News from Uncibal

News from Uncibal critically explores modern governance, societal control, and the impacts on individual liberty and social welfare. It delves into topics like state intervention, the welfare state, digital currencies, and the role of education and policy in shaping public behavior and autonomy within an egalist utopia.

Governance and State Power Individual Liberty and Autonomy Impact of Policies on Society Digital Currency and Financial Regulation Public Health and Education Economic Policies and State Intervention Legal Systems and Property Rights Cultural and Social Critiques

The hottest Substack posts of News from Uncibal

And their main takeaways

Two Faces of Modernity

656 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Modernity Enlightenment Government Society Human experience
  1. Modernity has both helped and hurt humanity. While it has brought material improvements like electricity and medicine, it has also led to government systems that might control every aspect of our lives.
  2. The problems we face today, like economic issues and government overreach, are partly a result of modern ideas from the Enlightenment. Simply going back to those ideas won't solve our problems.
  3. Many debates today focus on how the state should act in the world, often pushing for more government control instead of less. We may need a new way of thinking that goes beyond modernity to find real solutions.

Just Rule Everything

795 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Environmentalism Philosophy Literature Human Rights
  1. Some environmental activists seem more focused on attacking humanity than actually solving climate problems. Their actions, like vandalizing art, show a deeper anger towards civilization itself.
  2. Pride is highlighted as a major issue, causing people to see themselves as superior and leading to resentment towards others. This mindset can eventually lead to harmful actions against humanity.
  3. There's a connection between extreme environmentalism and beliefs similar to Marxism. Both can express a desire to destroy rather than build, showing a shared discontentment with the existing world.

Failing to Think About Immigration

298 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Immigration Political Opinion Sovereignty Border control
  1. Academics often share strong opinions, but many are stuck in echo chambers and fail to consider other perspectives. This can lead to their research being detached from reality.
  2. A recent symposium argued for open borders and questioned the authority of nation states over immigration. However, most contributors only shared similar viewpoints without challenging each other's ideas.
  3. While it's fine to support open borders, important aspects of sovereignty and immigration management need to be discussed more thoroughly. Without these discussions, the arguments made can seem incomplete.

Government for Dummies

934 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political theory Public Policy Political Philosophy
  1. Modern politicians often lack deep understanding and experience, leading to a government focused on following simple recipes instead of thoughtful decision-making.
  2. There's a difference between technical knowledge and practical knowledge; good governance requires wisdom that comes from real experience, not just following rules.
  3. If the electorate grows frustrated with inadequate leaders, they might take matters into their own hands, which could lead to serious political unrest.

Why We Drink

835 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Philosophy Freedom Public Health Civic Responsibility Social Behavior
  1. Alcohol is more than just a drink; it's linked to our freedom. When people try to limit our drinking, it can mean they're also trying to limit other freedoms.
  2. Drinking responsibly helps us learn about our choices and how to live with others. It's part of growing up and being a good citizen in society.
  3. If society starts to restrict our alcohol consumption, it could show a bigger problem. It might mean that people are becoming less capable of handling their freedoms well.
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Only the State Forgives

278 implied HN points • 03 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political theory Public Policy Human Rights Judiciary State power
  1. The modern state has taken on the role of providing forgiveness and redemption, much like the medieval church did. This change is so complete that many people don't realize it's happened.
  2. There are complex cases, like that of a young man involved in a violent crime, where the state considers human rights and mental health before making decisions on punishment and deportation.
  3. The situation reflects a deeper political theology, showing how state decisions can influence personal lives and highlight the tension between justice and compassion.

First they came for the large glasses of wine, and I did not speak out

556 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
  1. A study suggested that limiting large glasses of wine at establishments reduced alcohol consumption by 7.6%.
  2. The study raises concerns about experts making decisions on public health without public input.
  3. The approach of manipulating environments to alter behaviors may not always consider individual preferences and liberties.

We Don't Like Children Anyhow

616 implied HN points • 29 Dec 23
  1. Many women do not like how having children affects their career and life chances.
  2. Free childcare is a common political strategy to make the population reliant on the State.
  3. Taxpayer-funded childcare can be used to portray families as economically inefficient and vulnerable to promote reliance on the State.

The Midwit Phenotype

477 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
  1. Gary Lineker symbolizes issues in society as a highly paid BBC presenter.
  2. Lineker's salary not driven by market forces, funded by mandatory TV licenses.
  3. Lineker's online presence represents a larger trend of people imbibing opinions without critical thinking.

Thinking Dangerous Things

417 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
  1. Thinking dangerous thoughts can sometimes lead to consequences in professional settings.
  2. Freedom of speech may face challenges when opinions differ from the mainstream.
  3. Individuals might retreat into their private thoughts and beliefs as public discourse becomes constrained.

The Lockdown, Stupid

516 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
  1. About 140,000 pupils in England have been frequently absent from school during the lockdown period.
  2. Between 20-30% of 5-15 year old boys are expected to have a mental health disorder by 2030 due to the lockdown.
  3. Lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic had significant negative impacts on children, especially in terms of mental health, social development, and educational opportunities.

