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#1
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Shooting Target ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,653 Joined: 22-January 08 Member No.: 15,430 ![]() |
Here's an article that caught my imagination: http://www.newsweek.com/id/231116
It's not so much about the news itself, but about the headline: Clash of the Titans: How the Democratic Republic of Google is testing China's appetite for democracy itself. Think about it. Google is being called a titan, a "democratic republic" on an equal footing with China. I'm not sure if it is on an equal footing (though a public corporation is sort of like a democratic republic, insofar as anyone with money can buy votes in the corporation. Not that shareholder votes tend to matter, but that's off topic) but we're inching towards Shadowrun now that people are beginning to use this kind of language about corporations... What tickles me the most is thinking about Google's corporate soldiers. Can't you just picture some tough military guys all decked out in guns and body armor, with a rainbow "Google" logo patched on their shoulder? Maybe they'll have a Die for Google Commando Corps, who will have a red, yellow, blue, and green logo like the Chrome logo, only with a skull instead of a sphere thingy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) |
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#2
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Great Dragon ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 6,748 Joined: 5-July 02 Member No.: 2,935 ![]() |
I still prefer citizenship with Mr. Lee's Greater Hong Kong.
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#3
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Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 557 Joined: 26-July 09 From: Kent, WA Member No.: 17,426 ![]() |
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#4
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Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 144 Joined: 27-November 09 From: Los Angeles, PCC Member No.: 17,905 ![]() |
Here's an article that caught my imagination: http://www.newsweek.com/id/231116 It's not so much about the news itself, but about the headline: Clash of the Titans: How the Democratic Republic of Google is testing China's appetite for democracy itself. Think about it. Google is being called a titan, a "democratic republic" on an equal footing with China. I'm not sure if it is on an equal footing (though a public corporation is sort of like a democratic republic, insofar as anyone with money can buy votes in the corporation. Not that shareholder votes tend to matter, but that's off topic) but we're inching towards Shadowrun now that people are beginning to use this kind of language about corporations... What tickles me the most is thinking about Google's corporate soldiers. Can't you just picture some tough military guys all decked out in guns and body armor, with a rainbow "Google" logo patched on their shoulder? Maybe they'll have a Die for Google Commando Corps, who will have a red, yellow, blue, and green logo like the Chrome logo, only with a skull instead of a sphere thingy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I've always wondered if a government like the Pueblo Corporate Council could actually work in real life. |
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#5
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Neophyte Runner ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 2,336 Joined: 24-February 08 From: Albuquerque, New Mexico Member No.: 15,706 ![]() |
On the subject of Google, I present to you The Church of Google.
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#6
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Running Target ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,424 Joined: 7-December 09 From: Freedonia Member No.: 17,952 ![]() |
ALL HAIL THE GLORIOUS... Google? reminds me of Deus. If Google starts doing anything for DoD its time to get ready for the Terminators.
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#7
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Street Doc ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Admin Posts: 3,508 Joined: 2-March 04 From: Neverwhere Member No.: 6,114 ![]() |
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#8
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Shooting Target ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,532 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Calgary, Canada Member No.: 769 ![]() |
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#9
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Great Dragon ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 5,542 Joined: 30-September 08 From: D/FW Megaplex Member No.: 16,387 ![]() |
Here's an article that caught my imagination: http://www.newsweek.com/id/231116 It's not so much about the news itself, but about the headline: Clash of the Titans: How the Democratic Republic of Google is testing China's appetite for democracy itself. Think about it. Google is being called a titan, a "democratic republic" on an equal footing with China. I'm not sure if it is on an equal footing (though a public corporation is sort of like a democratic republic, insofar as anyone with money can buy votes in the corporation. Not that shareholder votes tend to matter, but that's off topic) but we're inching towards Shadowrun now that people are beginning to use this kind of language about corporations... What tickles me the most is thinking about Google's corporate soldiers. Can't you just picture some tough military guys all decked out in guns and body armor, with a rainbow "Google" logo patched on their shoulder? Maybe they'll have a Die for Google Commando Corps, who will have a red, yellow, blue, and green logo like the Chrome logo, only with a skull instead of a sphere thingy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) First off, a Democracy and a Republic are two completely incompatable forms of government. Democracy = people say what's right and wrong, and Republic = we have an external set of laws that determine what's right and wrong. In America's case, we are a Constitutional Republic - our Constitution determines what is right and wrong, not the people. Second off, have you seen Mary Kay's corporate security? My search-fu has failed online, but they look exactly like police officers, with two differences: The city patch on their uniform is a Mary Kay logo, and their shield says Mary Kay on it. Otherwise, they look, act, and feel exactly like police officers. |
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#10
