Editorial #312 Collective Intelligence
We have all seen raffle games with the jar full of jelly beans where the guesser that is closest to the actual number wins.
This is an example of a social concept called ‘collective intelligence’. As expected, the guesses vary widely but the interesting part is that with more than 500 guesses, the average of all the guesses is within 5% of the actual number. The average gets ever closer with more participants.
This example demonstrates how democracy is supposed to work: Majority rules! The old adage, “You can’t fool all the people all of the time”, also applies. This is also survival of the fittest or nature’s preference for the most logical collective, those who don’t violate laws of science or nature.
The theory also implies the better answer will come in the limit, given enough time and if the voters are not devious. In a capitalist republic, if the Golden Rule and the Ten Commandments are ignored, survival of the fittest becomes a cruel, savage, primitive existence, incompatible with any moral principles. John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people”. George Washington said, “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God”. Neither of these men made these claims carelessly, as morality in the 18th century was taken far more seriously than it is in the 21st century.
The United States is a Republic, not a democracy, where an individual’s rights are protected from the mob rule of democracy, whereby a vote by a majority can take your house. With the ‘30X30 land grab’ and mandated health measures, it appears they are trying to take both your house and your personal health decisions.
Mob rule always turns into socialism, as some opportunist will take advantage of the chaos, claiming authority is ‘for the good of the people’. Actually it will be good only for the cronies who helped snatch that authority, absolving themselves of any wrong, believing: “Some are born to rule and others are born to be ruled” with “absolute power corrupting absolutely”. They retain their offices by supporting ‘Santa Claus’ legislation meant to buy voter support.
A second aspect of collective intelligence: In a moral, logical, honest world representatives would always vote for something that 100% of the voters wanted and on the other extreme, they would never vote for something that no voters wants. And, logically, they would vote either way if only 50% of the voters wanted it.
In fact, studies show politicians will support any measure, both good and bad, about 30% of the time regardless of the virtue or depravity of the measure. This means only 30% of all laws passed are acceptable by a majority of the voters.
The natural collective intelligence of humanity is being hijacked by the illogical voting habits of elected individuals because of the influence from lobbyists advocating unsustainable agendas contrary to the collective intelligence of society.
This has been happening for centuries. Today’s technological advancements can disseminate lies and propaganda far more quickly than honest and faithful people can ‘nip it in the bud’. Prayer, good example and dependence on God is the only way to right America’s course if we are to have a hope of restoring honest people of integrity to our legislative bodies.
This is Keith Kube wishing you the best in making the world a better place.
Keith has a regular commentary on WJAG 780 radio at 7:40 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Check his website www.keithkube.com for past editorials.
