Somewhere in 2022 I heard Mike Green make a statement that hit me hard. He said something along the lines of, "We learned that we have a population that can be ruled by fear."
This selling of fear works both ways. People are buying it! They crave the solution that will "keep them safe."
One of the great tragedies of modern culture is that we don't know how to handle fear so we overreact it to it and end up living in a cage of our own making. I think our world would be a far happier place if we were more concerned with living a great life rather than trying to mitigate every potential threat.
> On February 24th, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. We watched in disbelief as the unthinkable became reality. The world was immediately thrown into another war with the absurd renewed possibility of nuclear escalation.
> The time between the Afghanistan withdrawal and the Ukraine invasion?
> 178 days.
> The interwar period, if it even deserves the name, was a touch under six months.
Yes, the "military industrial complex" used their mind control lasers to make Putin invade Ukraine.
Or, maybe Putin saw the weakness of the US as revealed in the Kabul debacle and decided now was a good time to challenge the West.
Thanks, Z. I actually don't know if it is 4D chess or if it is just local incentives which have built up over time into a machine that has taken on a life of its own. For example, I think it is much more likely that the military machine is made up of lots of ordinary people who are just trying to do their jobs and take care of their families. I don't think there is a kingpin at the top of it all playing 4d chess. It's just gotten too big and needs to be in constant motion or it will die and none of the incentive structures within the machine will allow it to refactor to become smaller and less hungry.
Somewhere in 2022 I heard Mike Green make a statement that hit me hard. He said something along the lines of, "We learned that we have a population that can be ruled by fear."
This selling of fear works both ways. People are buying it! They crave the solution that will "keep them safe."
One of the great tragedies of modern culture is that we don't know how to handle fear so we overreact it to it and end up living in a cage of our own making. I think our world would be a far happier place if we were more concerned with living a great life rather than trying to mitigate every potential threat.
It seems like the best thing individuals can do is choose to "live well" and serve as inspiration for others to follow.
Living well is doing extraordinary things, living fear free, and doing good to others.
1000%
The antidote is courage.
> On February 24th, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. We watched in disbelief as the unthinkable became reality. The world was immediately thrown into another war with the absurd renewed possibility of nuclear escalation.
> The time between the Afghanistan withdrawal and the Ukraine invasion?
> 178 days.
> The interwar period, if it even deserves the name, was a touch under six months.
Yes, the "military industrial complex" used their mind control lasers to make Putin invade Ukraine.
Or, maybe Putin saw the weakness of the US as revealed in the Kabul debacle and decided now was a good time to challenge the West.
I think an inherent part of Ken’s idea is - there is a 4D chess match being played.
It just might not be the obvious incentive of power or the “neocon” agenda.
It may be good old fashion greed.
Or it may be a little bit of both.
Or Putin.
Or not.
Or all?
End of the day - it’s an angle that needs to be tracked.
On the chance he’s right - the next moves in the game can be dangerous- like WWIII type dangerous.
Dumb outcomes for a game played for any or all of the above.
Thanks, Z. I actually don't know if it is 4D chess or if it is just local incentives which have built up over time into a machine that has taken on a life of its own. For example, I think it is much more likely that the military machine is made up of lots of ordinary people who are just trying to do their jobs and take care of their families. I don't think there is a kingpin at the top of it all playing 4d chess. It's just gotten too big and needs to be in constant motion or it will die and none of the incentive structures within the machine will allow it to refactor to become smaller and less hungry.
It could have been anything.
Best article yet Ken. Keep up the great work!
Thank you, Alastair!