Exploring the window of opportunity for network unions to seize the day and score touchdowns on underrepresented issues in increasingly gridlocked Western democracies.
It does seem to me like western democracy, whilst great on paper, is indeed severely gridlocked these days. I see its apex as a vast, amorphous blob, where various power-brokers and agendas coalesce. And where, every now and again, a coherent movement takes place as the nested interests of the blob find a temporary common direction.
I think it's great you are looking at practical means that could result in a lessening of the stranglehold that nation-states currently exert over physical territory.
It certainly seems that recent history supports the contention that previously diffuse interest groups can now make a political difference by gathering together as a networked union. But that seems to be limited to the goal in itself - equal rights for minority or oppressed groups, etc. Is there a way that you see, say, the action of US expats voting together to improve their tax liability, becoming then directed in the direction of somehow gaining physical territory?
Thanks for the feedback. I use US expats/nomads as an example of the concept for illustration. The numbers are arguably there (despite being previously diffuse, the numbers are there). There are almost 9 million US expats / nomads: that's a larger number than 38 states out of 50 states. Ideally, US expats/nomads deserve their own senators/representatives in Congress to represent their unique issues...but we all know that's not going to happen any time soon. So the next best thing would be to become a "power bloc" that could vote in unison on key expat-related issues.
The global taxation regime is the #1 reason that US expats renounce their passports. So the exit trend is already there.
Yes, I totally agree with you that there are heaps of travelling Americans who are understandably grieved at the mafia-like grip of the IRS on their finances.
As a big chunk of the "end game" of Network State is actually obtaining physical territory, I was just asking if you saw a way that these guys could be levered into moving that specific agenda forwards?
It's interesting, for example, how Puerto Rico got their 4% tax deal for US citizens, who don't have to renounce citizenship. Didn't think that would happen, though possibly it follows a bit the UK model (prior to 2005) in the Channel Is, where you didn't have to declare cash stashed there. This seems to have been because so many in the UK gov and establishment had their money there! That is an interesting precedent that might be able to be put to use for the Network State perhaps. Leverage the desire of the wealthy to avoid tax and create your own nation!
It does seem to me like western democracy, whilst great on paper, is indeed severely gridlocked these days. I see its apex as a vast, amorphous blob, where various power-brokers and agendas coalesce. And where, every now and again, a coherent movement takes place as the nested interests of the blob find a temporary common direction.
I think it's great you are looking at practical means that could result in a lessening of the stranglehold that nation-states currently exert over physical territory.
It certainly seems that recent history supports the contention that previously diffuse interest groups can now make a political difference by gathering together as a networked union. But that seems to be limited to the goal in itself - equal rights for minority or oppressed groups, etc. Is there a way that you see, say, the action of US expats voting together to improve their tax liability, becoming then directed in the direction of somehow gaining physical territory?
Thanks for the feedback. I use US expats/nomads as an example of the concept for illustration. The numbers are arguably there (despite being previously diffuse, the numbers are there). There are almost 9 million US expats / nomads: that's a larger number than 38 states out of 50 states. Ideally, US expats/nomads deserve their own senators/representatives in Congress to represent their unique issues...but we all know that's not going to happen any time soon. So the next best thing would be to become a "power bloc" that could vote in unison on key expat-related issues.
The global taxation regime is the #1 reason that US expats renounce their passports. So the exit trend is already there.
Yes, I totally agree with you that there are heaps of travelling Americans who are understandably grieved at the mafia-like grip of the IRS on their finances.
As a big chunk of the "end game" of Network State is actually obtaining physical territory, I was just asking if you saw a way that these guys could be levered into moving that specific agenda forwards?
It's interesting, for example, how Puerto Rico got their 4% tax deal for US citizens, who don't have to renounce citizenship. Didn't think that would happen, though possibly it follows a bit the UK model (prior to 2005) in the Channel Is, where you didn't have to declare cash stashed there. This seems to have been because so many in the UK gov and establishment had their money there! That is an interesting precedent that might be able to be put to use for the Network State perhaps. Leverage the desire of the wealthy to avoid tax and create your own nation!