Deus Ex Writer Discusses 'Dangerous Technology'

Dan Weaver writes "One of the writers for the exceptionally good action RPG Deus Ex has authored a rather thought-provoking Salon article on the Bill-Joy theme of dangers posed by emergent technologies and the difficulties that police states (both pleasant and not-so-pleasant) encounter in dealing with them. In the light of revelations about China's tardiness and confusion in addressing the SARS epidemic, this article is particularly timely."

Comments

Re:Trends, Big Brother, etc.

[luzrek]

I think that the law preventing hte criticism of the president in print during Washington's presidency was actually part of the power struggle between Adams and Jefferson (Jefferson owned a newspaper).

I would also like to point out that the United States is the oldest Constitutional Democracy bar none. I think that one of the major stabilizing factors of the US governement and our democracy is our pride in our constitution. Our soldiers and polititicians swear to uphold the constitution first and foremost. This means that fundamental changes to our government are increadibly slow and that ussually makes them well thought out (ok, that prohibition thing, but we repealed that, hence all the bars named "21rst amendment"). Stupid and unconstitutional laws may be passed by our congress and signed by our president, but they ussually don't last very long because of our supreme court. We are afterall a nation of laws, not men.

Unlike our secretary of deffence, I think that France and Germany are young countries. Both are (2003 - 1945) 58 years old, about a quarter of the United State's age. Russia is younger than I am, and China is less than 100. Culturally, of course they are all much much older, but that just means they are even worse at government. You don't take marriage advice from someone on their fifth marriage. You take it from someone who is still on their first years later.