Spooky action at a distance…..

Einstein coined this ghostly analogy to describe an aspect of quantum physics he simply did not believe could be true. How could it be true? To claim that a sub atomic particle, once separated from its co-habitee, can influence it instantaneously regardless of how far way from its atomic household it travels, , does indeed stretch credulity. We are expected to believe that if we spin one particle its former partner thousands of miles away will also spin — immediately. This defies Einsteins theory which states that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. Right. Immediate is faster. But spooky or not, quantum theory, what goes on inside the atom, or more specifically, quantum entanglement, has been irrefutably proven so far anyway, to be correct. It turns out that down there, inside the atom, things are different. In fact, Einstein was right, they are downright spooky!

I would like to add my variant of this theory. It will, I hope, allow us to explain why, once again, the human species is walking backwards along the winding paths of progress. And risking its own oblivion as it does : you know what I mean : unrestricted nuclear competition, polluting our atmosphere with CO2, warring rather that negotiating and generally being belligerent instead of benign.

My theory starts with the first predicate : we are all made of atoms. Then, our atoms are made of particles. Then, our particles also enjoy quantum entanglement. But Physicists are poor historians. They have been incurious about distance through time, rather than just space. I understand why : having birthed a theory of extraordinary creativity, they are exhausted, intellectually speaking. They are now content to ‘ work within the new paradigm’ as Thomas Kuhn expressed the tendency to start burrowing down into the territory set out by each new theory. Heads do not look up for some time. Only when they reach rock bottom do they come up for air and start wondering all over again, preparing to develop a new theory.

Step three in my theory is that quantum entanglement works through time. And just like through space, it does its influential work through all time.

So we can imagine that the quantum components of King Charles 1st of England are still travelling through both time and space towards favourable receptacles. We can imagine that whilst we are all genetically unique there will be genetic clusters of neurons which favour obstinacy and a predilection for risk and danger — so long as these enhance the enjoyable sensation of power exercised over weaker individuals.

Now, King Charles had a huge obstinacy gene. To a fault. He was determined to walk backwards through English history and rule as an absolute monarch : personal rule without any constraints from his fellow Nobles, Commoners or Merchants. This gene guided him towards the scaffold upon which he lost his head in 1649. If only he had had someone to tell him that the notion of a parliament could be followed in the grain of an English oak’s plank all the way back to roughly 924. It was called ‘The Witan’ in those simple days. It consisted of the king taking counsel with his great, or powerful men. It was not a smooth or straight grain. It waved and swirled the way the grain of wood does. But it kept going in one direction, with twists and turns, up to James 1st, Charles’ father. So to start going against it was bound to arouse fierce opposition.

Charles had one main stratagem : he needed money for war but to avoid calling a parliament ( which had historically insisted upon being consulted if taxes were required ) he imposed forced loans from his great men — not realising that they were great for a reason. He also imposed the 17th century equivalent of tariffs in the form of ‘ship money’ These two sources of finance, he thought, would make it unnecessary to call a parliament.

Of course, the great men of his land, who in 924 and even during the great Elizabeth’s reign had been summoned to advise the monarch and offer counsel, they were angry. Charles’ obstinacy meant that he would lie if necessary to placate these angry men but then revert to his original backward walk through the grain of history.

Eventually, after fighting and losing, escaping then fighting again, Oliver Cromwell agonised but realised he had no choice : Off with his head!

Now what worries me is that if my version of spooky action at a distance is correct — and it might be — there are other neuronal clusters receiving quantum entanglements from other forbears we have largely forgotten about.

But it won’t take you long, dear reader, to come up with a list of candidates past and present. Far be it from me to suggest a parallel between tariffs to day as a means of bypassing a Congress. Or ‘leaders’ who start wars without a plan as to how to end them.

Question is, what are we going to do about it?