Johnny1a wrote:

When you consider the gargantuan capitol investments were talking
about in building such machines, even once we're able to do so, the
chances that they'll be given out to fringe movements or minority
groups to 'experiment' with strains credulity.


They'll probably be run very similar to a military model; a very strict
rank hierarchy and everyone being assigned their jobs and knowing who
they take orders from. That hardly sounds like a Utopia, more like life
on a Nimitz class carrier.
For starters, the reason they are going to exist isn't to give people a
really fun place to live, but make a buck.
Other than a business venture, about the only way you can see one
getting built is a cult leader getting money from his followers to build
the place on divine orders.
Places like that seldom come to a good end.
If they're lucky, it ends up like the Amana Colonies with everyone just
losing interest: http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/amana/utopia.htm
If not, it ends up like Jonestown, with everyone jumping out the airlock
to show their devotion.
I imagine step one is for any prospective designer of one is to read
Plato's "Republic", and avoid the Book of Revelation like the plague.

Pat