RE: Democracy y/n? (Full Version)

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Real0ne -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/11/2010 10:31:39 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Silence8

The 'people' you're talking about, basically the Tea Party, represent the American people even less than the government, as if that were even possible.

What are we looking at? 2%?

7% are claimed to have won the revolutionary war.


Also, the Tea Party were basically manufactured by a huge corporation known as Fox News, and funded by big money.

On what respect?  All I ever got was a free bus ride from the parking area.


If you want to talk about action against Obamacare, look at the tens of thousands of people who have signed on in petitions supporting Single Payer -- their numbers far exceed those of the Tea Baggers.

How about immigration, it took 3 days just to get a fax through
3 weeks later they tried to quietly sneak it through again.

The people you don't see are the ones working their asses off and getting less and less in return each and every year.

Yeh well thats the monetary systema and the guv at large not holding up their end of the trust.


(Throw in a few intellectuals who play the increasingly risky academic game.) Despite all this, these people are often pretty reasonable, which scares the shit off out of the elite.

Sure its all for commercial so called "growth".


What I said about false complexity is palpable -- false complexity, to give a formal definition, is any form of complexity whose primary function or reason for continued existence is mystification of manipulation -- the U.S. government and financial systems are elevated into a pseudo-science so that ordinary people feel intimidated out of expressing (or worse, properly experiencing) their rightful sense of abuse. It's as if the U.S. Civil War was a giant waste of time -- a more efficient, more manipulative form of slavery had already been invented that would inevitably have replaced the cruder previous form.

Now this was wonderful to hear someone other than me say. bravo!  This was the birth of the present monopoly on the monetary system as policy and the removal of truth and replacement of fraud under trust.

The finer points of the matter even amaze me.  Combining trust, the law merchant, admiralty and later the UCC in ultimately dismantling the need for corpus delicti, common law, and moving all standing to corporate private law eventually morphing into the final nail in 33 with the total abandonment of public "Law" for "public policy" (colorable law), pretty much wrapped it up for most people because the average joe simply does not have the means and wherewith all to deal in this crap not to mention the average joe to this day believes when he walks into court its based on the common law which is the way ordinary people deal with each other.  Not like bankers, and I dont mean any banker, I mean wall street level bankers!  (if you havent yet read money mechanics from the federal reserve chicago branch if you can still find a copy of it, since they took it down, a bit to much informative) LOL but its still around on some sites....

Even today I try to get people involved and explain to friends so they can understand what is being done to this country and them and they go I aint no fukin lawyer and of course talking to people who understand it except to compare notes is worthless because its singing to the choir.

Its all based in fraud.  The whole system.  Your language was inappropriately kind. Attorneys can lie in court with no reprecussions.

The monetary system little do people know as you said in so many words ushered in the democracy that is now stomping on peoples rights and they dont even know which way to turn to get remedy.

That rabbit hole is already so deep that people who study it and bring it forward are view as lunatics because the average joe cant even imagine what they did much less use it to their advantage.  Only the "Elite" know, they have the money for yale, harvard etc, hence the "enlightened" ones.


A world in which the principles of law could actually function as it claims is a world that doesn't need law -- the whole purpose of law as-is is spectacle and abuse, where money dominates as form (and content is an illusion).

Right again!  Its an abomination of fraud and even in blacks court is properly defined as a "stage" where the actors put on the best show.


A tyranny of the majority -- we should at least give it a try, right? Tyranny of the super-minority is getting old, and cannot address most of the problems of our day.

I started another thread about her comment about how the republic cant address gays thought she would want to get into it in another thread because it takes everything down a completely different raod as that too is a deep rabbit hole but I guess it was just dead meat for her.


