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← Power in history comes only partly from knowing the truth, and also from keeping social order among many people
17 connected korrents · 13 moments from 7 Oct 2021 to 16 Oct 2026.
Everything filed under democracy
democracy
Everything filed under government
government
Everything filed under politics
politics
Everything filed under public debt
public debt
Everything filed under startups
startups
Everything filed under war
war
Everything filed under behavioural science
behavioural science Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Read this korrent: Power in history comes only partly from knowing the truth, and also from keeping social order among many people Power in history comes only partly from knowing the truth, and also from keeping social order among many people
YH
Yuval Noah Harari — holds since c. 2024–2025 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Most social order comes from society itself, not from government — tap to centre the map on it Most social order comes from society itself, not from government
TP
Thomas Paine — holds since c. 1792 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Concentrated power has been bad at every moment of human history, and a society is best off when power is spread as widely as possible. — tap to centre the map on it Concentrated power has been bad at every moment of human history, and a society is best off when power is spread as widely as possible. Last stated 3 months ago
28 Jul 2026
SA
Sam Altman — holds since 2026-07-28 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A population that knows its history is much harder to control and propagandize. — tap to centre the map on it A population that knows its history is much harder to control and propagandize. Last stated 2 weeks ago
16 Oct 2026
TC
Tucker Carlson — holds since 2026-10-16 — tap for who they are
Same subject: "Speak truth to power" misdescribes the task: the powerful already know the truth — tap to centre the map on it "Speak truth to power" misdescribes the task: the powerful already know the truth Last stated 5 years ago
7 Oct 2021
NC
Noam Chomsky — holds since 2021-10-07 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Political power is held by those with the will to power, a drive that can't arise from detached truth-seeking communities without corrupting them. — tap to centre the map on it Political power is held by those with the will to power, a drive that can't arise from detached truth-seeking communities without corrupting them. Last stated 4 years ago
7 Mar 2023
JF
Jacob Falkovich — holds since 2023-03-07 — tap for who they are
Same subject: History as written so far describes almost only how theocracy, military power, autocracy and the rich came to rule — tap to centre the map on it History as written so far describes almost only how theocracy, military power, autocracy and the rich came to rule
PK
Peter Kropotkin — holds since c. 1890–1902 — tap for who they are
Same subject: As societies rely more on coordination than coercion, the power to shape beliefs and knowledge grows in importance. — tap to centre the map on it As societies rely more on coordination than coercion, the power to shape beliefs and knowledge grows in importance. Last stated 3 months ago
13 Aug 2026
HF
Henry Farrell — holds since 2026-08-13 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A society's commitment to truth-telling matters because most individual beliefs are inherited from the surrounding society rather than independently verified — tap to centre the map on it A society's commitment to truth-telling matters because most individual beliefs are inherited from the surrounding society rather than independently verified Last stated a month ago
17 Sept 2026
TH
Tim Harford — holds since 2026-09-17 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A backlash against women's economic rise is not automatic; it happens only where politicians choose to mobilise it. — tap to centre the map on it A backlash against women's economic rise is not automatic; it happens only where politicians choose to mobilise it. Last stated 2 years ago
1 Dec 2024
AE
Alice Evans — holds since 2024-12-01 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A corrupt, partisan majority on the Supreme Court has given Trump a huge amount of untrammeled power. — tap to centre the map on it A corrupt, partisan majority on the Supreme Court has given Trump a huge amount of untrammeled power. Last stated 3 weeks ago
14 Oct 2026
PK
Paul Krugman — holds since 2026-10-14 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A country without cultural unity struggles to provide public goods, because its politics turns into an ethnic spoils system. — tap to centre the map on it A country without cultural unity struggles to provide public goods, because its politics turns into an ethnic spoils system. Last stated 7 months ago
9 Apr 2026
NS
