Cooperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diversity
Liberty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Responsibility
If we take a systems perspective and think of life as "Systems capable of searching the space of the possible for the survivable", then by such a definition any system (human or non-human, biological or non-biological) that is capable of searching the space of the possible for the survivable is “living”. Then the idea is that liberty is embedded in the very definition of life. It captures the idea that freedom isn't just a value to be balanced against others but is foundational to the concept of life itself. It is the mechanism by which life (in its various forms) explores, learns, and adapts.
This same definition also captures the fundamental need for responsibility, as that which constrains search to the survivable, and does not lead to destruction.
Being involved in governance is rarely simple, as it involves complex balancings between larger scale risks and rewards, and day to day living. Part of it is providing a framework that offers sufficient consistency that the essential systems to maintain life are preserved, and that is a balance between knowledge from the past, and the needs for individual freedom and individual responsibility (the ability to explore and create and go beyond the known, into the eternally vaster unknown and unexplored).
For those (like me) that are interested in maximising long-term security and long term freedom, that means exploring long-term risks, and often that demands exploring unknown strategic and systemic "territory" for solutions to known problems for which we as yet have no known solutions. I have a rather too large collection of such things in my head, from 60 years of such explorations.
We all have our personal understandings and experiences of being, and often those can be very different from other individuals, and that is part of what makes life, and political office in particular, interesting.
Because it seems very likely to me that we are at the time of greatest change, greatest risk, and greatest potential benefit in human history.
Artificial intelligence changes everything. It is changing exponentially, the rate of change in increasing. It can create video and sounds that are indistinguishable from reality. It is now impossible to trust anything one sees or hears online, unless you have personal trust networks to source of that information, and every step in the chain of it getting to you. Developing supportive, connected, local trust networks is critical over the next few years.
The possible benefits, and the possible risks, from Artificial Intelligence, seem to me, beyond any shadow of reasonable doubt, to dwarf all other classes of risk (or benefit) combined.
It seems clear to me that the future will either be better than most imagine possible, or as bad as many imagine; and much of that trajectory will more than likely be decided in the next three years. I really do not see anything more important for our common future than this.
So what am I championing to be done by our council during the next 3 years?
Mostly, stick to the basics, water, sewers, roads, footpaths, and some of those things need a bit more work.
Security for our water supply. The most likely major disruption to water seems to me to be the alpine fault rupturing, which could leave us without electicity for weeks or months. I would like to see us putting solar panels and inverters sufficient to run all pumps in our water and sewer systems. They are a good investment, and will pay for themselves within a decade, and give us the ability to give everyone enough water to live in most foreseeable situations, and allow us to get rid of the waste that poses health risk if not dealt with appropriately.
I would similarly like to see us develop civil defence systems that would allow us to ensure that everyone in the community was OK, and allow us to get appropriate aid to those who need it. Our quake 9 years ago showed some significant holes in our systems - some people were not contacted for many days.
Similarly, I would like to see the council develop systems that would allow us to ensure that everyone has enough to survive in any and all forms of emergency. Develop and test the systems before they are needed, so that they are ready when needed.
We still have a lot of material from the 2016 quake in the major waterways north and south of town. We can't entirely eliminate risk, and it seems clear to me that we could do significantly more than we are to significantly reduce the risks.
Other than that, there are many things we could do to increase the awareness about our impacts on nature, and to reduce those as much as we reasonably can. That seems to me to be sufficiently complex that we can keep on doing that for a very long time.
. The economic system is broken. Fundamental reform is needed. Universal Income should keep it going long enough for real long-term solutions to be developed. We need to ensure that everyone has enough to live with security and reasonable degrees of freedom. Most in the AI community are clear about that - most in the eocnomic community not so much so - many seeing austerity for the masses as the way to keep the elites with maximal freedom; but fail to see how much risk is actually present in that strategy long-term.
