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In Ukraine, distributed renewables foil Russia's assaults

167 points · 190 comments · JumpCrisscross

  1. whatever1 · · focus · HN ↗
    If you want security the concept of the mega city needs to be abandoned.

    In a decentralized country you don’t care about terrorism attacks, nuclear bombs, coups, revolutions, drones and what not.

    1. theplumber · · focus · HN ↗
      Trading off efficiency for security is not wise unless you are in war. The same applies to supply chains.
      1. RobotToaster · · focus · HN ↗
        "In peace prepare for war, in war prepare for peace." - Sun Tzu
      2. whatever1 · · focus · HN ↗
        I am not sure how efficient we are when the US spends like 20% of its budget for military, police and fire depts.

        Let alone all of the super expensive infrastructure that mega cities need, for example subways, buses, wide highways for traffic, heavy transportation for supply

        1. konschubert · · focus · HN ↗
          All of which is more expensive, per resident, in the countryside.
        2. bluGill · · focus · HN ↗
          Citation needed. Those are less than 5% of any budget I've seen.
        3. daemoens · · focus · HN ↗
          "super expensive infrastructure" that is always going to be cheaper in a city compared to building equivalents in the countryside.
      3. graemep · · focus · HN ↗
        By the time you are in a war it is too late. Far better to be prepared.

        Its not just war either, as the pandemic showed. Trade disputes that lead to sanctions, natural disasters, and lots of other things require the same security.

        Its worth paying a bit more for the security, for the same reasons people buy insurance.

        1. [deleted] · · focus · HN ↗

          [deleted]

        2. theplumber · · focus · HN ↗
          >> It’s worth paying a bit more for the security, for the same reasons people buy insurance.

          Yeah but this “ If you want security the concept of the mega city needs to be abandoned.” is not a bit more. It’s paying more for insurance than the asset insured. Perhaps you heard of the term over engineer or the cure is worse than the disease. I think it applies here as well.

      4. DrProtic · · focus · HN ↗
        Its not even more secure, Russia didn't conquer Kiev and Harkov because they're huge. They were only able to take on smaller cities and towns.
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