I think that if you get a position in Congress / the White House / the Supreme Court you should be required to pick from a menu of ego-shattering experiences before you take office. Psychedelics are on the list, but there can be other options in case drugs are no good for you. Things like extended fasting, a round in a sensory deprivation tank, a trip to orbit, being present for an organ donor having their organs removed… I’m sure we could come up with a list of drug-free experiences that would be transformative and drive home that you aren’t the center of the universe.
I think people might overstate how much the Overview Effect would help.
John Glenn’s time in congress had him oppose nuclear proliferation, fix safety and environmental problems at nuclear weapon storage facilities, and to clean up nuclear waste. He also supported the B-1 bomber program, was wrapped up in the Keating Five corruption scandal, voted against gun locks for transferring pistols, and voted against a underage tobacco usage amendment. He generally supported every defense department budget bill.
Bill Nelson voted for the Patriot Act–just like everyone else in the Senate except Feingold–and also voted against a mandate for a 2007 complete withdrawal from Iraq.
It’s all a mixed bag, at best. It’s not going to magically transform our political system.
Thats what throwing them in the woods alone for a month is for, fucken rends you down. Im not even talking a survival situation just no internet, radio, or tv, books are allowed but cant be anything that is explicitly propaganda Heinlein is allowed though just not Starship Troopers.
I think that if you get a position in Congress / the White House / the Supreme Court you should be required to pick from a menu of ego-shattering experiences before you take office. Psychedelics are on the list, but there can be other options in case drugs are no good for you. Things like extended fasting, a round in a sensory deprivation tank, a trip to orbit, being present for an organ donor having their organs removed… I’m sure we could come up with a list of drug-free experiences that would be transformative and drive home that you aren’t the center of the universe.
“You want to grab a politician by the scruff of the neck and drag him a quarter of a million miles out and say, ‘Look at that, you son of a bitch.'”
I think people might overstate how much the Overview Effect would help.
John Glenn’s time in congress had him oppose nuclear proliferation, fix safety and environmental problems at nuclear weapon storage facilities, and to clean up nuclear waste. He also supported the B-1 bomber program, was wrapped up in the Keating Five corruption scandal, voted against gun locks for transferring pistols, and voted against a underage tobacco usage amendment. He generally supported every defense department budget bill.
Bill Nelson voted for the Patriot Act–just like everyone else in the Senate except Feingold–and also voted against a mandate for a 2007 complete withdrawal from Iraq.
It’s all a mixed bag, at best. It’s not going to magically transform our political system.
I just like the idea of dragging politicians a quarter million miles into the vacuum of space
I’ve known raving fascist assholes who also took psychedelics. They’re not a panacea, however much you might like to imagine they are.
Thats what throwing them in the woods alone for a month is for, fucken rends you down. Im not even talking a survival situation just no internet, radio, or tv, books are allowed but cant be anything that is explicitly propaganda Heinlein is allowed though just not Starship Troopers.