. If long-term survival is our objective, then cooperation in diversity seems to be demanded. We need to accept and respect any diversity in our community and beyond that is not an actual and unreasonable threat to existence - and some of it is such a threat - particularly that which claims that pure focus on self interest can produce long term survivable outcomes - that is demonstrably untrue - a gross over simplification of something profoundly more complex, and demanding of profoundly greater responsibility. We must have the capacity to counter threats, including threats of force, but we need to be fundamentally cooperative and peaceful, and only engage in violence to counter violence, and that is open to exploitation at multiple levels, and demands the highest levels of responsibility from each of us, to make such determinations to the best of our limited and fallible abilities.
. We must do what we reasonably can to move towards full recycling of all goods.
. We must respect diversity, everywhere. In part that means being prepared to try the unproven, the unknown - supporting real scientific, technological and social innovation for those that want such innovation, and keeping the older systems for those that want them to stay. Strength in diversity, in respect, not economic efficiency, and we don't want ot be economically profligate either - there is responsible economics.
. We need to protect our environment, because we are first and formost biological organisms ourselves, reliant on our environment in ways that far too few have much appreciation of, far more that the obvious tourism for whales and dolphins and seabirds, farming, fishing and growing our own veges.
. We must respect real planetary boundaries - physics and biology take precedence over economics and politics.
There is nothing simple in such an eternally complex and uncertain set of balances that we each need to be responsible for. Just because we are all necessarily biased to prefer simple certainty, does not mean that reality is either as simple or as certain as we want it, or experience it, to be.
I started a software business in 1986, which I still operate, so I have some real experience of computers and what they can do, of solving complex problems, and clear memories of people saying what computers couldn't do - but what they are now doing. The freely available version of ChatGPT is already a faster and better programmer than I am, for some classes of problems. The paid version (GPT4) is about 100 times more competent. GPT5 is due any day at time of writing this (July-October 2025), and will be about 150 times more powerful (and cheaper to operate).
My major purpose in standing for office was the long term survival of humanity - me and everyone else; with as much freedom and resources as we can responsibly manage. And as stated in the subtitle of this page - a balance of freedom and responsibility is foundational to the very definition of life. Some rules are necessary, but not too many, and just following the rules is never enough to meet the definition of being responsible, and that is never (in and of itself) sufficient cause to break any rule.
Kaikoura.org contains some stuff directly related to this election. TedHowardNZ.wordpress.com contains most of my writings over the last 15 years (and a few from before that time).
I will continue to (have done, this morning, prior to updating this website) work towards ensuring a long term future for our community and for humanity more generally; where individuals have the freedom to do whatever they responsibly choose (and responsibility is necessary at every level of freedom and complexity); where the needs of the environment, individuals and communities are appropriately balanced; where diversity is accepted and respected; all to the best of my limited and fallible abilities, in cooperation with any and all who are willing to work with me.
Thank you to all those who did vote Ted Howard for Kaikoura District Council. We were a couple of hundred short of enough to put me on council, and that won't stop me talking to those who did get onto council.
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What follows is taken from 2 responses by ChatGPT to 2 questions that I asked it. A full transcript can be read here.
We have a need for a deeper understanding of systemic issues and the importance of cooperation in addition to competition. Indeed, complex systems, including societies, are not solely driven by competition but also rely on cooperation to ensure their long-term survival and well-being.
Competition can bring benefits in terms of innovation, efficiency, and resource allocation. However, without proper cooperative constraints and mechanisms, competition alone can lead to destructive outcomes and undermine the stability and sustainability of the system.
Cooperation is crucial for establishing the foundations of a thriving society. It involves collaboration, collective decision-making, and the recognition of shared goals and values. Cooperative systems allow for the pooling of resources, the establishment of fair rules and regulations, and the promotion of equitable opportunities for all individuals.
The advent of automation and artificial intelligence introduces new dimensions to the systemic incentive structures. Acknowledging and adapting to these changes are vital to ensure that the benefits of automation and AI are harnessed for the collective good and the long-term survival of society.
A comprehensive understanding of these complex dynamics and the need for a balance between competition and cooperation should be actively promoted and communicated to all levels of agents involved, whether they are individuals, organizations, or governing bodies. Education, public discourse, and transparent decision-making processes play critical roles in fostering such understanding and facilitating the necessary systemic adaptations.