Plus, direct democracy would give the people more incentive to engage. It could replace sports and gambling in terms of popularity! Talk about cultural progress.


thats the problem right now, politics has become nothing more than rooting for the home team and it does not matter what so ever what kind of abortion their "hometeam" made out of the country they root for them all the way because they walk on water!

anyway elisa there is how the democracy formed, it slid right under the republic when everyone fell asleep.  Ioperate in the republic and that is why so many people cant deal with or grasp what I talk about.  While the differences in definition are extremely subtle the differences in operation are monumental





jlf1961 -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/11/2010 10:56:36 PM)

Real is a good reason not to give everyone citizenship.




Real0ne -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/11/2010 10:58:25 PM)

arent you supposed to be muslim hunting?




DomYngBlk -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 3:46:46 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: thompsonx

quote:

As you know the electoral college is nothing more than a way to even out the power of each constituent state. If we simply voted in a President based on popular vote then most of the country would be left in peril to the whims of New Yorkers and Californians and Texans. With the Electoral College people in outlying states such as Iowa or Montana can feel that they have input into the system.


The electoral college does no such thing.
I think you will find that the states have proportional representation by population in the electoral college.
The fact remains the the states with the most population have the most representation in the electoral college.
The electoral college is appointed by the state legislatures.
The members of the state legislature are voted on by the people from a predetermined list submitted to the people by the parties(government).
This would seem to guarentee the continued status quo .
What law requires the electors to vote the same way the people vote?
Some states have a winner take all system...how is that proportional representation.



I think you missed my point. Because the Electoral votes are apportioned based on votes cast...ie,most states are winner take all elections to get the states electoral votes. In this fashion one can't simply do well in some large states and count on getting an apportioned amount of electoral college votes in smaller states. This flattens out the Larger States ability to sway the contest. It also makes the Candidates pay some kind of attention to the smaller states. If that wasn't the case there would be no reason for XYZ Candidate to show up in Kentucky during election time cause there isn't enough people to make a difference in the overall vote. However, with the Electoral College their number of votes does make a difference in the overall scheme.

There are no laws saying the Electoral college has to vote as the voters spoke. However, if they did not I don't think the voters would hesitate to show their wrath to the Electoral College voter. I have not argued that things should be proportional. The Electoral College isn't proportional. I think you'd advocate proportional representation.

You can rail against the two party system all you want. However, unless people are ready to get off their collective asses and do something different there will not be a change. The mechanism is in place. Laziness is what keeps people from being involved.




DomYngBlk -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 3:59:17 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elisabella


quote:

ORIGINAL: DomYngBlk

And I don't believe we get the Brilliant ones for our surgeries do we? At least not in my income bracket. That stated there is nothing complicated about governance. Not complicated equations or tissues that need to be opened and kept away from one another or the person(country) will die. We all have the ability to understand them or else we wouldn't so eloquently put forward our ideas here on this space. Is Obama actually more talented than you or me?


I can't speak for you, but I can say without a doubt Obama is more qualified to be President than I am.

He taught Constitutional Law. I've never even taken a class in it. He has experience in politics and activism, I studied politics at university before dropping out. He ran a brilliant election, and the ability to campaign, to endear yourself to those whose minds you wish to change, is a key skill for a politician...I start fights and people hate me.

I disagree with you on how complicated governing is. Do you remember awhile back when Bush said that governing a country would be a lot easier if he were a dictator? He was right.


I couldn't disagree more. Obama is not more qualified to be President than you. Why would you say that. Because he taught constitutional law? Well that has very little to do with actually governing and more to do with placating rich brats.

You could do governing if you set your mind to it as could all Americans. We love to make what is easy complicated. It is similar to a discussion I recently heard about health care. The speaker was worried about the upcoming shortage of Doctors. Well one should be worried about that, right? Well, the shortage of doctors is AMA induced since the number of seats in Medical Schools are completely kept limited. Are the ones that are admitted the only people qualified to be Doctors? Of course not. There are millions of others qualified to be Doctors. If that wasn't the case then the next time you went in for a checkup you wouldn't spend all of your time with the Nurse and Nurse Practioner. We all need to wake up and realize that the talents to run a productive, creative, and nurturing society are in our hands. Letting others tell us the we "NEED" them is silly to the extreme.




