Demodexio

Demodexio delves into diverse literature to innovate democratic ideas, exploring constitutional amendments, decentralization, communist economic models, dictatorship dynamics, US foreign policy, and the Soviet economy. It challenges traditional governance, advocating for pragmatic communism, democracy's practicality, and examining authoritarianism while considering the roles of entrepreneurship and national security in global politics.

Constitutional Law Decentralization Communism Dictatorships US Foreign Policy Soviet Economy Democracy Authoritarianism National Security Economic Sustainability

The hottest Substack posts of Demodexio

And their main takeaways

The vocabulary of democracy's architecture

264 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Democracy Governance Political theory Political Reform Public Policy
  1. We need new words to describe democracy better, especially as society becomes more complex. Current terms like 'capitalism' and 'socialism' don’t really help much anymore.
  2. Demodexio is a proposed system that combines the needs of the people with the expertise of skilled individuals. This approach aims to create a more effective democracy suited for our specialized world.
  3. It's important to standardize terms when discussing threats to democracy, like misinformation. This clarity can help us address issues more effectively.

Committee size is the same as efficiency: the central bank versus the legislature

264 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Governance Economics Legislation Public Policy Political theory
  1. Smaller committees are usually more efficient than larger ones. A tiny group can make decisions faster than a big group full of different opinions.
  2. Fiscal policy can be more effective than monetary policy, especially during tough economic times. Governments can take action on economic issues more quickly when they have a smaller legislative body.
  3. To manage complex government tasks better, we might need more specialized committees. A focus on smaller, efficient groups could help create better laws and address the needs of a diverse society.

Liberals have always emphasized the need for collective action

132 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Liberalism Socialism Collective action Democracy Political theory
  1. Liberals believe people should work together to solve problems, not just focus on individual efforts. Collective action is really important in creating change.
  2. Socialism is often seen as a barrier to this teamwork because it can fixate on class issues. Liberals argue that this focus makes it hard to address other important aspects of people's lives, like race and gender.
  3. Throughout history, thinkers have emphasized that a successful society relies on people coming together for common goals. This idea has been part of liberal thought for over 2,400 years.

All governments are based on violence but democracy brings that violence under the control of the people

132 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Democracy Violence Dictatorship Judiciary
  1. All governments are based on violence, but democracy puts that violence under the control of the people.
  2. Liberal democracy adds extra checks to protect unpopular minorities from the majority's control of violence.
  3. Even in a democracy, the government's foundation is the threat of violence, although it's managed by laws and oversight for social benefit.
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Modern dictatorships are more like a protection racket than they are like old-fashioned patronage networks

132 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Corruption
  1. Modern dictatorships in many countries steal money upwards, reflecting the Mafia's model, rather than handing out money for loyalty like in the past
  2. International pressure plays a role in governments opting to steal money illegally rather than imposing taxes legally
  3. Wealthy individuals globally operate in a interconnected society, often stealing money from their own countries to spend internationally

Chemistry sets and the old-fashioned childhood

132 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🚌 Education Chemistry Biology
  1. Chemistry sets used to be more dangerous, now they are heavily regulated for children's safety.
  2. We should invest more in structured education for kids in subjects like chemistry and biology to provide similar experiences.
  3. Children today have more limited freedom to explore outdoors, so it's important to offer structured outdoor education in schools.

The myth of Katechon

132 implied HN points • 30 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Government Legislation Ethics Society Politics
  1. In a fictional scenario of a government run by an ignorant, forgetful mob, passing laws can be improved with a rule of double voting ten years apart.
  2. Redundancy, like multiple voting rounds, can filter out bad laws and ensure long-term benefits for society.
  3. In Katechon, most proposed laws are harmful, but the delayed double voting system helps in passing laws that address long-term needs effectively.

Neo-Majorityism

132 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Democracy Constitution Judiciary Legislature
  1. Avoid empowering short-term majorities through direct referendums or short terms-in-office for legislators.
  2. Current legal systems can easily disrupt the will of the majority, making governing slow and rigid.
  3. There is a potential for a more direct rule by the majority with less interference from courts, but it should be a majority built over time, not from a single election.

Why doesn't the USA use its power to influence its weakest and neediest allies?

132 implied HN points • 10 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy Corruption Alliances Conflict Diplomacy
  1. USA government agencies often compete with each other, hindering effective foreign policy.
  2. Corruption in nominal allies undermines USA efforts, highlighting the need for harmony among agencies.
  3. Establishing a single point of contact with allies can prevent allies from playing different USA agencies against each other.

The brutality of the Nigerian government

132 implied HN points • 05 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics Corruption Human Rights International relations Global Security
  1. Nigeria faces issues of brutality by its government, particularly with the police unit SARS.
  2. The resource curse in Nigeria leads to corruption, lack of accountability, and a disconnect between rulers and citizens.
  3. The abundance of oil in Nigeria has fueled corruption, weakened the economy, and hindered development in other sectors like agriculture.

How would brilliant, creative, visionary entrepreneurs be paid in a Communist society?

264 implied HN points • 26 Nov 22
  1. In a Communist society, entrepreneurs could be paid through usufruct grants of government property.
  2. Wealth tax proposals, like a 95% tax on wealth exceeding $50 million, could impact how entrepreneurs are compensated.
  3. Alternative forms of compensation like allowing entrepreneurs to remain as CEOs or providing usufruct rights to government property could be considered in a Communist society.

In modern life, we must decentralize by profession, not by geography

264 implied HN points • 29 Sep 22
  1. Decentralization should be based on profession rather than geography in modern life
  2. Specialization of skills is a crucial aspect of decentralization in complex systems
  3. Considering independent councils for various professions as models for decentralized decision-making

There is one correct way to amend a Constitution, part 2 of 2

396 implied HN points • 04 Nov 21
  1. To amend a Constitution safely, two majority votes separated by a few years are more secure than a single super-majority vote.
  2. In finding a balance between stability and adaptability, laws should be swiftly changed while ensuring issues are important and not based on panic.
  3. A flexible process for amending a Constitution, where the time between votes is based on the strength of support, can help prevent rushed or harmful amendments.