Not everything is bad, but everything is dangerous

397 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
  1. Not everything is bad, but everything is dangerous.
  2. Central banks are interested in CBDCs due to perceived threats to control and stability.
  3. The digital pound's design emphasizes central control and regulation, posing a challenge to financial autonomy.

The Scorpion State

397 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
  1. State intervention in the economy leads to increased government control over society as a whole.
  2. The State's main function is governance, aiming to justify its existence through continuous reflection on its practices.
  3. Conservatives and libertarians should be cautious about allowing extensive State intervention, as the State's natural tendency is to increase control over various aspects of life.

The War on Cash and the Failure to Make Law

357 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
  1. There is a plan to abolish cash led by fintech companies and central bankers to promote digital payments.
  2. Governments lack transparency and are failing to make clear and accessible laws concerning cash usage.
  3. Legislation like the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 delegates power to unelected regulators, making laws unclear and subject to broad discretion, rather than clear rules for the public.

The Crisis of Masculinity and the Interior Life

298 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
  1. Men are more satisfied when engaged in productive or virtuous tasks rather than focusing too much on their own thoughts and feelings.
  2. Historically, male heroes were depicted as acting rather than thinking, emphasizing bravery over self-reflection.
  3. Encouraging men to prioritize action and usefulness over introspection may help address the crisis of masculinity in modern society.

'Life's a ball, so learn to throw it'

337 implied HN points • 27 Dec 23
  1. Understanding society involves paying attention to what children are taught, revealing insights into the future.
  2. Matilda the Musical critiques cultural norms through a subversive narrative, questioning authority and traditional values.
  3. The musical presents contrasting life strategies, promoting individualism over discipline, despite showcasing the value of rules and hard work for success.

The Connection Between Freedom and Money

258 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
  1. Conservatives argue that more money leads to more freedom for individuals and a stronger community.
  2. Being 'left on the economy' can make the population reliant on the State, impacting cultural values.
  3. The modern State's interest in the economy can reflect a 'good tyrant' mindset, managing resources like personal property to control the populace.

Law vs Chaos: the Case of Freedom of Expression

238 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
  1. The existence of clear and enforceable rules helps create a stable society by providing people with predictable expectations.
  2. Confusion and lack of clarity in the law can lead to chaotic and disorderly consequences for society.
  3. Unclear and unpredictable laws regarding freedom of expression can result in a chilling effect, causing people to self-censor and leading to a decline in overall freedom.

On Having a Better Story

337 implied HN points • 23 Nov 23
  1. It's important to have a positive and hope-filled vision for the future.
  2. Modern society suffers from a deficit in storytelling, affecting how we perceive the world.
  3. Doom-scrolling and short-form content may hinder our ability to construct coherent life narratives.

On Human Rights and Excellent Tyranny

318 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
  1. The welfare state in the UK has actually expanded over the years, contrary to popular belief of it shrinking.
  2. Our society has become harsher and less caring despite increased welfare spending, due to a decline in social ties and support networks.
  3. The inherent nature of rulership leans towards 'excellent tyranny', where leaders aim to make people reliant on them to secure and enhance their power.

The Death of the 'Rules-Based Order'

337 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
  1. Proponents of the 'rules-based order' are realizing the collapse of this system in favor of a multi-polar world.
  2. There has been a systematic denigration of rules in modern governance, favoring flexible, soft law approaches.
  3. International efforts, like the Sustainable Development Goals and human rights practice, focus more on relationships than enforceable rules.

On Comprehensive Sexuality Education and Political Reason: Individualisation and Totalisation

357 implied HN points • 22 Sep 23
  1. Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) aims to transform societal attitudes and beliefs beyond just providing basic information.
  2. CSE operates on the idea that the state needs to intervene in personal relationships and education to manage them.
  3. The promotion of CSE represents a form of "political reason" that both individualizes and totalizes the influence of the state in society.

The 'Power of Care': From Machiavelli to the WHO

636 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
  1. Machiavelli emphasized the importance of rulers making citizens need the state for loyalty and power.
  2. The concept of 'raison d'\xC3tat' evolved the idea of state power to include caring for the population's welfare to maintain control.
  3. Modern global governance, like 'raison du monde', focuses on centralized global solutions for 'global problems' by convincing people of their need.

Why are we 'governed' so thoroughly, and so poorly?

377 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
  1. Proudhon criticizes governance by undeserving authorities
  2. Machiavelli prefers republican rule over rule by a prince
  3. Quality of governance declines when power is concentrated in a few instead of dispersed

The Energy Bill 2023 and the Fusion of Technology and Law

29 HN points • 11 Sep 23
  1. The Energy Bill 2023 is a massive piece of legislation that centralizes power and authority, showcasing a troubling trend in governance.
  2. Modern governance is transitioning towards Law 3.0, where rules are replaced by flexible regulations and executive power is delegated to experts and stakeholders.
  3. The fusion of technology and law in Law 3.0, as exemplified by the Energy Bill 2023, poses concerns about loss of individual agency and moral responsibility.