Its not a mafia, its a game. You lost because its a complex game and complex games at scale can’t be 100% objectively equal and fair
You can change minor rules if they are too bad in this specific place. You can also try to stop some games. And sometimes it works. But the problem doesn’t magically disappear. Instead players who followed some rules (which are SOMETIMES bad) start following no rules, which are ALMOST ALWAYS bad. And the basic game theory comes into play - strongest/richest wins.
This seems really insightful and profound, but way too galaxy brained for me to understand 😂
Government = Mafia + rigged game?
Government is people, even if its hard to believe :) police are people, doctors are people, killers are people, volunteers are people - just like me and you :) and people could be good or bad
Set of rules govts create (laws) - is a game
Long story short, fines for driving are rather good. But if in your case there is really a place where its unavoidable to break rules - it has to be changed. And it doesn’t require a revolution to achieve :)
I think maybe I didn't make my point clearly enough. I'm not suggesting a revolution because I go a traffic fine ... I mean, what?!
I'm saying the incident is an analogy for how governments usually don't have our best interests in mind, and even weaponise compliance to turn us against each other. Replace traffic fine with lack of access due to no COVID vaccine etc. The stated intention is "the good of all" or something, but in reality the goal is control, and many unwittingly help the government/mafia enforce it by condemning their neighbours.
You have framed it correctly, and you should *not* pay, and in fact, you (if you have the stomach/resources for it) should find a lawyer, take them to court, find a jounalist willing to publish something on it, etc.
No one has the time or energy, but it’s not a trivial thing:
Nice essay - I fully agree with it, although admit I didn't have the courage to avoid accessing those gated privileges since I needed to travel to see family. My traffic fine is just a tiny and trivial example but still a perfect fit for what you articulate.
Thanks — we all compromise in various ways. I pay my taxes even though by doing so, I make it harder for others not to comply.
But especially when they push something new, think it’s really important to draw the line lest it become normalized.
