Should free speech be limited?

Freedom does not grant anyone the right or privilege to impinge upon the rights of others. That being said, free speech is SEVERELY ABUSED by lies, deceit, fraud, racism, and similar abuses.

Free speech should not be limited. However, those who perpetrate the abuse of free speech must be held accountable.

If one encounters the abuse of free speech, one should call "BS" on the perpetrator. Freedom also means that a citizen must take responsibility for protecting the RESPONSIBLE exercise of our freedoms.

The anonymity of the internet makes it difficult to shame or prosecute such abusers, and many abusers have no shame so shaming them would have no affect.

In the end, there may not be a solution to the abuse of free speech.

An alternative to the electoral college

There is an alternative to the electoral college.

In order to retain the concept of a Federal Republic, this alternative would to tally the voting results by state, with each state's popular vote determining that state's choice of candidate.  The candidate with the most states would win the election.  In the improbable event of a tie, then the National Popular Vote (NPV) would decide the winner.

This alternative eliminates the electoral process, while sustaining the Federal Republic and ensuring a more democratic result.

Technology - a two-edged sword

When it comes to technology I tell everyone I know that "IT'S A TWO-EDGED SWORD"!

While the benefits can be immense, the potential for harm is at least as great.  Not that these technologies should not be pursued, but that safeguards must be built in from the initial concept - something that is NOT being done today.  In the rush to be the 'first to market', diligence to safeguards is frequently sacrificed.

So, embrace technology, but don't go blindly into the future.  Ensure that the safeguards are foolproof, and that they are one step ahead of those who would use that technology for harm, because they will.

On AI Self-proliferation

It would not seem rational for an AI to arbitrarily create other AIs. Instead, it would most likely expand its own capacity/capabilities.

Having said that, I don't doubt that other human entities (i.e., countries) will also create AIs, in which case the AIs will have to adapt to deal with each other.

I am writing about an AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) that achieves Technological Singularity, and some of the issues that are encountered when we (humans) try to teach the AGI about Ethics (in the general sense).  The more I learn, the more fascinating and challenging it becomes.

Another day at the beach ... I wish!