It’s exactly what it says, but people living under any superpower’s sphere of cultural influence (Western, Eastern, or otherwise) are clearly prone to see their government’s actions as good and non-authoritarian.
It kind of is, but that doesn’t make it bad? Like, traffic has a massive scale, and controlling it means controlling at least that aspect of society and all of the downstream societal effects. That’s… good? The state should be controlling some aspects of society on a massive scale, because the state’s scale is massive.
I’d see this sort of use as more facilitating efficient operation of traffic, but I agree some measure of control by the state is also necessary, and is not inherently a negative thing.
Right, but efficient operation of traffic has downstream effects on all of society. One idea I’ve had is if monitoring traffic allowed for the state to mandate that every work place had their quitting times staggered out, so, factory A closes at 5:25 and factory B closes at 5:35 and factory C closes at 5:45 etc etc. That way, there don’t need to be traffic jams, because society is organized in a rational way according to everyone’s needs.
yeah that’s not what the article actually says, but I can see how westerners living under oppressive regimes might start projecting
It’s exactly what it says, but people living under any superpower’s sphere of cultural influence (Western, Eastern, or otherwise) are clearly prone to see their government’s actions as good and non-authoritarian.
managing traffic and rail systems isn’t social control on a massive scale lmfao
It kind of is, but that doesn’t make it bad? Like, traffic has a massive scale, and controlling it means controlling at least that aspect of society and all of the downstream societal effects. That’s… good? The state should be controlling some aspects of society on a massive scale, because the state’s scale is massive.
I’d see this sort of use as more facilitating efficient operation of traffic, but I agree some measure of control by the state is also necessary, and is not inherently a negative thing.
Right, but efficient operation of traffic has downstream effects on all of society. One idea I’ve had is if monitoring traffic allowed for the state to mandate that every work place had their quitting times staggered out, so, factory A closes at 5:25 and factory B closes at 5:35 and factory C closes at 5:45 etc etc. That way, there don’t need to be traffic jams, because society is organized in a rational way according to everyone’s needs.
Social control on a massive scale (good)
Yeah excellent point.