Decentralization, justice and the eternal battle against corruption

The dream of a just society. In a world where everything depends on large corporations, banks, governments, algorithms, and tech companies that treat us like numbers, decentralization appears as a hope that turns out to be empty, or at least for now. It's not perfect, but it opens a door: the possibility of each person having control over what they create, what they share, and its value. It also critiques the media through which we get our information, and their interests, which are always at odds with ours.

Now, what happens when we try to take this idea to the broader realm, that of society? What would happen if politics, economics, and education operated with a decentralized logic? Or, more clearly, a human logic?
In Hive, where decentralization is the hallmark, there are tensions. Large voting powers carry more weight, and content is often valued by who writes it, or by some exchange of votes. Isn't that an accurate reflection of our society? Surnames, influences, and friendships are worth more than merits, and for those who don't have the opportunity to make a name for themselves... well... we know how it ends.

For a society to be just, it's not enough for it to be technically decentralized. It requires a culture of justice, where respect is not negotiable, where the value of others is not measured by their size or their wallet.
Decentralization gives us a framework, a tool, but it doesn't solve inequality on its own. If those who concentrate power are unwilling to open it up, the network ceases to be a network and becomes just another pyramid in disguise. This goes for those who wanted to be like Facebook or Instagram, but end up replicating the mechanics of power.

Personally, each person plants a seed in the ground, but the harvest depends on how we all organize ourselves. If someone monopolizes the land or poisons the water, the entire field suffers. A just, decentralized society needs collective consciousness. But if we think this benefits everyone, we can't do anything either.

In Hive, I saw injustices reflected. How can we combat it? There's no single recipe, but I believe there are three fundamental steps:

• Transparency. No decisions made behind closed doors, neither on a blockchain nor in a government. What affects everyone must be seen by everyone. Obscurity is where corruption thrives. (Like those countries that send taxes to every household.)
• Real participation. It's not enough to simply watch. A society (digital or physical) needs its members to get involved, both with good intentions and bad, to resolve issues based on their experience, through open debate. If we leave everything in the hands of those who have the most, we are signing up for our own exclusion if those who read are those who have the least.
• Critical education. I'm not just talking about schools; I'm talking about teaching us to read between the lines, to not swallow every narrative (as is happening today in many countries where the right is gaining ground). Corruption feeds on ignorance.

Hive left me with a question that I now translate into real life:
How do we build spaces that are truly decentralized and fair, and not just in appearance?
Decentralization can be a wonderful tool to democratize speech, money, and decisions. But without an ethical commitment, without the will to share power, it becomes another mask for the same old thing.
Corruption, meanwhile, is the virus that corrodes any structure. It doesn't matter if we're talking about a web3, a government, or any group of people with many different needs. When power is concentrated and unchecked, injustice is born, even more so when there are differences of interest like those in the media.

We can't change everything at once, and I don't even know (to this day) that change is possible, but we can choose how to act and not be indifferent. We can point out what's wrong, we can champion transparency, we can educate with critical thinking, and, above all, we can resist the temptation to be "lapdogs" of an unjust system.
In the end, decentralization and justice aren't technical terms: they're a way of being in the world. And fighting corruption isn't a heroic task for a few, but a daily exercise for all.
I don't know how much more I'd like to vent by writing, but it's something that feels good to me, and when you're given the space to speak and listen, everyday life becomes much easier. Thanks for reading❤️.