Decentralization technology

I think a major problem with modern society is that it is dependent on large scale industrial processes. This has various problems. It would be good if a separate society had some kind of resource independence, in the form of new technologies coming on stream such as 3D printing, fuel cells and so on. One reason is to be less dependent on corrupt systems. The other is to re-connect decent behavior with day to day economic success. If people are small cogs in a huge machine, their personal qualities and how they interact with others will not have much discernable impact on what the machine spits out. This encourages them to become useless assholes over time. Localized production, where men and groups of men could directly affect outcomes through their own merits, would encourage a harmonious society, women to respect them etc. Perhaps looking into such technology should be integrated into the co-alpha concept.

A friend of mine went to a very large 3d printing convention. He said at this point it's basically a novelty technology. It takes several hours to produce 1 molding and the quality is usually sub par.

3D printers won't be household items even in 20 years.

Cornfed wrote

If people are small cogs in a huge machine, their personal qualities and how they interact with others will not have much discernable impact on what the machine spits out. This encourages them to become useless assholes over time.

Spot-on.

I wonder whether a centralized distribution system isn't the whole problem. Like Marx said, people's moral outlook tends to follow their economic interests. If there is no real value in cooperating within your community and instead you get resources by being an asshole and gaming the system, then people are going to internalize that over time.

I think the core problem is employment, not mass production or distribution.  I don't see a problem with gaming the global system as long as one cooperates inside their community, and global markets make this distinction possible.  Basically just cooperate with members of your community in business and sell to the global marker.

The system of the Middle Ages with an aristocracy and serfs produced pretty much the same mentality we see today in the corporate elite and employees, so I don't think this is a new problem.  I don't know what ended serfdom, but this may be something to look at when thinking about what to do about employment.

There are areas where men can avoid being wage-slaves, and CoAlphas should select those areas.  Examples include lawyer, accountant, doctor, programmer, and farmer.  Also, any group that gets big enough can organize its own businesses which solves the employment problem.  On the practical side, anyone here who wants to escape employment can discuss their situation and ask for advice.