Elisabella -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 4:32:22 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DomYngBlk
I couldn't disagree more. Obama is not more qualified to be President than you. Why would you say that. Because he taught constitutional law? Well that has very little to do with actually governing and more to do with placating rich brats.


You can not be serious. Obama is not more qualified to be President than I am?

What the fuck do you think the qualifications for the Presidency are?

quote:

You could do governing if you set your mind to it as could all Americans.


I'd say a more defining characteristic of Americans is the persistent belief that they can do anything if they "put their mind to it" and that somehow makes up for the fact that they haven't.

quote:


We love to make what is easy complicated. It is similar to a discussion I recently heard about health care. The speaker was worried about the upcoming shortage of Doctors. Well one should be worried about that, right? Well, the shortage of doctors is AMA induced since the number of seats in Medical Schools are completely kept limited. Are the ones that are admitted the only people qualified to be Doctors? Of course not. There are millions of others qualified to be Doctors. If that wasn't the case then the next time you went in for a checkup you wouldn't spend all of your time with the Nurse and Nurse Practioner. We all need to wake up and realize that the talents to run a productive, creative, and nurturing society are in our hands. Letting others tell us the we "NEED" them is silly to the extreme.


I suppose you'd say that a licensed physician is no more qualified to practice medicine than I am, too? Or maybe the Presidency is just, you know, easier.

I would like to say, in response to your earlier post about the difference between the average joe and the 'elite,' that the difference is not in potential but in actualization. The average joe could not be president. An average child, who grew up to do great things, could.




DomYngBlk -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 4:51:18 AM)

I think you are wanting your cake and eat it too. If you believe in specialization and elites you can't believe that "everyone" has the ability to become great. I may be putting words into your mouth but reading your posts on this it sounded like you believed in the supremacy of "gifts" that made others special compared to average joes.

I believe age requirements and having a want to be President is what is required. What do you think it requires? A law degree? Why.

No, most averag joe's can't be a doctor. However, it isn't based on intellect or talent. Its based on the AMA regulating the amount of Doctors in this land. I notice you skipped over the Nurse/Nurse Practioner analogy altogether. However, it is very real. Most basic Health Services in the country are given out by one or the other. Tell me when was the last time you went to the doctor and got more than 5 minutes? Who did the initial treatment and investigation? There is nothing that special about medical training. Yes, surgeons need good hand/eye coordination. Other than that, what else? The body is a machine that has everything placed in a nice neat order that doesn't vary from person to person. Like working on Fords all day long. You know where the oil pan is...etc etc..........I don't know I just think we like to make things a lot more special and harder than they really are




eyesopened -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 5:26:27 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DomYngBlk

I think you are wanting your cake and eat it too. If you believe in specialization and elites you can't believe that "everyone" has the ability to become great. I may be putting words into your mouth but reading your posts on this it sounded like you believed in the supremacy of "gifts" that made others special compared to average joes.

I believe age requirements and having a want to be President is what is required. What do you think it requires? A law degree? Why.

No, most averag joe's can't be a doctor. However, it isn't based on intellect or talent. Its based on the AMA regulating the amount of Doctors in this land. I notice you skipped over the Nurse/Nurse Practioner analogy altogether. However, it is very real. Most basic Health Services in the country are given out by one or the other. Tell me when was the last time you went to the doctor and got more than 5 minutes? Who did the initial treatment and investigation? There is nothing that special about medical training. Yes, surgeons need good hand/eye coordination. Other than that, what else? The body is a machine that has everything placed in a nice neat order that doesn't vary from person to person. Like working on Fords all day long. You know where the oil pan is...etc etc..........I don't know I just think we like to make things a lot more special and harder than they really are


I have a hard time understanding how you believe this to be true.   I do not want to live in a world where everyone is an identical clone of the next.  What a sad and boring existance.  Not every person is equally qualified or able to do every single thing.  I would never matter how much money I had, I could never have become a research chemist.  The math was impossible and believe me I put my mind to it and worked my ass off just to get a D.  I suspect it's a right-brain/left-brain thing but I can honestly say that barely passing that class was the hardest thing I ever did.  People should have access to equal education and tools to pursue their best selves but not everything boils down to who has money and who does not.

