Comments on: Seasteading Institute

By: TerjeP (say tay-a)

TerjeP (say tay-a) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:12:23 +0000

I must admit that when I first heard about this idea my reaction was much the same as Jason at comment #9. However the idea keeps doing the rounds and I’m pretty impressed by the pedigree of individuals behind this initiative:-

http://www.seasteading.org/about-tsi/bios

There seem to be some big money people involved. And based on the following interview with Patri there is also a fair bit of thought going into how to make these things a commercial success.

http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/dailypodcast/patrifriedman_votingyourselfofftheisland_20090408.mp3

By: nicholas gray

nicholas gray — Thu, 08 May 2008 03:15:47 +0000

Don’t bother! I just trawled the ‘net and found out how bad the area would be for colonisation purposes! Whilst it is called an island on maps (the Ashmore and Cartier Islands), it is all low-level, and the islands of Ashmore are very small individually.
Also, Canberra has signed many International treaties to do with wildlife preservation, so it would be reluctant to just give it up to new colonials. The Islands are also close to Timor, and Canberra wouldn’t want to get into new discussions about redrawing borders.

By: nicholas gray

nicholas gray — Thu, 08 May 2008 02:58:11 +0000

Maybe we would need to make a pact with Canberra to not let refugees go to Australia?
We would also need lots of desalination equipment, and the first settlers should be fishermen. If we had independence, it should be doable. Lockeston, to honour John Locke, could be the ‘capital’, meaning simply the place where libertarians debate issues. Any libertarian fishermen in our lot?

By: Mark Hill

Mark Hill — Wed, 07 May 2008 07:39:01 +0000

Meaning would that be a basis for a ownership or even all the way up to sovereignty claim?

By: Mark Hill

Mark Hill — Wed, 07 May 2008 07:37:24 +0000

Is it still “excised”? I wonder if you could make a claim on it?

By: nicholas gray

nicholas gray — Wed, 07 May 2008 05:52:12 +0000

Here’s a thought- Ashmore reef is barely above sealevel, and is a drop-off point for refugees. Maybe Minerva could rise from there, with the island being built up by succeeding waves of (hardy) libertarian pioneers?

By: Life in Dahab « Chapter 5

Life in Dahab « Chapter 5 — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:21:27 +0000

[...] The diving & partying haven’t left much time for the rest of life. I finished another draft of my “declare independence” booklet, which should be published in about a month. The sale of my Canberra house is still waiting on the lawyers. I’m now part-owner in an international company that is invested in an offshore trading company. And I’m thinking of going to America to check out the Seasteading Institute. [...]

By: Tim Quilty

Tim Quilty — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 08:05:28 +0000

Well, yes, I probably won’t be moving with the first wave either. I share your concern about the hardcore libertarians. Then again, if they are wise they won’t try to turn the first one into Libertopia. Tourist resort offering otherwise illegal activities and tax haven probably, backed up with strong local rule of law. As the idea grows they can launch new ones with all sorts of variations.

But in theory there is no reason these should be disfunctional societies. They should have everything the modern city dweller desires for their day to day lives, and a holiday or business trip to the mainland will only be a short journey away.

Sure, I can see problems getting through the initial phases, but in the long run they should be viable. Also plenty of opportunity to create private distopias, but hey.

By: Jason Soon

Jason Soon — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 06:25:38 +0000

Tim
Such places already exist, they’re called cities and if I really cared enough I could move to other cities like New York and London. And yes, the downside is they come with relatively high taxes and irrational regulations most libertarians dislike but the upside is that unlike these libertarian make believe schemes, they aren’t only going to attract hard core libertarians who tend to be a rather tilted demographic. I really don’t believe the ‘wealthy well educated’ will be attracted to them solely because of the amenities. That’s my point. How many people want to live in Brunei and Saudi Arabia where you pay virtually no taxes and behind the walls of foreign quarters everyone knows all sorts of illicit activities like boozing goes on anyway? You couldn’t pay me enough to live in any of those places (a stint for a couple of years to make a fortune perhaps).

By: Tim Quilty

Tim Quilty — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 03:14:52 +0000

I guess the Seastead will be a big concrete city. Like a giant apartment block with levels of industry and commerce as well as residental, all high tech and wired for universal online access. With mainly wealthy well educated residents, and no pointless restrictions on individual liberties. Like some inner-city lifestyle on steroids. Sounds just about tailor made for Mr Soon to me.