In summary, a deeper appreciation of the importance of cooperation, alongside competition, is vital for addressing systemic issues and ensuring the long-term survival and well-being of intelligent agents.
Making a deep understanding of the importance of cooperation and the systemic dynamics accessible to all levels of agents is indeed a significant challenge. However, there are several approaches that can help foster this understanding:
Education: Incorporate the principles of cooperation, systems thinking, and interdisciplinary studies into educational curricula at all levels. Teach individuals about the interconnectedness of various systems and the importance of collaboration for long-term sustainability.
Public Awareness and Communication: Conduct awareness campaigns and engage in public dialogue to disseminate information about the benefits of cooperation and the risks of excessive competition. Utilize various communication channels, including media, social platforms, and public events, to reach a broader audience.
Leadership and Role Models: Encourage leaders and influential figures in various fields to promote and exemplify cooperative behaviors. When individuals in positions of authority prioritize collaboration and emphasize the collective good, it can inspire others to follow suit.
Collaborative Initiatives: Support and facilitate initiatives that encourage cooperation across sectors, disciplines, and communities. Foster platforms for collaboration, such as partnerships between academia, industry, and government, to address complex societal challenges collectively.
Experiential Learning: Provide opportunities for individuals to engage in real-world experiences that demonstrate the value of cooperation. This can include participation in collaborative projects, team-based problem-solving exercises, or community-based initiatives.
Research and Development: Support interdisciplinary research that explores the dynamics of cooperation and competition within complex systems. Foster collaborations between social scientists, economists, technologists, and philosophers to advance our understanding of these issues and develop practical frameworks.
Ultimately, a multi-faceted and multi-level approach is necessary to promote a comprehensive understanding of the importance of cooperation. By combining education, public engagement, leadership, practical experiences, and research efforts, we can strive to make this understanding more accessible and pervasive across different levels of agents in society.
[End of ChatGPT responses.]
Freedom is a fundamental aspect of being human, of being able to search the unknown for the useful and the survivable; but freedom without constraints is necessarily destructive (the literal bull in the china shop). Exactly where an appropriate balance is in any specific context can be extremely context sensitive, and thus has many levels of uncertainty.
Too little freedom, we die, as we are not creative enough to deal with the ever changing reality that we exist in.
Too much freedom and we destroy the very constraints that make pattern at our level possible.
Looked at another way, this same thing can be characterised as the role of competition and cooperation in evolution, where competition can be seen as freedom, and cooperation can be viewed as constraints. It is not one or the other, it is both, necessarily, and both must be in a balance that is appropriate to the specifics of the context, and even seemingly minor changes in context can demand massive changes in that balance.
We need to accept diversity, humility, and the need to engage in eternal enquiry, and reach successively useful approximations; and we cannot get there from the classical simplistic notion of "True/False", it demands greater complexity and uncertainty than that.
Responsibility is essential for survival, being constantly on the alert for what constraints are actually required in any specific context, and any particular level.
Central control is not an optimal solution. Optimality for intelligent agents demands devolved responsibility, with every agent using their intelligence applied to the specifics of the contexts they find themselves in. This is true at every level. Every golfer knows that trying to consciously control their golf swing is not going to end well. What works is giving the subconscious a clear picture of the desired outcome, then handing over control to the subconscious for execution. At the social level, control needs to be at the level of individuals, provided that those individuals are acting responsibly, and are working within sets of constraints that do have a reasonable probability of socially survivable outcomes.
We must accept uncertainty and responsibility, each to the best of our limited and fallible abilities, if we are to have any reasonable probability of long term survival (and for me that is essential).
Mayfair Theatre modern entertainment
Destination Kaikoura wide variety of attractions and accomodation.
Kaikoura Dark Sky Trust promoting dark skies, removing light polution, and promoting the amazing night time vistas Kaikoura has to offer.
Encounter dolphins, sea birds, cafe and food.
Hutton's Shearwater Kaikoura's own Titi - breeds only here in Kaikoura
Why do this?
