[FRIAM] The solution to Trump-Biden polarization may be easier (and cheaper) than we think

[Marcus Daniels]

I can see several ways to look at this:

1) Having mostly separated (e.g. spatially) social groups could, at least in principle, lead to stable self-governance that is specialized to their local circumstances, and better samples the space of the possible ways of organizing groups.  (Alternatively it could just waste resources with lots of redundancy.)

2) Having limited connectivity of communication network could lead to more trust.   If one pitches to a local leader (or a boss) and that information is sufficiently reflected in action by that local leader, then there is some reason to have confidence in the value of engagement.   On the other hand, if it is 100,000 to 1 mapping and the local leader is flooded, then there won't be much evidence of productive engagement.   Same with twitter, one voice among millions probably won't make a dent.

3) A distributed, emergent control system is beside the point and it has nothing to do with spatial distribution or sparsity.   The limitation is in the ability or opportunity of agents to ingest information and to develop a unique value system and set of goals.    If this appetite is missing, then things like QAnon and Trump pop up to fill the hole, exploiting a capable communication network to reach a large audience that is prone to being led by a confident liar. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Friam <friam-bounces at redfish.com> On Behalf Of Steve Smith
Sent: Saturday, November 7, 2020 11:03 AM
To: friam at redfish.com
Subject: Re: [FRIAM] The solution to Trump-Biden polarization may be easier (and cheaper) than we think

Barry (nod to Tom J) -

I very much agree that the demise (severe constriction?) of "long form journalism" is significantly a problem for the larger discourse on the many problems we face.  I'm not sure if the *readership* will support a return to this.   I myself am guilty of "grazing" on hypermedia sound/video/text-bites rather than taking the time and energy to prepare and sit down to a proper 7 course meal.   Despite having a fairly educated and well read peer group (here and elsewhere) I find that my friends and colleagues to be as guilty as I of the same.   I *do* want to believe that as the nation's cortisol levels drop (at least those who remove themselves from the Facebook/Twitter-sphere).

I am just now listening to the newsfeeds applaud Biden's significant
(popular) but still squeek-by (electoral college) win and the Senate remaining Republican controlled.   I went to bed late Tuesday night and woke early Wednesday with a feeling of trepidation that Trump & Co had pulled off the same thing they did in 2016, but by Wednesday evening I began holding my breath in hopeful anticipation.   Today I finally exhaled as the Presidential Electoral map turned blue (enough) today (or more to the point, the major news networks, including Fox, declared a win to Biden).

Marcus' point about "local optimization according to local information"
is relevant to the line of discussion SteveG has been promoting... fundamentally "trusting in the collective, emergent, complex-adaptive-system".    Of course, this begs "what means local?" in a highly connected world.   I personally feel that my ability to be a "good citizen of the world" is improved by having dozens of friends/colleagues around the world who I can tap directly for information when something comes up that they are much more likely to know directly about than I could (or any major media outlet).   I have other friends/colleagues who have even more meaningful connections (via global communications) than I do, so even if I can't get first-order information, I can get *second order*.   I don't follow social media (esp. Twitter and Facebook) which feels to me to facilitate the *worst* of the negative feedback loops because they seem to undermine *personal* investment/responsibility in the messaging they carry.

- Steve

> This applies to our zoom discussion on Friday.
>
> —Barry
>
> https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/solution-trump-biden-polarization-may-be
> -easier-cheaper-we-think-n1246573
>
>
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