Doctors don't spend time taking your blood pressure and medical history because it's the way to cycle the most patients through the clinic.  Nothing more.  If the MD did everything fewer people could be seen in a day.  (see the only thing people have in absolute equality is 24 hours in a day)  Maybe it's a way to maximize income or maybe it's a way to maximize care but either way it's not because the nurse or PA is equally qualified as the MD.




Elisabella -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 5:35:56 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DomYngBlk

I think you are wanting your cake and eat it too. If you believe in specialization and elites you can't believe that "everyone" has the ability to become great. I may be putting words into your mouth but reading your posts on this it sounded like you believed in the supremacy of "gifts" that made others special compared to average joes.


I think you've misunderstood me.

I haven't been talking about 'gifted elites' but rather people living up to their potential. And their responsibilities as citizens. Sure, not everyone can be great, which is why not everyone becomes President, and not every President is a great President.

quote:

I believe age requirements and having a want to be President is what is required. What do you think it requires? A law degree? Why.


I would say at least one bare minimum to be a modern day President would be political experience. Also, the ambition to become President. That's why I think you misunderstand me, or maybe I misunderstand what you mean by 'average joe' because I can't imagine the average citizen has political experience.

quote:


No, most averag joe's can't be a doctor. However, it isn't based on intellect or talent. Its based on the AMA regulating the amount of Doctors in this land. I notice you skipped over the Nurse/Nurse Practioner analogy altogether. However, it is very real. Most basic Health Services in the country are given out by one or the other. Tell me when was the last time you went to the doctor and got more than 5 minutes? Who did the initial treatment and investigation? There is nothing that special about medical training. Yes, surgeons need good hand/eye coordination. Other than that, what else? The body is a machine that has everything placed in a nice neat order that doesn't vary from person to person. Like working on Fords all day long. You know where the oil pan is...etc etc..........I don't know I just think we like to make things a lot more special and harder than they really are


I'm not going to argue the relative difficulties of training as a doctor or mechanic. I'll just say that there is a difference between having the ability to learn a task and having learned it, and anyway, back to my OP, how can you expect the average to be able to serve as President when the majority of the country is unable to name the 3 branches of Federal government?

Maybe you have a different formula to find averages but I'd imagine that if the majority is unable to do it, the average will lie within that majority.




DomYngBlk -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 5:38:02 AM)

Of course I am not saying that everyone needs to be the same. I think I have gone over it quite enough and I don't think there is anyway for you to see where I am coming from.

No the reason that he has another Nurse or Nurse Practioner doing those tasks like blood pressure and taking symptoms and writing diagnosis on your chart is because the amount of Doctors are limited by how many the AMA allows the Med schools to invite. It is a set number. There isn't an open enrollment that gives everyone that is above a 3.75/gpa on a definite program of study to enter into Med School. Guess the next quesstion is why? And that would lead you to money. Which should be the last motivator for someone to want to help keep another human in good health. I am sure you'd agree with that.




DomYngBlk -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 5:43:12 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elisabella


quote:

ORIGINAL: DomYngBlk

I think you are wanting your cake and eat it too. If you believe in specialization and elites you can't believe that "everyone" has the ability to become great. I may be putting words into your mouth but reading your posts on this it sounded like you believed in the supremacy of "gifts" that made others special compared to average joes.


I think you've misunderstood me.

I haven't been talking about 'gifted elites' but rather people living up to their potential. And their responsibilities as citizens. Sure, not everyone can be great, which is why not everyone becomes President, and not every President is a great President.

quote:

I believe age requirements and having a want to be President is what is required. What do you think it requires? A law degree? Why.


