What kind of government will exist on Mars? | Michael Shermer | Big Think

TL;DR

Planning governance for Mars colonization involves applying lessons from Earth's history of government and political philosophy.

Transcript

MICHAEL SHERMER: So governing Mars. Are there any lessons for the Red planet that we can take there from the Blue planet? I think there are. So I included this chapter in my book because in the section on government and economics and classical liberalism and political philosophy I think we have an opportunity here that we're about to colonize Mars.... Read More

Key Insights

• 🪡 Governance for Mars needs to consider lessons from Earth's history of government and political philosophy.
• 🥶 Democracy and free markets have shown better results than autocracies and command economies.
• 🗯️ A constitutional republic with rights protection might be more suitable for Mars than direct democracy.
• 👋 Human nature elements, both good and bad, need to be considered when planning governance for Mars.
• 🛀 Elon Musk suggests direct democracy for Mars, but history shows representative democracy might be more effective.
• 🏃 The wisdom of crowds might not always apply to running a government, especially in complex decision-making.
• 🥶 Free thought and free speech, protected by a constitutional republic, are crucial for Mars governance.

Questions & Answers

Q: What type of government should be established on Mars?

The speaker suggests a representative democracy or a constitutional republic similar to what we have on Earth to ensure individual rights and prevent mob mentality from taking control.

Q: Why is it important to consider lessons from Earth's history when planning governance on Mars?

It's crucial because the same human nature elements that exist on Earth will also be present on Mars, impacting how society functions and making it crucial to apply past lessons to avoid repeating mistakes.

Q: How do democracies and free markets compare to autocracies and command economies for governing Mars?

Democracies and free markets have generally proven to be more effective on Earth due to their ability to promote individual freedoms, innovation, and economic growth, suggesting they might be suitable for Mars governance.

Q: Why might direct democracy not be the best choice for governing Mars?

Direct democracy can lead to mob mentality and irrational decisions based on majority rule, potentially resulting in harmful policies, hence a system like the constitutional republic with safeguards is preferred.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• As humans plan to colonize Mars, it's crucial to consider what type of government to establish on the Red planet.

• Lessons from Earth's history suggest that democracies and free markets work better than autocracies and command economies.

• A constitutional republic with a set of rules, like the Bill of Rights, might be more effective than direct democracy for governing Mars.