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**Title: The System That Shapes Us: How Our Systems Reflect and Influence Behavior**

In a world where systems profoundly shape human behavior, the ethical and moral frameworks of societies are deeply intertwined with the structures they operate within. Imagine a vast network of interconnected systems—financial, governmental, and societal—each influencing how people interact with one another and how they perceive and act upon their values.

**The Current System: Molding Behavior through Structural Flaws**

Today's predominant systems often embed unethical practices into their very fabric. Financial systems based on fiat currency encourage practices that favor those with control over the money supply, leading to economic disparities and ethical dilemmas. Governmental systems with opaque decision-making and unchecked power can foster environments of corruption and inefficiency. These structures, designed for short-term gains and control, inadvertently perpetuate behaviors that align with their inherent flaws.

In this context, high crime rates can be seen as a symptom of the system's failure to address root causes. When the system rewards dishonesty, corruption, and manipulation, it creates an environment where these behaviors can thrive. People adapt to the system's rules, often finding themselves participating in or perpetuating unethical practices to survive or succeed within it.

**The Shift: Introducing a New System**

Now envision a shift to a new system designed with transparency, equity, and ethical principles at its core. A decentralized system, for instance, operates on principles of openness and fairness, distributing power more evenly and creating an environment where honesty is not just a value but a practical necessity.

In this new system, behaviors shift as people respond to the new incentives and structures. With a financial system based on honest money like Bitcoin, which requires genuine effort to produce and verify transactions, the incentive to engage in deceitful practices diminishes. Transparent systems, whether in finance or governance, make corruption and manipulation much harder to sustain.

**The Reversal: Transforming Behavior through Better Systems**

As the new system takes hold, the behaviors of individuals and organizations begin to align with its ethical framework. With fewer opportunities for deceit, and with transparency as a guiding principle, individuals start to act more honestly, driven by a system that rewards integrity and accountability.

Crime rates, initially high under the old system, begin to decline as the structural incentives for criminal behavior are removed. People who once saw crime as a means of survival or success now find that the new system provides fair opportunities and reduces the need for unethical behavior.

In this way, the principles etched into a system profoundly influence the behavior of its participants. By designing systems that embody ethical values and transparency, societies can foster environments where honesty and integrity flourish, ultimately transforming behaviors and reducing crime.

**Conclusion**

The systems we operate within not only reflect but also shape our behaviors. When a system is built on flawed principles, it perpetuates behaviors that align with those flaws. Conversely, a well-designed system based on transparency and fairness can transform behaviors, reducing crime and fostering a more ethical society. The evolution towards such systems represents not just a change in infrastructure but a profound shift in the collective behavior and principles of the world’s population.

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Discussion

Farley | Hard Fork Anthems 1y ago

Can we create new global systems and infrastructure with gold or silver?

Des Imoto マキシ 1y ago

Well said. And what will communities look like? In the vein of decentralization, we may end up moving toward small communities, tribes (or some #Bit coiners refer to them as citadels) of like minded peoples in the pursuit of their happiness.

Which led me to look at how American Indians organized. They seemed to, within their tribes, live so harmoniously amongst themselves and with nature.

American Indians organized many decisions around family units and tribal councils. One way to illustrate how it works is to look how American Indians disincentivized bad behavior.

Now probably the first thing to know about Native American history is that there was very little crime. Perhaps crime and punishment go with Western Industrial-type nations. Historically, travelers to the outermost regions of Native America commented on how honest and how little crime existed.

So what did they do if one of their own committed a “crime”?

Firstly, tgere were no jails. Secondly, while all tribes were different, in matters of severe offenses, the family or the clan usually dealt with the offender. Often the person guilty of the crime was “sentenced” to go away from the tribe and try to make it on his own — which in the long ago past, was almost a testiment to a death sentence. In the Lakota tribe there is a reference in the book, WATER LILY, about the offender having to make restitution with the family by taking a role in the family. Usually such people were so happy to not be put out of the tribe, that they became the best family members of all. Imagine if this were so in our society today? That the offender had to make restitution with the family for his acts? What do you think might be the result? Less crime, perhaps?

In the Creek society, as well as the Blackfeet, the crime of adultery (for women only) was a cut off nose — the tip of the nose. This was usually performed at the request of the offending husband and was done by the society that he belonged to.

As far as stealing is concerned, it was almost unheard of. George Catlin remarked that in all his travels in Native America he had never had one single thing taken from him, or even a hand lifted against him. In truth, one young man made quite a journey to join Catlin in order to return to him some of his property. However, if stealing had been done, the offending party again made restitution with the “victim” by supplying them with whatever they needed in return. Seems a much simplier process, doesn’t it? Make up the damage one has done to the person who has been harmed, himself.

Besides almost non-existent crime, there was also no poverty. Some people were more prosperous than others — such has always been the case amongst a people. But noone went hungry when there was food to be had within the tribe, nor did anyone go without.

And if a culture is known by its humanity towards others and the material condition of its people, then I would have to say that American Indians were, indeed, a culture to be proud.

#Bitcoin . Fix the money, fix the world.

#Bitcoin . It’s the only chance we have.

Parts extracted verbatim from CRIME & PUNISHMENT — Native American Style

October 14, 2008 by Karen Kay