I would say at least one bare minimum to be a modern day President would be political experience. Also, the ambition to become President. That's why I think you misunderstand me, or maybe I misunderstand what you mean by 'average joe' because I can't imagine the average citizen has political experience.

quote:


No, most averag joe's can't be a doctor. However, it isn't based on intellect or talent. Its based on the AMA regulating the amount of Doctors in this land. I notice you skipped over the Nurse/Nurse Practioner analogy altogether. However, it is very real. Most basic Health Services in the country are given out by one or the other. Tell me when was the last time you went to the doctor and got more than 5 minutes? Who did the initial treatment and investigation? There is nothing that special about medical training. Yes, surgeons need good hand/eye coordination. Other than that, what else? The body is a machine that has everything placed in a nice neat order that doesn't vary from person to person. Like working on Fords all day long. You know where the oil pan is...etc etc..........I don't know I just think we like to make things a lot more special and harder than they really are


I'm not going to argue the relative difficulties of training as a doctor or mechanic. I'll just say that there is a difference between having the ability to learn a task and having learned it, and anyway, back to my OP, how can you expect the average to be able to serve as President when the majority of the country is unable to name the 3 branches of Federal government?

Maybe you have a different formula to find averages but I'd imagine that if the majority is unable to do it, the average will lie within that majority.


Ok, then we are saying the same thing with different words. I just disagree about President. Anyone that is a citizen with the right age is qualified if they have the desire....

I think that most people can't name branches of gov't for the very fact of what I have argued. We've made things so specialized in peoples minds that they have "given" their rights away to politicians to do the thinking for them. Which is the opposite of what this country is supposed to be about.




vincentML -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 9:11:42 AM)

quote:

meant to be fairly clear that I didn't mean this at all. If I was unclear, let me clarify. The deliberative process won't always be a model of decorum and civility. But all parties have to remain fundamentally committed to the idea of give and take and the possibility of persuasion through some combination of rational argument and rhetorical flourish. If there is no exchange of ideas and no possibility of persuasion, then the democratic experiment is dead.


I will not quibblle with your repeated use of the term "experiment," although I find it offensive even if I know your meaning.

Let me respond to what I think is the main thrust of your argument which I have emphasized above. I feel you are completely ignoring the role of POWER in politics and in civic exchange. Your position seems especially idealistic given we are a nation with a long history of dissension and the employment of Power to persude. The prime example of course was the Civil War and the thirty years of turmoil preceding it. You cannot leave Power out of the equation on discourse. Political Parties as well as Commercial and Social interests are all about Power. Voting is an act of the application of Power. I posit that the idyllic type of democracy you dream of is limited to a small town hall and not possible in a nation of 300 million.




thompsonx -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 10:40:16 AM)

quote:

I see your point, but I don't know if the complexity is designed to confuse or manipulate. Perhaps we see complexity differently, but to stick to the example of government...how many years of study do you think it would take to become a competent Supreme Court justice? How many years of experience? Is the complexity designed to manipulate, or is it the result of centuries worth of precedents that all affect the way the Constitution is interpreted, not to mention the Constitution itself, which is more of an outline than a manual. What about a diplomat's work? Or, obviously, the Presidency - the man's job is to lead the people, craft foreign policy, fight or end two wars that have been going on for years, represent the US in the eyes of the world *and* stay on top of the public opinion polls.

Are you up for that job? Really?



I feel the same way as silence8...
I'd prefer myself to Obama's new candidate to replace John Paul Stevens, who really isn't all that experienced.

I'd prefer myself to Bush. I scored higher on my SATs.

