I worked for over a decade as an elected official trying to bring some rationality to the planning of Denver's massive fixed rail transit system. One would have thought watching the issues with DIA would have created a collective consciousness so as to not repeat the same errors with "Guide the Ride" and "FastTracks". The project went ahead with similar results to DIA. The experiential lesson is that even within a population that has experienced the results of a planning fallacy, they will do it again.
Hello to the LW Community. My name is Glenn, 49, from Boulder, Colorado. After completing my Master's degree in Economics, I began a career in investment management, with a diversion into elected politics (a city council, a regional council of governments, then the Colorado state legislature, along with corporate on non-profit boards). My academic work focused on decision theory and risk analysis and my vocation on their practical application. Presently, I manage several billion dollars' worth of fixed-income portfolios on behalf of local governments and non-profits across the United States. I've also worked with the U.S. government doing training for centrist, pro-democracy parties in the emerging world.
My path to you was through a Youtube interview of Steve Omohundro. My path to him was general background research on AI, space exploration, energy, computer science and nanotech in my sometimes seemingly vain attempt to keep pace with the accelerating change in the world.
My beliefs on what is left of my religion, albeit starting off half way gone as a Presbyterian, after subjecting it to astrophysics (my original undergrad major), evolution, Jung, critical analysis of the Bible, skepticism, Lucifer (as in the light baring meme for the enlightenment and American Revolution), objectivism, experience, rationalism, is well outside of orthodoxy, say, Christian humanism. I remain very skeptical of the genius of anyone or any group to plan or scheme or act as a virtuous vanguard. I believe that power is best defused.
I bring to the table experience and knowledge of economics, finance, politics and public policy formation. I'll do a lot of deferring on other subjects. I think the work here on rationalism and at SI is of critical importance. You all have my highest regard. I too look forward to your influences on me becoming less wrong.
Speaking the Truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act. - George Orwell