*yawn*
i'm cranky due to stupid inflammation, so i'll just say this:
there can be no perfect government because humans are not perfect - they are complex and flawed creatures.
the best that can be done is to try and find the least flawed government, but this endeavor has several problems from the outset. first, for every person who actually cares and wants to do what they feel is best for everyone, there is at least one who is apathetic, and one who is just in it for personal gain. second, particularly in our increasingly complex society, but in general, people cannot actually agree on what is right and what is best - even regarding the same needs. so compound number one - for that maybe a 1/3 of the people who actually care, there is yet further division. throw in the people who don't actually care, and well, we all know what happens.
not even talking about things so 'mundane' as abortion issues and gay marriages, or military spending, here's the problem:
so you think everyone has 'natural rights', and are entitled to a voice. you think that the flavor of love girls should have equal say regarding laws. sadly, there are more flavor of love type girls than you, and thus you get tyranny of the majority.
ok, maybe the flavor of love girls shouldn't be deciding how things work. who will?? the 'old boys club'? remember, you have 1 who might actually care, 1 that's apathetic and 1 that's in it for his own purposes, and of course that 1 who cares may be from a totally different place than you and not represent your needs. here you have tyranny of the minority.
we can all debate over what the hell 'natural rights' means (and no, i don't particularly want to), but i'll put forth the idea that the only true right i have is my right to disagree - you can take away my stuff, torture me, kill me, but you can never truly *make* me agree w/ you if i feel you're wrong. i'm entitled to my opinions, and thus telling me i'm un-whateverthefuck or bad or whatever for them is really fucking irritating. this is tyranny of the self-righteous.
i could continue this ad naseum, but there are a few points. first, humans have been playing with different forms of government for a really long time - there are several solutions, that meet different needs at different times. i couldn't care less if you are firm in your convictions about what we should do in the here-and-now, but do your homework, and give me a well reasoned argument. oh, and know your history - that last one does actually tie in, but it's more of a general grump from me.
*yawn* my neck hurts.
there can be no perfect government because humans are not perfect - they are complex and flawed creatures.
the best that can be done is to try and find the least flawed government, but this endeavor has several problems from the outset. first, for every person who actually cares and wants to do what they feel is best for everyone, there is at least one who is apathetic, and one who is just in it for personal gain. second, particularly in our increasingly complex society, but in general, people cannot actually agree on what is right and what is best - even regarding the same needs. so compound number one - for that maybe a 1/3 of the people who actually care, there is yet further division. throw in the people who don't actually care, and well, we all know what happens.
not even talking about things so 'mundane' as abortion issues and gay marriages, or military spending, here's the problem:
so you think everyone has 'natural rights', and are entitled to a voice. you think that the flavor of love girls should have equal say regarding laws. sadly, there are more flavor of love type girls than you, and thus you get tyranny of the majority.
ok, maybe the flavor of love girls shouldn't be deciding how things work. who will?? the 'old boys club'? remember, you have 1 who might actually care, 1 that's apathetic and 1 that's in it for his own purposes, and of course that 1 who cares may be from a totally different place than you and not represent your needs. here you have tyranny of the minority.
we can all debate over what the hell 'natural rights' means (and no, i don't particularly want to), but i'll put forth the idea that the only true right i have is my right to disagree - you can take away my stuff, torture me, kill me, but you can never truly *make* me agree w/ you if i feel you're wrong. i'm entitled to my opinions, and thus telling me i'm un-whateverthefuck or bad or whatever for them is really fucking irritating. this is tyranny of the self-righteous.
i could continue this ad naseum, but there are a few points. first, humans have been playing with different forms of government for a really long time - there are several solutions, that meet different needs at different times. i couldn't care less if you are firm in your convictions about what we should do in the here-and-now, but do your homework, and give me a well reasoned argument. oh, and know your history - that last one does actually tie in, but it's more of a general grump from me.
*yawn* my neck hurts.