"The Constitution of the United States establishes no requirements to be appointed a Justice on the Supreme Court.
To be nominated for the position by the current President, and to be accepted and approved by the US Senate. Educational achievements required are not specified. Prior service in the US Court system is not required. Acceptance by the American Bar Association is not required. Just appoint them and approve them, and their job is secure for life.
Of the 111 Supreme Court members, only 46 have held degrees from accredited law schools; 18 attended law school, but never attained a degree; and 47 were self-taught and/or went through an apprenticeship.
Public service and political connections also factor heavily into the nomination process. Three-fifths of the nominees have been personal acquaintances of the President who nominated them."


http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_qualifications_are_needed_to_become_a_US_Supreme_Court_justice




Real0ne -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 11:15:57 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: vincentML

quote:

meant to be fairly clear that I didn't mean this at all. If I was unclear, let me clarify. The deliberative process won't always be a model of decorum and civility. But all parties have to remain fundamentally committed to the idea of give and take and the possibility of persuasion through some combination of rational argument and rhetorical flourish. If there is no exchange of ideas and no possibility of persuasion, then the democratic experiment is dead.


I will not quibblle with your repeated use of the term "experiment," although I find it offensive even if I know your meaning.

Let me respond to what I think is the main thrust of your argument which I have emphasized above. I feel you are completely ignoring the role of POWER in politics and in civic exchange. Your position seems especially idealistic given we are a nation with a long history of dissension and the employment of Power to persude. The prime example of course was the Civil War and the thirty years of turmoil preceding it. You cannot leave Power out of the equation on discourse. Political Parties as well as Commercial and Social interests are all about Power. Voting is an act of the application of Power. I posit that the idyllic type of democracy you dream of is limited to a small town hall and not possible in a nation of 300 million.



firstly the premise is incorrect.

the "experiment" is self governance and has nothing to do with "democracy"

Especially since this was created a "republic" not a democracy.

whats up with all the democracy pushers around here anyway.


and I agree in that no man has the power to control another with exception to reparations for injury.





NorthernGent -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 12:29:46 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elisabella

I would say that the government would be justified in lying to the people when it's a matter of national security, but I couldn't defend that position because it comes mostly from instinct.



Machiavelli and Hobbes wouldn't disagree with you in that 'the government is justified in lying to the people'.

But....there is an assumption underpinning this.....that being the state will always act in your interests because it's in the state's interests to do so. You'd be hard pressed to argue this is the case in practice.

And this leads on to de Tocqueville (thanks for the spelling correction by the way) who felt that the average man on the street was limited by his background and couldn't be trusted to act in a reasonable manner......and so he should always remain a mere follower. There's some truth in the this I'm sure.....but should we assume 'the elites' are trustworthy and reasonable?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elisabella

Obviously, I don't like it, but not liking something doesn't mean it's not for the best.



I couldn't agree more...the English speaking countries can't think of anything beyond democracy....but Hobbes was definitely near the mark in a few areas because much of what he said is with us today.




Silence8 -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 6:52:11 PM)

quote:



I would say at least one bare minimum to be a modern day President would be political experience. Also, the ambition to become President. That's why I think you misunderstand me, or maybe I misunderstand what you mean by 'average joe' because I can't imagine the average citizen has political experience.



You seem to have a knack at getting things exactly wrong.

I want to see more people in office (even presidential office) who haven't made a career out of specialist manipulation.

I seem to recall the founders everyone quotes ad nauseam precisely being against careerism.




Silence8 -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 7:01:31 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Elisabella

I'm not going to argue the relative difficulties of training as a doctor or mechanic. I'll just say that there is a difference between having the ability to learn a task and having learned it, and anyway, back to my OP, how can you expect the average to be able to serve as President when the majority of the country is unable to name the 3 branches of Federal government?



I'm not convinced that your facts are even right there.

You seem to pick and choose urban legends to construct the image of 'the people' that best fits your dismissal.

If anything, we should commend people for knowing about all this ridiculous specificity, 'filibusters' and 'budget reconciliation' and the whole mess.

Simplicity is a greater art (or science) than complexity any day.




vincentML -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 7:57:30 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Real0ne

quote:

ORIGINAL: vincentML

quote:

meant to be fairly clear that I didn't mean this at all. If I was unclear, let me clarify. The deliberative process won't always be a model of decorum and civility. But all parties have to remain fundamentally committed to the idea of give and take and the possibility of persuasion through some combination of rational argument and rhetorical flourish. If there is no exchange of ideas and no possibility of persuasion, then the democratic experiment is dead.


