Free market versus government control: The AI solution

@1EMcGon1 @haydentiff @Dharmocracy when we start judging programs by results instead of intentions

— do I care? (@BKeachDay) November 8, 2016

The Twitter exchange above brought to mind the ages old question of free market versus government control. Or you can call it freedom versus socialism. Whatever you call it, both sides have points to be made.

Free market control is results oriented, because free markets demand results. On the other hand, government control only requires intentions to be good, as no government program is ever held fully accountable for results. Goals where results cannot be easily (or profitably) obtained, but may still need to be done, are hard sells in a free market.

The U.S. seems to be involved in a perpetual political argument about this topic. So which is right?

First, there is NO good form of government. All forms of government in all of human history have one inherent flaw: They are run by one or more humans, who are flawed by nature. Even if you have a "better than average" leader(s), eventually they die or retire, and will inevitably be replaced by someone who is "less than average". It doesn't matter if the government is a democracy (which is better known as "the tyranny of the majority", for a very good reason) or a dictatorship. Whether the government's flaws show up in genocide or Jim Crow laws, or even simply inefficient bureaucracy, they will inevitably appear.

On the other hand, total freedom, otherwise known as anarchy, isn't any better. Some libertarians like to promote anarchy as a solution, but consider aspects of the ultimate anarchy: Nature. Anarchy is wonderful, until a bear shows up. If you prefer a more human answer, replace "bear" with "Russia" or "China". Your typical anarchy cannot defend itself against an authoritarian government. Enjoy living under the brutal dictatorship which will inevitably consume your little anarchy. Nature abhors a vacuum, and anarchy is a vacuum of government.

Back to the original question, free market control or government control? As the Founding Fathers realized, limited government control is ideal, but also inevitable. While we cannot live without it, we also have to be ever vigilant against abuses of it by the humans running it.

Fear not, there is a perfect solution to this very human problem: Government by artificial intelligence (AI).

Before you say "Terminator", keep in mind that an AI is only as ethically good as it is programmed to be. If you can get the AI properly programmed (we come back to the old flawed humans conundrum again), it is theoretically possible to create a perfect government.

In summary, here is the recipe for a perfect government:

1. Limited in scope and authority.
2. Maintained by a well-programmed artificial intelligence.

To accomplish this, we will first need to bring back the 10th Amendment in full force. If anything, it should be provided greater priority than all of the other Constitutional amendments.

Finally, we need to improve artificial intelligence to the point where it is capable of oversight of a large number of people, and then we need to program it correctly. Skynet can be a good idea, if properly executed. By keeping the scope of any AI's authority limited, any potential damage can also be limited.