Excellent and thought-provoking interview. Certainly there are analogies between the Mouse Utopia and modern human society. One question I've never seen answered to my satisfaction, however, is the role of inbreeding. Mouse Utopia started with a very small founding population. How much of the social lethargy, reduced fertility, and poor fitness we saw in Mouse Utopia was due to overpopulation, and how much was due to inbreeding and limited genetic diversity? Perhaps your guest can answer?
Many sane people in the west seem to be coalescing around this concept, although they may be using different terms. Mr. Uecker says "SCALE." Other people say Centralization. Others say Globalization. Whatever the name, it seems apparent that the problems in our society, in the West at least, are caused by the massive growth in size and power of various centralized institutions. God warned us about this in the story about the Tower of Babel. I'm looking forward to hearing some solutions or ways to simplify, deSCALE, decentralize, distribute Western society back to proper proportions.
SCALE merely reinforces the core principles of conservatism: that individuals are responsible for their own choices and actions. This aligns with the conservative principle of individual liberty, which stresses the importance of personal responsibility and autonomy. SCALE argues that the level of government intervention should be proportional to the scale of the issue. This aligns with the conservative ideal of limited government, a more cautious and measured approach to state involvement. SCALE suggests that free markets are more efficient and effective for smaller-scale issues, while government intervention might be more appropriate for larger-scale problems. This echoes conservative arguments for the importance of free markets and limited government intervention in the economy. SCALE acknowledges the importance of tradition and the need for a cautious approach to change. This resonates with conservative values that prioritise stability, continuity, and the wisdom of past generations. SCALE may offer a new and useful paradigm for political discourse, it doesn't fundamentally change the core principles of conservatism. Rather, it reinforces the importance of these principles in navigating the complexities of a world where the scale of challenges is constantly evolving. If anything, SCALE suggests that Western nations have been landed with a succession of crap, toothless conservative governments who have failed to keep up with the times, reform where necessary, and have been reduced to voyeurs/bystanders because of a lack of grasp of technology-driven new realities and a sclerosis caused by a Marxist blob. Baby, bathwater ... basics still count. Good article /interview. Cheers.
Very interesting. As you say Frank, it (SCALE) gives an explanatory framework from which to understand and approach the omnicrisis we now face. Looking forward to more on this topic in the future.
Sadly I'm unable to pitch-in financially as I don't so much as have a bank account to my name. I only hope my moral support (plus shares) continues to suffice.
SCALE is an idea I wish I had had myself. It is mint and it changed the way I see a lot of things. Big Ideas don't come up very often. I think this is one.
The concept of mass society is not in the popular vocabulary, though most people inhabit it. The first step is to ask people to look around them to seek its monuments.
I do have a piece I've been putting off writing (because I write everything on my phone) describing on possible, preferred (by me) inherently "deSCALED" future politics and economics. This and other recent interactions suggest I should stop procrastinating and get to work forthwith. Thank you Frank! 🙏🪷🙏
It sounds to me that Uecker is a progressive globalist. He pings on conservatism but not on progressive issues that also foster negative emotions.
He claims conservatives fail to do their homework but gives no examples which is classic leftist propaganda.
Finally he fails to mention how the decline of Christianity in the western world has created a society that can’t find joy or the meaning of their lives.
We here in America are engaged in our second civil war. It is a fifth generation type which is a war of ideas and beliefs fought mainly with technology and lawfare.
The rule of law keeps this civil conflict somewhat civil for now.
Thanks for breaking the interview down into three segments as we in America suffer from extreme attention deficit disorder…
I'm afraid I got very little out of this interview other than as things get larger they change in kind. Can you provide a link where I can read about Uecker's work in more detail? I searched but did not find....
I would prefer to read a transcript of this interview because the audio of your guest is very distracting, it fades in and out and makes it difficult to follow. I know you are new to this Frank so I’m hoping you see it as constructive criticism. I like and agree with the SCALE idea and it does describe how we are where we are. In some ways it fits with Russel Brand’s message of small community. Thank you for bringing the ideas and I hope this chap does write something but does he have any solutions?
Excellent and thought-provoking interview. Certainly there are analogies between the Mouse Utopia and modern human society. One question I've never seen answered to my satisfaction, however, is the role of inbreeding. Mouse Utopia started with a very small founding population. How much of the social lethargy, reduced fertility, and poor fitness we saw in Mouse Utopia was due to overpopulation, and how much was due to inbreeding and limited genetic diversity? Perhaps your guest can answer?
Many sane people in the west seem to be coalescing around this concept, although they may be using different terms. Mr. Uecker says "SCALE." Other people say Centralization. Others say Globalization. Whatever the name, it seems apparent that the problems in our society, in the West at least, are caused by the massive growth in size and power of various centralized institutions. God warned us about this in the story about the Tower of Babel. I'm looking forward to hearing some solutions or ways to simplify, deSCALE, decentralize, distribute Western society back to proper proportions.