I will not quibblle with your repeated use of the term "experiment," although I find it offensive even if I know your meaning.

Let me respond to what I think is the main thrust of your argument which I have emphasized above. I feel you are completely ignoring the role of POWER in politics and in civic exchange. Your position seems especially idealistic given we are a nation with a long history of dissension and the employment of Power to persude. The prime example of course was the Civil War and the thirty years of turmoil preceding it. You cannot leave Power out of the equation on discourse. Political Parties as well as Commercial and Social interests are all about Power. Voting is an act of the application of Power. I posit that the idyllic type of democracy you dream of is limited to a small town hall and not possible in a nation of 300 million.



firstly the premise is incorrect.

the "experiment" is self governance and has nothing to do with "democracy"

Especially since this was created a "republic" not a democracy.

whats up with all the democracy pushers around here anyway.


and I agree in that no man has the power to control another with exception to reparations for injury.




My point about Power as a dynamic in our form of democratic republic is that we do not seek to persuade the political or social adversary. We use instruments of Power to coerce or overwhelm and these include advertising, money of course, and fairly orderly street demonstrations. We have always been more driven by images, symbols, and group psychology.

The point of it all being to win the vote not to have a rational discourse. The one thing we have learned is that it is probably not a good idea to line up facing each other with muskets at fifty yards, although there are still a few who have not counted the dead and wounded of 1865.

Nope, it is our nature to conduct electorial campaigns with lying bumper sticker slogans, tv and youtube ads, and ernest newspaper editorials which few read. I think it is a bit delusional to think we can have a civil discourse on the merits of issues when our politics have always been so passionaterly emotional and when we are so populated and diverse a people with so many competing interests. The more unlikely in the future since scotus has unleashed corporate money as free speech. It goes without saying and we all know that money is Power.




Elisabella -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 10:21:08 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

Machiavelli and Hobbes wouldn't disagree with you in that 'the government is justified in lying to the people'.

But....there is an assumption underpinning this.....that being the state will always act in your interests because it's in the state's interests to do so. You'd be hard pressed to argue this is the case in practice.

And this leads on to de Tocqueville (thanks for the spelling correction by the way) who felt that the average man on the street was limited by his background and couldn't be trusted to act in a reasonable manner......and so he should always remain a mere follower. There's some truth in the this I'm sure.....but should we assume 'the elites' are trustworthy and reasonable?



That's a good point, even if every protester actually knew what they were talking about, there would still be special interest lobbying. I wonder why people get so upset over perceived socialism, or government influence over the market, when they don't mind the market having influence over the government.

I don't know how much people are limited by their background, obviously to some extent but I don't think unreasonableness is a trait that is determined by background or environment, at least not completely. Especially not for simple facts like who runs Medicare or who was behind 9/11. That should be obvious.

quote:


I couldn't agree more...the English speaking countries can't think of anything beyond democracy....but Hobbes was definitely near the mark in a few areas because much of what he said is with us today.


Someone else I'll have to read then. Leviathan? I can probably get that as an ebook, book prices in AU make me want to cry when I compare them to the US.




Elisabella -> RE: Democracy y/n? (5/12/2010 10:23:57 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Silence8


quote:

ORIGINAL: Elisabella

I'm not going to argue the relative difficulties of training as a doctor or mechanic. I'll just say that there is a difference between having the ability to learn a task and having learned it, and anyway, back to my OP, how can you expect the average to be able to serve as President when the majority of the country is unable to name the 3 branches of Federal government?



I'm not convinced that your facts are even right there.

You seem to pick and choose urban legends to construct the image of 'the people' that best fits your dismissal.


I read this awhile ago, if it is an urban legend believe me I'll be happy and relieved to hear it.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,208577,00.html




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