How to build a pragmatic Communism that works intelligently and efficiently, part 3 of 3

132 implied HN points • 26 Nov 22
  1. Managing the financial sector is crucial to control the instability of the business cycle.
  2. It's important to consider how new firms will be created in a Communist society without individual entrepreneurs.
  3. Creating an agency to regulate high-risk, high-reward investments can help ensure competitiveness and innovation in the financial sector.

What I hope to prove

132 implied HN points • 02 Nov 21
  1. Populism is often ineffective in controlling technocrats
  2. Democratic accountability for experts may require an anti-populist approach
  3. Structural changes may be needed to improve democracy in Western societies

The Struggle to Save the Soviet Economy, part 8

132 implied HN points • 20 Oct 21
  1. Double digit inflation indicates loss of control
  2. Inflation can shift wealth from creditors to debtors
  3. Inflation can lead to political and economic crises

The Struggle to Save the Soviet Economy, part 6

132 implied HN points • 18 Oct 21
  1. Setting up a special economic zone can be seen as admitting defeat in fixing real problems.
  2. Special economic zones may undermine fundamental rights and environmental protections.
  3. Most special economic zones tend to fail, facing challenges from bureaucracy and inadequate incentives.

The Struggle to Save the Soviet Economy, part 5

132 implied HN points • 17 Oct 21
  1. The Soviet economy struggled due to the bureaucracy doubling down on command methods instead of strengthening incentives.
  2. Gorbachev faced opposition from powerful groups who resisted his proposed changes for enterprise restructuring.
  3. Despite challenges, Gorbachev pushed for legislation transferring control of enterprises to workers, moving towards self-financing, and granting enterprises the ability to close if consistently unprofitable.

The Struggle to Save the Soviet Economy, part 4

132 implied HN points • 16 Oct 21
  1. Enterprise managers resisted reforms for selfish reasons, hindering progress
  2. In any organization, power struggles among leaders can have significant consequences
  3. Accountability and checks & balances are crucial in preventing overstepping of boundaries and corruption

The Struggle to Save the Soviet Economy, part 3

132 implied HN points • 15 Oct 21
  1. Consider having less government, less committees, and less rules at times in both business and politics.
  2. A well-run system should fulfill the needs of the public, utilize experts, and establish a way to control bureaucracy effectively.
  3. The Soviet Union faced economic challenges due to factors like falling oil prices, political gridlock, and inability to address inflation, leading to serious consequences.

Book Review: How Fascism Works

132 implied HN points • 19 Jun 21
  1. Children raised on anti-fascist ideals can still fall prey to fascism.
  2. Fascists create a false narrative of a glorious past to manipulate and gain power.
  3. Fascism thrives by exploiting human frailties and dividing people based on ideologies.

The Struggle to Save the Soviet Economy, part 9, final part

2 HN points • 21 Oct 21
  1. Incentives matter in the economy, and the threat of execution for missing production quotas was a powerful motivator in the Soviet Union.
  2. A key flaw in the Soviet system was the consolidation of power into three major political blocks, limiting competition and harming the economy.
  3. The USSR faced challenges in governance due to transitioning from a system based on fear and murder to one without clear incentives which led to a lack of coherence and drift in the economy.

The Inclusive City

0 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Urbanism Gender Studies Community Advocacy
  1. The built environment shapes politics, and politics shape architecture, although the changes are subtle.
  2. The needs of women and children were not considered in city designs, leading to significant daily challenges.
  3. Advocacy is important, but dedicated committees and structural changes are needed to address societal issues effectively.

The dream of universal health care is haunted by the reality of aging

0 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🏥 Health Politics Aging Healthcare Costs Specialization Accountability
  1. Extending human life is becoming increasingly expensive due to the Law Of Diminishing Returns, especially with advancements in medical treatments and technology.
  2. National health care systems, even in countries with universal health care like Canada and Britain, are facing strain and challenges in controlling costs, especially with an aging population.
  3. Addressing the rising costs in healthcare will require a focus on reducing bureaucracy, controlling technology investments, and finding innovative ways to combine the expertise of diverse specialists in healthcare settings.

The Lost Age Of Abundance: a strategy game for deep thinkers

0 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Gaming Simulation Economics Sociology Strategy
  1. The game allows players to lead families in a shattered empire, focusing on complex economics and sociology rather than just warfare. Players can choose their leadership style and aim to restore prosperity.
  2. Families in the game have individual histories and desires, influencing their decisions about loyalty and moving between territories. Players need to understand these dynamics to maintain their power and support.
  3. The primary goal of the game includes fostering freedom and happiness among families. Players must balance their actions to build a flourishing society while navigating challenges and aspirations of the peasants.

Everyone suffers

0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 22
  1. Happiness comes from knowing yourself and your values.
  2. Suffering is a universal experience faced in different ways.
  3. Accepting reality and finding personal peace leads to happiness.

An Ordinary Person’s Guide to Empire, part 1

0 implied HN points • 09 Oct 21
  1. Consider the possibility that corporate leadership is incompetent, not just greedy.
  2. Question whether certain countries' weaknesses contribute to the apparent strength of others.
  3. Local elites often serve as agents to support corporate imperialism, contributing to systemic inequity.

How I Learned to Spell Fascism

0 implied HN points • 19 Jun 21
  1. Democracy needs constant renewal through education.
  2. There is a lack of civic education and critical thinking in America.
  3. Knowledge is power and resistance in challenging times.