It’s an idea with the explanatory power to rehumanise our society, and many political problems (and postures) are arguably downstream of SCALE.
SCALE merely reinforces the core principles of conservatism: that individuals are responsible for their own choices and actions. This aligns with the conservative principle of individual liberty, which stresses the importance of personal responsibility and autonomy. SCALE argues that the level of government intervention should be proportional to the scale of the issue. This aligns with the conservative ideal of limited government, a more cautious and measured approach to state involvement. SCALE suggests that free markets are more efficient and effective for smaller-scale issues, while government intervention might be more appropriate for larger-scale problems. This echoes conservative arguments for the importance of free markets and limited government intervention in the economy. SCALE acknowledges the importance of tradition and the need for a cautious approach to change. This resonates with conservative values that prioritise stability, continuity, and the wisdom of past generations. SCALE may offer a new and useful paradigm for political discourse, it doesn't fundamentally change the core principles of conservatism. Rather, it reinforces the importance of these principles in navigating the complexities of a world where the scale of challenges is constantly evolving. If anything, SCALE suggests that Western nations have been landed with a succession of crap, toothless conservative governments who have failed to keep up with the times, reform where necessary, and have been reduced to voyeurs/bystanders because of a lack of grasp of technology-driven new realities and a sclerosis caused by a Marxist blob. Baby, bathwater ... basics still count. Good article /interview. Cheers.
Glad I could help!
Very interesting. As you say Frank, it (SCALE) gives an explanatory framework from which to understand and approach the omnicrisis we now face. Looking forward to more on this topic in the future.
Sadly I'm unable to pitch-in financially as I don't so much as have a bank account to my name. I only hope my moral support (plus shares) continues to suffice.
Sending love. 🙏🙂✊🪷
HOW DARE YOU DECLINE TO LOVE ME WITH MONEY?
SCALE is an idea I wish I had had myself. It is mint and it changed the way I see a lot of things. Big Ideas don't come up very often. I think this is one.
LoL!
Just one question on the current topic - SCALE: How do we blow it up into little pieces?? How do we break google? 🥸😁
The concept of mass society is not in the popular vocabulary, though most people inhabit it. The first step is to ask people to look around them to seek its monuments.
I think this is essential to build a politics of the future - a future worth the name, that is.
I do have a piece I've been putting off writing (because I write everything on my phone) describing on possible, preferred (by me) inherently "deSCALED" future politics and economics. This and other recent interactions suggest I should stop procrastinating and get to work forthwith. Thank you Frank! 🙏🪷🙏
It sounds to me that Uecker is a progressive globalist. He pings on conservatism but not on progressive issues that also foster negative emotions.
He claims conservatives fail to do their homework but gives no examples which is classic leftist propaganda.
Finally he fails to mention how the decline of Christianity in the western world has created a society that can’t find joy or the meaning of their lives.
We here in America are engaged in our second civil war. It is a fifth generation type which is a war of ideas and beliefs fought mainly with technology and lawfare.
The rule of law keeps this civil conflict somewhat civil for now.
Thanks for breaking the interview down into three segments as we in America suffer from extreme attention deficit disorder…
This is part one. There’s another two bits and I think that would give a more complete picture.
A liberal globalist he is most certainly not.
I'm afraid I got very little out of this interview other than as things get larger they change in kind. Can you provide a link where I can read about Uecker's work in more detail? I searched but did not find....
Thank you!
I am trying to hassle his book into print and I am told he is writing it. Best I can do is this piece on SCALE
https://open.substack.com/pub/frankwright/p/large-scale-disaster?r=18ihr9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
and this one in the archive here, which goes beyond “big is bad”
https://open.substack.com/pub/frankwright/p/what-is-scale?r=18ihr9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
link to the book?
He hasn’t written it yet.
I would prefer to read a transcript of this interview because the audio of your guest is very distracting, it fades in and out and makes it difficult to follow. I know you are new to this Frank so I’m hoping you see it as constructive criticism. I like and agree with the SCALE idea and it does describe how we are where we are. In some ways it fits with Russel Brand’s message of small community. Thank you for bringing the ideas and I hope this chap does write something but does he have any solutions?
I cannot be held responsible for the conduct of Americans, microphone related or not.
I will get a transcript out soon. I am also hassling him to do a book. I know the audio was bad, but I can't do anything about that. Apologies.
Great interview. Do you have any links to anything Mr. Uecker has written? I didn't find much when I searched.
I have hassled him extensively to produce a book and I think he is getting on with it now.
The straw men are taking over!