I would say that Stephenson’s vision of the future, although decidedly far-fetched, is not impossible. Since the book was written in 1992, it is of course not entirely accurate with the depiction of the internet or metaverse and other technologies, it is amazing that he was able to predict technologic developments so accurately. Even the world that Hiro Protagonist lives in is not really too far away to imagine (perhaps with the exception of Y. T.’s rather eccentric personality and actions). The extreme capitalism exhibited in Snow Crash seems to be a logical extension of the growth of the system. Everything being looked out for by the interest of private corporations is really the ultimate goal of capitalism.
That being said, I do not see the United States ever undergoing such an extreme transition, at least not in the immediate future shown in Snow Crash. Such a drastic switch to extreme capitalism and the dissolution of the nation’s government would take decades, it it were ever going to happen. I cannot see the United States, even in the midst of an economic recession, ever willingly dissolving and dividing up its power among franchiselets.
The best franchiselet, I think, would have to be Mr. Lee’s Greater Hong Kong. Not only do you get ridiculous Rat Things protecting you all the time, but you have unbridled technological development and opportunities not available in other nation-states. Also, the not racist part is fairly appealing.
2 comments:
I found the quick dissolution of the US really unlikely as well. Hiro's dad fought in WWII and then fifty years later the nation has practically disappeared. Didn't seem "plausible". I agree with you that the possibility of the US disappearing could happen but would take longer, that or nuclear warfare.
I agree with both of you, patriotism is a value held dear by many Americans, and I simply cannot see how, no matter how bad things get, dissolving so much that the government has so little central authority. Yes business is gaining a larger role in state relations, but Stephenson's dipiction is an exagerated depiction of what happens when the power of business goes unchecked
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