rfc, i didn't say i have no complaints with our system of government. i love america and would never want a monarchy here. i asked you how you thought a democracy should work. from that question, you have assumed first that i don't want democracy and second that i see no flaws in the current system.
i look at our system of government (which is more accurately described as a republic than a democracy since we have elected officials make decisions, not each person) as one that is not without flaws but still the best system in the world. its clearly better than the dictatorships in many african, asian and middle-eastern countries. and, i think it is a better system than the socialism-based systems in much of europe.
that doesn't mean that changes shouldn't conitinually be made to improve the system to make it better. what changes need to be made and how we should make them is where the liberals and conservatives have differences.
obviously, i am a conservative. i put my trust in the elected officials to make the best decisions (liberal or conservative). do they always do that...clearly not. but, i think they have much more information, knowledge and experience that you or i do...even than johnny depp does. that is my point.
have a nice day.
i look at our system of government (which is more accurately described as a republic than a democracy since we have elected officials make decisions, not each person) as one that is not without flaws but still the best system in the world. its clearly better than the dictatorships in many african, asian and middle-eastern countries. and, i think it is a better system than the socialism-based systems in much of europe.
that doesn't mean that changes shouldn't conitinually be made to improve the system to make it better. what changes need to be made and how we should make them is where the liberals and conservatives have differences.
obviously, i am a conservative. i put my trust in the elected officials to make the best decisions (liberal or conservative). do they always do that...clearly not. but, i think they have much more information, knowledge and experience that you or i do...even than johnny depp does. that is my point.
have a nice day.
what makes you think i would prefer anything other than what we have?
How should I take this statement?
obviously, i am a conservative. i put my trust in the elected officials to make the best decisions (liberal or conservative).
One thing (being a conservative) has nothing to do with the other (trusting representatives)...
I feel that assuming that our representatives know more is as incorrect as saying that they know best.
How should I take this statement?
obviously, i am a conservative. i put my trust in the elected officials to make the best decisions (liberal or conservative).
One thing (being a conservative) has nothing to do with the other (trusting representatives)...
I feel that assuming that our representatives know more is as incorrect as saying that they know best.
"what we have" is preferrable to whatever else is currently available...that is my opinion.
i think in most cases they do know best. doesn't mean they're perfect. i'm sure some are more knowledgable and experienced than others. i doubt very highly that johnny depp is more able than the least of our officials to discern what is in the best interest of america and/or what is the right thing to do...unless we're on 21 jump street.
i think in most cases they do know best. doesn't mean they're perfect. i'm sure some are more knowledgable and experienced than others. i doubt very highly that johnny depp is more able than the least of our officials to discern what is in the best interest of america and/or what is the right thing to do...unless we're on 21 jump street.
posted by blue edwards:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
... these things are all clearly over our heads. yours, mine, and johnny depp's. we have elected public officials to make decisions for our country. decisions like when to raise taxes, when to go to war, when to change the laws.
...
i look at our system of government (which is more accurately described as a republic than a democracy since we have elected officials make decisions, not each person) as one that is not without flaws but still the best system in the world. its clearly better than the dictatorships in many african, asian and middle-eastern countries. and, i think it is a better system than the socialism-based systems in much of europe.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Blue, I agree 100% with the latter paragraph. And while I do believe that it is neccessary to have at least some faith in a person -- politician or not -- to do the job for which he is paid to do, there is no job on earth like that of a politician's which has so much responsibility countered with so little accountability.
Some tangential questions related to the first paragraph:
1) What is the #1 most common profession of American politicians in their days before entering office?
2) Americans cannot make decisions about what to do about terrorism, drugs, poverty, education, crime etc. These issues are simply too big. But they are perfectly capable of delegating this authority to someone else. True or false?
3) If you vote for something, say a tax cut, which is subsequently not passed, does this mean you were wrong?
My point is that just getting elected does not make a person special, any more than a given law being passed makes it "right." It is folly to think otherwise -- that mindset is the foundation upon which tyranny is built. All kinds of bad people have been in every imaginable seat of power in American history, and all kinds of stupid, retrogressive, and even malevolent laws have been passed, often by a stunning majority of votes.
I understand that you're not exactly saying that being a politician makes a person infallible; I'm just thinking about what the statement above becomes when extended not too far to the extreme.
Phaedrus
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
... these things are all clearly over our heads. yours, mine, and johnny depp's. we have elected public officials to make decisions for our country. decisions like when to raise taxes, when to go to war, when to change the laws.
...
i look at our system of government (which is more accurately described as a republic than a democracy since we have elected officials make decisions, not each person) as one that is not without flaws but still the best system in the world. its clearly better than the dictatorships in many african, asian and middle-eastern countries. and, i think it is a better system than the socialism-based systems in much of europe.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Blue, I agree 100% with the latter paragraph. And while I do believe that it is neccessary to have at least some faith in a person -- politician or not -- to do the job for which he is paid to do, there is no job on earth like that of a politician's which has so much responsibility countered with so little accountability.
Some tangential questions related to the first paragraph:
1) What is the #1 most common profession of American politicians in their days before entering office?
2) Americans cannot make decisions about what to do about terrorism, drugs, poverty, education, crime etc. These issues are simply too big. But they are perfectly capable of delegating this authority to someone else. True or false?
3) If you vote for something, say a tax cut, which is subsequently not passed, does this mean you were wrong?
My point is that just getting elected does not make a person special, any more than a given law being passed makes it "right." It is folly to think otherwise -- that mindset is the foundation upon which tyranny is built. All kinds of bad people have been in every imaginable seat of power in American history, and all kinds of stupid, retrogressive, and even malevolent laws have been passed, often by a stunning majority of votes.
I understand that you're not exactly saying that being a politician makes a person infallible; I'm just thinking about what the statement above becomes when extended not too far to the extreme.
Phaedrus
phaedrus, i agree with what you said. obviously people elected to positions of power can and do make mistakes. some of them are also dishonest. i just think that our system, while far from perfect, is the best system out there. i would love for the american system to be improved. but, i don't hear people offering solutions...i just hear people complaining and calling me "dumb".