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Running Target ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,002 Joined: 22-April 06 From: Canada Member No.: 8,494 ![]() |
I've always wondered if a government like the Pueblo Corporate Council could actually work in real life. This is laid out in detail in the NAN books (an old book that is out of print but still a worth while read). It is further expanded in Shadows of North America. The basic premise if the country is, you buy stock in the government so you have a say in the country (and citizenship). The more stock you own, the more say you have. Shareholders (ie citizens) choose the president (the the majority shareholders having the greatest amount of say). Certain citizens (former Ute Citizens, and LA Citizens) where given provisional stocks (ie they get the benefits of citizen ships but can't vote), though they can buy stock in the PCC if they wish (like anyone else). This move was done so that A. half the PCC citizenship weren't SINless, and B. that the original PCC citizens didn't lose control over their country (as most Ute citizens are not likely to buy stocks in the PCC unless they are truly politically active). All PCC citizens need to own land in the PCC to buy stock in the PCC (this prevents external influences from buying out the PCC government). |
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#11
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Mystery Archaeologist ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 2,906 Joined: 19-September 05 From: The apple tree Member No.: 7,760 ![]() |
This is laid out in detail in the NAN books (an old book that is out of print but still a worth while read). It is further expanded in Shadows of North America. The basic premise if the country is, you buy stock in the government so you have a say in the country (and citizenship). The more stock you own, the more say you have. Shareholders (ie citizens) choose the president (the the majority shareholders having the greatest amount of say). Certain citizens (former Ute Citizens, and LA Citizens) where given provisional stocks (ie they get the benefits of citizen ships but can't vote), though they can buy stock in the PCC if they wish (like anyone else). This move was done so that A. half the PCC citizenship weren't SINless, and B. that the original PCC citizens didn't lose control over their country (as most Ute citizens are not likely to buy stocks in the PCC unless they are truly politically active). All PCC citizens need to own land in the PCC to buy stock in the PCC (this prevents external influences from buying out the PCC government). Also buying multiple shares is done on a logarithmic scale rather than a linear scale. So 1 share cost 1000 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) , 2 costs 10000 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) , 3 costs 100000 and so on. This prevents the rich being able to swing any votes they want. |
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#12
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Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 695 Joined: 2-January 07 From: He has here a minute ago... Member No.: 10,514 ![]() |
Also buying multiple shares is done on a logarithmic scale rather than a linear scale. So 1 share cost 1000 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) , 2 costs 10000 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) , 3 costs 100000 and so on. This prevents the rich being able to swing any votes they want. So what's the average number of shares? Is that info in the NAN guide or Shadows of NA? |
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#13
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Running Target ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,002 Joined: 22-April 06 From: Canada Member No.: 8,494 ![]() |
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#14
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Great Dragon ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 7,089 Joined: 4-October 05 Member No.: 7,813 ![]() |
Second off, have you seen Mary Kay's corporate security? My search-fu has failed online, but they look exactly like police officers, with two differences: The city patch on their uniform is a Mary Kay logo, and their shield says Mary Kay on it. Otherwise, they look, act, and feel exactly like police officers. (emphasis added) i'm curious how you went about getting accurate information about that... |
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#15
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panda! ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 10,331 Joined: 8-March 02 From: north of central europe Member No.: 2,242 ![]() |
heh, and this in combo with iceland and wikileaks exploring the possibility of setting up a "data haven".
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#16
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Neophyte Runner ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 2,325 Joined: 2-April 07 From: The Center of the Universe Member No.: 11,360 ![]() |
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#17
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Running Target ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,002 Joined: 22-April 06 From: Canada Member No.: 8,494 ![]() |
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#18
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Old Man Jones ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 4,415 Joined: 26-February 02 From: New York Member No.: 1,699 ![]() |
Technically, "autonomous region".
Fancy term for "still part of China, but we can't be buggered to deal with the headaches of directly governing them, so as long as they pay their taxes and don't cause trouble they can have their own local governments". -karma |
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#19
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panda! ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 10,331 Joined: 8-March 02 From: north of central europe Member No.: 2,242 ![]() |
also, similar to shanghai, it acts as a pressure valve between internal communism and external capitalism (highly simplified but still).
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#20
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Running Target ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,002 Joined: 22-April 06 From: Canada Member No.: 8,494 ![]() |
Basically they are colonies. China knows not to kill their golden geese (as long as they continue to produce golden eggs that is).
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Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 28th May 2023 - 04:32 PM |
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