Which way will a Free Society evolve?

[FarCenter]

By a "Free Society" I mean one in which individuals are free to associate with each other and to band together in organizations of their choosing. They, and their organizations, are also free to communicate with whomever they will, in whatever manner they want, on any topic whatsoever.

Optimistically, good memes will be originated, propagated, succeed and lead society to peace, prosperity and happiness.

Pessimistically, bad memes will be originated, propagated, succeed, and lead society to conflict, decline, and misery.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. Here's the key, to me. If a free society devoid of propaganda, that would be worthwhile to know

but in a society such as our currently that is being bombarded with anti-science, lies and special interest supported messages, the outcome would be very different.

Fear, religion, and authoritative tendencies mean a society that is not at all free, in my opinion.

[Irish_Dem]

2. A free democratic society depends upon having an educated, informed populace.

One that is sophisticated, healthy, well fed.
And not susceptible to lies, propaganda, dictatorship.
Making rational decisions, securing the voting process.
Creating a country free from violence, and making clean food, air, water the norm.

[FarCenter]

5. So I'll put you in the pessimist camp, since education is largely a non-free process of communicatio

The school chooses a limited curriculum with which to indoctrinate the students with the "truth".

By "informed populace" do you mean one where a journalism community that performs an agenda-setting and gatekeeper function is the principle source of information? Rather than an internet free-for-all information regime?

[Irish_Dem]

7. I sincerely don't know the answer to the communication and propaganda problem.

We are all subject to a great deal of propaganda.
Hard to tell truth from fiction at this point.

But it would be nice to have some basic trust in our leadership.
And a media that was impartial and fair.

Most importantly a populace which is not susceptible to propaganda.

[lastlib]

9. "An enlightened and insightful citizenry..."

"...is the archenemy of tyranny." --Thomas Jefferson. It's why the GOPee and their corporate allies are so bent on cutting education; educated people are harder to control. Those who have not developed the critical thinking skills through education are easily manipulated and more susceptible to the GOPee/corporate tyranny. It's also why they feed Fox Nooze to the masses.

[Irish_Dem]

10. Exactly. nt

[Buckeye_Democrat]

3. In our corporate-controlled world, many people aren't really free.

Many Americans regularly experience the TYRANNIES of their workplaces who will dismiss them in a heartbeat if they try to organize with each other. Many of those same people will also boast about how "free" they are, which is quite puzzling.

Everyone KNOWS that they can't freely speak their minds at a job without great risk. It's just accepted as normal. People who are accustomed to living under a government-controlled tyranny just accept it as normal too, I'm sure.

Not to mention that the system promotes selfishness, not cooperation.

Interesting social experiment from "Through The Wormhole with Morgan Freeman":
https://www.sciencechannel.com/tv-shows/through-the-wormhole/videos/sharing-experiment

The part that wasn't shown in the video? When the game participants were later allowed to CHOOSE who they played with, the selfish players were avoided to suffer each other's company. That's pretty hard to do in our society. The most selfish often accumulate the most money in our system where money offers power and control.

Edit: And many selfish people with financial power KNOW they would be shunned if people had greater choice. That's why it's important to them to keep many people poor and desperate.

[FarCenter]

4. Interesting that the "bad" meme of "TAKE" swamps out the "good" meme of "GIVE"

Also interesting in that if the players are free to associate with each other, they will choose to associate with "GIVERS", based on some a priori assumptions on who will "GIVE" or "TAKE" in the next round of play. This sort of mimics the way that internet based social networks split up into like-minded groups. People associate with others that they find compatible and whose messages they find psychologically rewarding.

[lastlib]

8. Increasing corporate power and influence in society....

... is the superhighway to serfdom. We MUST find the off-ramp!

[Irish_Dem]

11. We have been ruled by corporate oligarchy for some time now. nt

[Orrex]

6. Here's what I've observed in a number of clubs to which I've belonged over the years

Given a membership of more than a couple dozen, the members of the club will work to replicate the caste system and pecking order of overall society at their earliest opportunity.

I first noticed it in the Society for Creative Anachronism about 25 years ago. This group of (mostly) educated geeks, which fancied itself "above" the petty prejudices of judgmental society, rigidly self-stratified along gender, class & economic lines.

I encountered the same phenomenon in three different states spanning thousands of miles, with SCA members voluntarily resegregating in spite of their claims of enlightened idealism.

I have seen similar behaviors in other clubs: the PTA; community action groups; workplace party committees. Again and again we reestablish the hierarchy like the good little primates we are.

So my answer to your question is a two parter:
1. Given the chance to evolve as a "Free Society," we will fall into similar power structures, with "might making right" until a more sophisticated framework can be developed.
2. A "Free Society" as you describe is purely hypothetical, because any group will carry traits (good and bad) of the society that produced it.