Democratization of everything: inspired by Kalashnikov

The Kalashnikov assault rifle changed the world. Now there’s a Kalashnikov kamikaze drone.  By Liz Sly  Washington Post,  February 23. 2019 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/02/23/kalashnikov-assault-rifle-changed-world-now-theres-kalashnikov-kamikaze-drone/?utm_term=.be7e45a00170

Kalashnikov’s new low-cost drone intended for sale globally can carry a 6 lb. explosive up to 30 miles at 80 mph and deliver its payload with pinpoint accuracy.  Like the AK-47 its affordability and ease of use makes it the perfect weapon for revolutionaries, insurgents, extremists, and any disgruntled citizen motivated by a corrupt or abusive government or unethical private institution.

Nicholas Grossman, University of Ill., International Relations professor and author of “Drones and Terrorism said “I think of it as a democratizing smart bombs” essentially shrinking “the gap between the most advanced militaries” and the rest.

Advances in information technology were originally recognized as a ‘game changer’ for bringing people of the world together and possibly empowering a global democratization to achieve peace.   But technology alone won’t bring peace without humankind first changing our hearts and our unjust government operating systems. 

Lethal divisions between countries, ideologies, and individuals have been exacerbated by communications technology.  Merged with other dual-use technologies like drones we will not see an absence of violence anytime soon.   We must sooner than later engineer governments to resolve, prevent, or mitigate problems…not just react to them while ignoring root causes.  Government as is, is simply unaffordable and thus unsustainable, not to mention the environmental damage being ignored as GDP and military spending seems to be the only measure of government progress.

As the evolution and merging of various technologies progress most nations will increasingly use these tools to spy on, and control its own subjects, and target them or others that the government considers a potential threat.  More and more, people will acquire increasingly lethal technology.  

The US was the first nation to efficiently and effectively weaponized drones for precise targeting.  Other nations, and some extremist groups have followed.  But no nation and no technological invention will be able to control the spread of increasingly powerful, affordable, and lethal technologies.  Even if Kalashnikov halts its production of affordable killer drones.   It is a fundamental principle that it is easier to destroy than to build. Easier to kill than to heal.  

It is also a self-evident truth (fundamental principle) that Information is power.   Fortunately, power does not always corrupt as we’ve presumed.   Power only amplifies the capacity to achieve whatever a nation, ideology or human being desires (eradicating small pox or landing on the moon).  And every new technology essentially amplifies power even more.  Our species is master at inventing tools to accomplish miracles.  What we haven’t mastered is our desires and our engineering of governments to ensure ‘liberty and justice for all’.   Here’s the problem in a nut shell (I’ve been called a nut for suggesting it’s so simple… but please hear me out). 

Most people have two fundamental desires.  To maximize their freedoms and their security.  But many people also proudly desire independence.  American’s celebrate the concept every 4^th of July. 

 Tragically, the word is only a mental construct, not capable of existing anywhere in the real world that our bodies inhabit and depend on for our sustenance, prosperity, and actual survival.  Everything in our world is entirely and irreversibly interdependent.   And, imagining that we, our policies and/or our governments are independent threatens everything we hold dear (our freedoms and our lives).  In fewer words, we are free to do whatever we want. But we can never be free of the consequences.  Our founding fathers were explicitly clear.  If we were irresponsible with our freedom we would lose it.

This news report on suicide drones should convince any rational person that we need a transformational change in how we deal with human relations from the personal to the global level. 

Economic, trade, communication, and environmental systems are all global.  Only the last category of systems is legally enforced.  Violating “the Laws of Nature” will not end well.    You should recognize that phrase from the Declaration of Independence. 

What’s needed now is for us to recognize and codify the second part of that phrase in our nation’s most important founding document “and Nature’s God”.   Atheists and believer can argue over that phrase but any rational American understands the profoundly wise summation underlying every major religion ‘the Golden Rule”.     And wise Christians understand the Bible’s fundamental message to humankind as “justice”.   Nearly every American at one point in their lives has stood before our flag and  said “I pledge…liberty and justice for all”.  But our government system (of, for, and by the people) has never achieved that since its creation.  The injustices allowed by our Constitution have been criminal since it’s creation.  And our use of drones, and other weapons of war, that result in collateral damage is criminal with or without our recognizing it. 

If you believe our military and better walls will keep us safe you don’t fully understand the evolution of weaponry or human nature.  (See Blog Post: Dec 4 “Evolution of weapons” for 22 other factors concerning our growing insecurity.

If this doesn't convince people that 'liberty and justice for all' is the only sustainable path to peace (maximizing humankind's freedom and security) nothing short of Armageddon will do it.   Put simply, security is not a function of armament or disarmament...it is a function of justice.  Our government has  very little commitment to justice.  Short term interests...yes.  Long term interests...rarely.   

Knowing we will not rapidly transform our existing national and international systems of governance to ensure liberty and justice for all, we should seriously consider funding the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.  This comprehensive and globally agreed upon plan to prevent unnecessary human death and suffering would deliver the most justice that can diminish most human desires to acquire mass lethality.  Funding these vital goals by freezing and seizing some of the $32 trillion stashed in offshore accounts by kleptocrats, cartel kingpins, rich capitalists avoiding taxes, and violent extremists group avoiding detection...would mean governments could avoid more debt while striking at the roots of suffering, crime, and corruption that increasingly undermine humankind's trust in government. 

Time is not on our side.  The democratization of weaponry will only be diminished by the globalization of freedom and justice for all.