Balaji@balajis
THE INTERNET IS THE NEXT AMERICA
The Internet is to America what America was to Britain. A frontier territory that will ultimately succeed even its worthy progenitor.
THE EARLY AMERICANS
Remember, the early Americans thought of themselves as British for decades. They had land and people, but not a government. Until national consciousness arose.
Fundamentally, Americans were more connected to each other than they were to random fellow Britons. They chatted with their next door neighbors, not the people thousands of miles away. Eventually they decided to get their own state.
Or states. Because the Americas gave birth to more than just America. And many other subjects of London’s hegemony also sought independent states, over time.
Importantly, the leaders of these newly independent states — like George Washington, Lee Kuan Yew, and Gandhi— weren’t really anti-British. They were *post*-British. Washington respected Britain, but thought his people could do better without London. And he was right. Today most countries that declared independence from the UK are on good terms with the British.
THE EARLY NETIZENS
Similarly, many early Netizens still think of themselves as American. Today, they have people and government[1], but not land. Until network consciousness arises.
Fundamentally, Netizens are more connected to each other than they are to random fellow citizens. They videochat with people thousands of miles away, and don’t know their next door neighbors. Eventually they will get their own state.
Or states. Because the Internet will give birth to more than just the next America. And many other subjects of DC’s hegemony will also seek independent states, over time.
Importantly, the leaders of these newly independent states aren’t anti-American. They are *post*-American. Just like Lee Kuan Yew, Gandhi, and George Washington. They love what America was, but think their people can now do better without today’s DC. And they will be right.
TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY
The sun did set on the British Empire. Like the Romans and Greeks before them. Then DC took the torch from London. And now the Internet is taking the torch from DC.
We already see the transfer of sovereignty from land to cloud. The US post office has been replaced by email. Taxi medallions are obviated by Uber. NASA is outcompeted by SpaceX. And the dollar is devalued against Bitcoin.
This will extend to everything. 99% of transactions and communications have already moved online. So will 99% of regulations and legislations. So will elections, and so will the state itself. Reborn on the Internet frontier.
This is exciting. It’s not just the frontier that’s back. So are the pioneers, the captains of industry, and the next founding fathers. As Joe Biden falls, a thousand George Washingtons rise.
So: don’t blackpill. Yes, DC’s century is ending, like London’s did. But the Internet century is just beginning.
* What are the governments of the Internet? Blockchains, actually. They provide property rights, smart contract enforcement, dispute resolution, identity verification and more to hundreds of millions of people online. Just like you can store your money in a Swiss bank account, you can store your money in Satoshi’s blockchain.
Fundamentally, blockchains are new systems of digital law that people opt into because they are superior to legacy states. Yes, today they only enforce laws online. But that will change.