I know that our economic and social systems have some serious issues, and am committed to working cooperatively to change the systems so that they do actually work for everyone. I have been thinking about these issues for 60 years and writing about them for over 40 years, and working at many roles in the community testing things, so that I could have practical as well as theoretical knowledge of as many aspects as possible. I have worked as farm worker, lab worker, engineer, fisherman, technical advisor, consultant, system designer, teacher, auditor, compliance officer, adjudicator, politician, advisor and been a husband and parent.
Ailsa and I met here in Kaikoura 1991, we were married here 1994, and we have lived here since 1998, so I am local by choice, and intend to remain so. I run a small software and consulting company, do part time work at the golf club, and am invovled in many local, regional, national and international committees.
It seems clear to me that the rapid changes due to technology require a response like universal income. If that is thought of as a dividend on the accumulated knowledge and creativity of humanity, then it works.
A big part of me just wants to retire and enjoy working locally, but I have been working away at multiple levels trying to create systems that deliver reasonable levels of security and freedom to everyone, for so long, that I believe I have useful skills to contribute, and my sense of responsibility demands that I try. I will keep on trying, assessing, experimenting. If you are interested in issues like world peace, then this answer demsontrates some of the complexity present.
I am interested in politics that actually serves the interests of all people for security and freedom, and meets the needs of the environment, and that demands responsibility from all of us (each to the best of our limited and fallible abilities).
I started a software business in 1986, and have run it ever since. In 2008 I found a melanoma on my temple, and in 2010 after 3 operations I was sent home "palliative care only" and told I could be dead in 6 weeks and had a 2% chance of living 2 years. Every day is special, and valuable. Follow this link if you want more details of my cancer journey.
I like working with people to solve complex problems in ways that benefit everyone. I am not a great fan of control, but I am a great advocate of cooperation, and I fully acknowledge that naive cooperation will be exploited - so not that, not at any level.
The most complex problems at present seem to be around the sorts of systems and governance structures and technologies that promote both security and freedom long term, across all levels of complexity present.
We all have our conservative and our liberal sides, and both are necessary. Putting them in opposition to each other, rather than having them work cooperatively together, seems to be one of the serious failings of our current political systems.
Our society needs to be fundamentally cooperative if we are to have any real probability of long term security. Nothing wrong with a bit of competition, provided that it is firmly built on a cooperative base that acknowledges the rights to existence and reasonable levels of freedom for all sapient entities, and ensures that all have enough resources to achieve that.
Our current economic systems have many levels of incentives that are posing risk to us all.
Some sort of universal income seems to be the best short to medium term response.
You can see more of what I have written about since 2010 on my wordpress blog site, including subjects like politics, epistemology and risks and responses.
My highest values are individual sapient life, and the liberty of all such individuals. And if liberty is to survive then it must demonstrate responsibilities appropriate to context: to take all reasonable measures to ensure the lives and liberties of others, and by implication to take reasonable steps to look after the social and ecological systems upon which we all depend, and many of us find so profoundly interesting.
Complex systems are always changed by every interaction. No set of rules can ever deliver consistent results in all contexts, it takes something much more, it takes responsibility from all of us. David Snowden gives a reasonably simple introduction to the management of complexity in his Cynefin Framework.
We all need to acknowledge those responsibilities, to be guardians (kaitiaki) of all around us. And for most people to accept that, the systems have to be actually looking after their needs in a way that they recognise as being reasonable. For those of us in Kaikoura Ngati Kuri gifted the role of kaitiaki to all the community in 2008 as part of the Te Korowia process of gifts and gains. In a deeper sense mentioned many times above, guardianship needs to be a fundamental part of any life form that is going to survive long term. So the word Kaitiaki is Maori, but the essence of what it means is built into the very definition of complex life.
And liberty in action leads to diversity. We must all accept the inescapable logic that real liberty results in diversity, and we must accept and respect that diversity (all levels), provided that it is demonstrating appropriate levels of responsibility. So nothing simple or easy.
I was a member of our Zone Water committee since it formed in 2011 until it was disbanded in 2025, and was chair of it from July 2013, and enjoyed being part of the team looking to see how we could sustain our water, our community and our ecosystems. Health water healthy life was our moto. The top 6 of these wetlands are ones that our zone committee have made a difference to in our district, in cooperation with land owners and others.
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