement as Fukuyama in reference to Islamic cultures and democracy. Considering the example only of the ME, it is entirely possible that the anti-democratic tendencies are an artifact of history. Tribal cultures must go a very long ways to develop into modern nation-states.<br /><br />However, I do agree that there is an anti-democratic stability point that will eventually require some outside influence to correct. The problem is a result of the proliferation of modern weaponry -- an inseparable problem to other technology transfer. We simply have to face now what we have for so long avoided and may have encouraged in certain aspects esp. due to Cold War politics.<br /><br />Hopefully, it is like breaking a logjam. Obviously however, there are more logs that need to be broken. I’m thinking of a pair in particular.<br /><br /><br />However, I do agree that there is a anti-democratic stability point that will eventually require some outside influence to correct. The problem is a result of the proliferation of modern weoponry -- an inseparable problem to other technology transfer. We are simply having to face now what we have for so long avoided.Paul Deignanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13289929635311440324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8519949.post-1099245625669851982004-10-31T13:00:00.000-05:002004-10-31T13:00:00.000-05:00On the matter of the prediction of the evolution o...On the matter of the prediction of the evolution of relationships with static economic disparity:<br /><br />I disagree with Keenan's take on the situation. China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan are counter examples to his argument. Free trade allows for increasing wealth and accommodates the reduction in the disparity. We are all wealthier in real terms today based on our trade. Furthermore, democracy has enhanced and facilitated this development (note that China lagged the other countries in economic development -- we can even consider the North Korean example).<br /><br />Democracy made the system stable (unlike the ME where wealth and free trade sans democracy resulted in perpetual instability). Democracy was a catalyst to economic development (North-South Korea; Taiwan-China). <br /><br />This is an example of sequential thinking on Keenan's part -- the system is actually a multi-dimensional dynamic manifold ala Nash.Paul Deignanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13289929635311440324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8519949.post-1099245029824946622004-10-31T12:50:00.000-05:002004-10-31T12:50:00.000-05:00Bob, this is a good example you raised in regard t...Bob, this is a good example you raised in regard to the introduction of IM to the healthcare accounting system. If you were to track the corruption measured by unaccounted funds over the period since the introduction of the systems (and normalize by health care volumetric present value dollars), I think you will find that itresponds as something like a minimal phase system hit with an impulse. That is to say that the initial shock of the new technology at first opens up more possibilities to exploit the system, but then stabilizes at a point where there is less corruption than before after the technology is adapted to the action-reaction pairs.<br /><br />Long linkages in the action-reaction pairs allow more "whiplash" in the response. So in general, it seems to me that we need to empower the consumer with information directly of value in assessing his decisions while also providing the consumer enough control authority to put that information to good use.<br /><br />The internet/blog proliferation is a good example also. See, you are here because this content and tone of discussion has some value. You found this site through an adaptation in your web browsing based on the information presented at another site. In the future, as technology permits, this search might be parameterized and accomplished through a smart aggregator. We do have sufficient technology for this; it will just be a matter of evolution now. Think, not that long ago, we did not even have Google.Paul Deignanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13289929635311440324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8519949.post-1099231735773972132004-10-31T09:08:00.000-05:002004-10-31T09:08:00.000-05:00There is a case to be made that a health care safe...There is a case to be made that a health care safety net is an exterior good as well as a method of wealth redistribution. There are more than one way of looking at the problem.<br /><br />For example, it makes sense to incorporate a perscription drug benefit in Medicaid/Medicare -- it is simply a smarter way of administering healthcare. At the same time, others can look at it as nothing much more than an added subsidy. This is not an either or proposition. The true nature of the beast is best described in the manner that the benefit is structured.<br /><br />The key always in minimizing the potential for corruption is the alignment of information flows with action-reaction pairs i.e. to form tighter feedback loops and controller authority to a system. When these mechanisms are lacking in the design, it is usually not by complete ignorance alone. This is one way of distinguishing the intent of an exchange where the interpretation may be ambiguous.Paul Deignanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13289929635311440324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8519949.post-1099181044596952052004-10-30T19:04:00.000-05:002004-10-30T19:04:00.000-05:00Bob,
Thanks for the comment.
I should clarify th...Bob,<br /><br />Thanks for the comment.<br /><br />I should clarify that TNLs do not exist outside of the game-theoretic framework here. That is to say that this is a working model that recognizes the existence of a group, loosely identifies that group by its behavior, and offers some intuition into how our system devolved into one where an interior solution has become a point of political stability.<br /><br />Not all Democrats or Western Europeans are TNLs nor do these actors always act in a way consistent with the TNL model. This is simply a dame-theoretic method of understanding the method behind the apparent madness.<br /><br />For example, while the Democratic Party in the US today is a coalition that supports health care for the indigent, children, handicapped, et al., this is not necessarily anything more than a tactical coalition building strategy. However, note that it is not an exterior good either but rather a matter of wealth redistribution (noble, but nonetheless a net zero gain at best to the degree that this can be measured today). Note also that these policies do seem to be gaining acceptance in the Republican Party as pushed by the neocons -- these are the old guard liberals that have migrated to the opposing party.Paul Deignanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13289929635311440324noreply@blogger.com