Noah Smith — holds since 2026-04-09 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A company can run on truth only if its leader deeply desires it and rules with a firm hand rather than by democracy. — tap to centre the map on it A company can run on truth only if its leader deeply desires it and rules with a firm hand rather than by democracy. Last stated 2 years ago
6 Mar 2025
KG
Kapil Gupta — holds since 2025-03-06 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A company is not a democracy: every voice should be heard and then one person decides, and the decision should not be the popular one. — tap to centre the map on it A company is not a democracy: every voice should be heard and then one person decides, and the decision should not be the popular one. Last stated 5 months ago
2 Jun 2026
MP
Mark Pincus — holds since 2026-06-02 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A conversation needs several legitimate voices; if the people has only one, democracy becomes dictation — tap to centre the map on it A conversation needs several legitimate voices; if the people has only one, democracy becomes dictation
YH
Yuval Noah Harari — holds since c. 2024–2025 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A central bank can eliminate a self-fulfilling ('sunspot') debt crisis simply by credibly committing to buy as many bonds as needed at the low interest rate. — tap to centre the map on it A central bank can eliminate a self-fulfilling ('sunspot') debt crisis simply by credibly committing to buy as many bonds as needed at the low interest rate. Last stated 4 years ago
1 Jun 2022
OB
Olivier Blanchard — holds since 2022-06-01 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Cutting off trade with tariffs would force a huge interest-rate spike and probably a debt crisis, because the budget deficit would have to be financed at home. — tap to centre the map on it Cutting off trade with tariffs would force a huge interest-rate spike and probably a debt crisis, because the budget deficit would have to be financed at home. Last stated 2 years ago
14 Apr 2025
JC
John H. Cochrane — holds since 2025-04-14 — tap for who they are
Same subject: During post-2008 fiscal consolidation, the costs of high public debt were overestimated and fiscal multipliers were underestimated, understating the output costs of austerity. — tap to centre the map on it During post-2008 fiscal consolidation, the costs of high public debt were overestimated and fiscal multipliers were underestimated, understating the output costs of austerity. Last stated 4 years ago
1 Jun 2022
OB
Olivier Blanchard — holds since 2022-06-01 — tap for who they are
At the centre
Power in history comes only partly from knowing the truth, and also from keeping social order among many people
Last stated c. 2024–2025
Holds Read this korrent →
Most social order comes from society itself, not from government
Last stated c. 1792
Holds
Concentrated power has been bad at every moment of human history, and a society is best off when power is spread as widely as possible.
Holds
A population that knows its history is much harder to control and propagandize.
Holds
"Speak truth to power" misdescribes the task: the powerful already know the truth
Holds
Political power is held by those with the will to power, a drive that can't arise from detached truth-seeking communities without corrupting them.
Holds
History as written so far describes almost only how theocracy, military power, autocracy and the rich came to rule
Last stated c. 1890–1902
Holds
As societies rely more on coordination than coercion, the power to shape beliefs and knowledge grows in importance.
Holds
A society's commitment to truth-telling matters because most individual beliefs are inherited from the surrounding society rather than independently verified
Holds
A backlash against women's economic rise is not automatic; it happens only where politicians choose to mobilise it.
Holds
A corrupt, partisan majority on the Supreme Court has given Trump a huge amount of untrammeled power.
Holds
A country without cultural unity struggles to provide public goods, because its politics turns into an ethnic spoils system.
Holds
A company can run on truth only if its leader deeply desires it and rules with a firm hand rather than by democracy.
Holds
A company is not a democracy: every voice should be heard and then one person decides, and the decision should not be the popular one.
Holds
A conversation needs several legitimate voices; if the people has only one, democracy becomes dictation
Last stated c. 2024–2025
Holds
A central bank can eliminate a self-fulfilling ('sunspot') debt crisis simply by credibly committing to buy as many bonds as needed at the low interest rate.
Holds
Cutting off trade with tariffs would force a huge interest-rate spike and probably a debt crisis, because the budget deficit would have to be financed at home.
Holds
During post-2008 fiscal consolidation, the costs of high public debt were overestimated and fiscal multipliers were underestimated, understating the output costs of austerity.
Holds