Solving a Hypothetical Schoolyard Problem - A Simplistic Idea
[This is a daft, er draft]
Let's say you've got a school full of bullies. Bully 1 is in a power struggle with Bully 2. Unfortunately there are lots of Innocent Victims, while the School Authorities are left powerless for some reason. To make matters worse, Vested Interests are supporting the bullies, actively or otherwise. Let's call Bully 1's supporters Interests 1, and Bully 2's supporters Interests 2.
Eventually, after considerable damage, Outside Authorities manages to arrange a truce. But the resentment between the bullies will continue unless the underlying issues are resolved. And innocent people will continue to suffer.
An immediate problem is the dmagae caused by the bullies. Let's sat Bully 1 causes $X of damage while trying to torment Bully 2, and Bully B causes $Y of damage while trying to torment Bully 1. Thanks to the support of Interests 1, Bully 1 was much more efficient, so $X exceeds $Y. In time, shadowy Interests 2 will curry favour with the Innocent Victims by helping pay for the damage inflicted on them by Bully 1. The price for this support is the likelihood of future pain :(
What can we do to fix this? If this happened in normal societies, people should be made to compensate for the damage they do. So Bully 1 should "pay" for the damage inflicted. But alas our hypothetical schoolyard is not normal. In fact, Bully 1 will continue to receive financial support from Interests 1, and Bully 2 will receive financial support from Interests 2. Deeply held suspicions and resentments will continue to fester, and Innocent Victims will succumb to the payoff by Bully 2.
If Interests 1 were sincere in their desire for long-term peace. perhaps they could take the initiative? They could gain the trust of the Innocent Victims by telling Bully 1 that their subsidy will be cut by the net damage they inflicted? The amount would instead be given to the Innocent Victims to rebuild. Effectively Interests 1 will outbid Interests 2. Perhaps Bully 2 would lose the tacit support of the Innocent Victims. Perhaps the School Authorities will no longer fear Bully 2, and therefore be able to keep him in check or even drive him out. Bully 1 would have paid a heavy price too, but in return he may no longer have to be so concerned by Bully 2.
Let's say you've got a school full of bullies. Bully 1 is in a power struggle with Bully 2. Unfortunately there are lots of Innocent Victims, while the School Authorities are left powerless for some reason. To make matters worse, Vested Interests are supporting the bullies, actively or otherwise. Let's call Bully 1's supporters Interests 1, and Bully 2's supporters Interests 2.
Eventually, after considerable damage, Outside Authorities manages to arrange a truce. But the resentment between the bullies will continue unless the underlying issues are resolved. And innocent people will continue to suffer.
An immediate problem is the dmagae caused by the bullies. Let's sat Bully 1 causes $X of damage while trying to torment Bully 2, and Bully B causes $Y of damage while trying to torment Bully 1. Thanks to the support of Interests 1, Bully 1 was much more efficient, so $X exceeds $Y. In time, shadowy Interests 2 will curry favour with the Innocent Victims by helping pay for the damage inflicted on them by Bully 1. The price for this support is the likelihood of future pain :(
What can we do to fix this? If this happened in normal societies, people should be made to compensate for the damage they do. So Bully 1 should "pay" for the damage inflicted. But alas our hypothetical schoolyard is not normal. In fact, Bully 1 will continue to receive financial support from Interests 1, and Bully 2 will receive financial support from Interests 2. Deeply held suspicions and resentments will continue to fester, and Innocent Victims will succumb to the payoff by Bully 2.
If Interests 1 were sincere in their desire for long-term peace. perhaps they could take the initiative? They could gain the trust of the Innocent Victims by telling Bully 1 that their subsidy will be cut by the net damage they inflicted? The amount would instead be given to the Innocent Victims to rebuild. Effectively Interests 1 will outbid Interests 2. Perhaps Bully 2 would lose the tacit support of the Innocent Victims. Perhaps the School Authorities will no longer fear Bully 2, and therefore be able to keep him in check or even drive him out. Bully 1 would have paid a heavy price too, but in return he may no longer have to be so concerned by Bully 2.
Labels: politics
posted by Bruno at 6:47 PM [permalink]
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