We already know what obstacles stand in the way of achieving consensus—people have different abilities and propensities, and want different things.
It is funny how training in economics make you see everything in a different light. Because an economist would say, “‘different abilities and propensities, and want different things’? Great? People want things that other people can provide. We have something to work with! Reaching consensus is simply a matter of negotiating the terms of trade.”
Gore Vidal once said: “It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.” When the issue is: who is going to fail, there won’t be a consensus—those nominated will object.
Economics doesn’t “fix” such issues—they are basically down to resource limitation and differential reproductive success. Some genes and genotypes go up against the wall. That is evolution for you.
Gore Vidal once said: “It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.”
I’m willing to be the one who fails, just so long as the one who succeeds pays sufficient compensation. If ve is unwilling to pay, then I intend to make ver life miserable indeed.
I expect considerable wailing and gnashing of teeth. There is plenty of that in the world today—despite there not being a big shortage of economists who would love to sort things out, in exchange for a cut. Perhaps, the wailing is just how some people prefer to negotiate their terms.
It is funny how training in economics make you see everything in a different light. Because an economist would say, “‘different abilities and propensities, and want different things’? Great? People want things that other people can provide. We have something to work with! Reaching consensus is simply a matter of negotiating the terms of trade.”
Gore Vidal once said: “It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.” When the issue is: who is going to fail, there won’t be a consensus—those nominated will object.
Economics doesn’t “fix” such issues—they are basically down to resource limitation and differential reproductive success. Some genes and genotypes go up against the wall. That is evolution for you.
I’m willing to be the one who fails, just so long as the one who succeeds pays sufficient compensation. If ve is unwilling to pay, then I intend to make ver life miserable indeed.
Nash bargaining with threats
Edit: typos
I expect considerable wailing and gnashing of teeth. There is plenty of that in the world today—despite there not being a big shortage of economists who would love to sort things out, in exchange for a cut. Perhaps, the wailing is just how some people prefer to negotiate their terms.