Comments | talk_politics: So let's assume we wipe'm out. Then what?

htpcl in talk_politics

So let's assume we wipe'm out. Then what?

Oct 05, 2011 18:40

Hello, my astroturf-munching grasshoppers freedom loving worshipers of liberty & democracy! Here's an interesting excerpt from a conversation. "The morons who think protesting is a better use of their time". -- I heard that line recently. (Really? Can you "hear" a line? Anyway). The whoever-said-that made an interesting point, actually. A while ago ( Read more... )

democracy, activism, extremism

Comments 54

For some reason... sophia_sadek October 5 2011, 16:23:20 UTC

This reminds me of Pope Innocent III who has been quoted as saying, "Kill them all and God will find his own."

For those who believe that the ends justify the means, we must realize that the means bring about the ends. When we employ violent means, we achieve violent ends. Those who pursue a violent solution are part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Re: For some reason... policraticus October 5 2011, 17:11:59 UTC

Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius.

Pope Innocent III?!

Reputed to have been said by Abbot Arnaud of Citeaux, at the siege of Beziers, surely.

Re: For some reason... sandwichwarrior October 5 2011, 17:18:09 UTC

"ends justify the means"

Well what else would they justify?

:p

Re: For some reason... htpcl October 5 2011, 17:28:40 UTC

Haha, yes. :-)

Thread 16

underlankers October 5 2011, 16:54:26 UTC

Extremism has the seductive appeal of providing simple answers to complex problems. It assumes that by sufficient application of ideas or actions that have often limited relevance to the issue at hand that one can untie as opposed to cut Gordian knots by using simplicity to provide a core of strength against complexity. The unfortunate truth of human nature and the political dilemmas that propel extremism is that these simple, easy solutions really aren't solutions, simple, or easy and yet complexity selling well requires one hell of a salesman to make it so ( ... )

ddstory October 5 2011, 17:02:14 UTC

But, but, "Extremism in the defense of Liberty is no vice."...

policraticus October 5 2011, 17:13:06 UTC

Would you have joined the French Resistance in 1940? Would you condemn those who did?

ddstory October 5 2011, 17:17:08 UTC

I'd have totally joined them. I love their hats!

Thread 32

gunslnger October 5 2011, 18:51:12 UTC

Aren't we forgetting something? The fact that politicians emerge from among us. The People(TM). (Capital P because I respect the People sooo so much). Fact: many of us are entering politics and become the scum that politicians are, having realized that this is a viable alternative to actually working a decent job; and a nice option and a way to make a fortune, to build some links and all in all, achieve self-betterment (screw the rest!)

This is why the problem is the system, not the people. You can't fix the problem by electing "better" people.

htpcl October 5 2011, 18:53:07 UTC

But I want a solution! Waaaant! ;-(

meus_ovatio October 5 2011, 19:01:28 UTC

People are willing to put up with extravagance and obscene wealth and inequality so long as they feel that the mechanisms of government regulation are in place. In America, the general feeling is that not only are people extravagantly wealthy, but they also control the methods of regulation and policing, which isn't right.

You can either have your money or you can have the government, but you can't have both.

(The comment has been removed)

htpcl October 5 2011, 22:29:52 UTC

There's no satire, unfortunately this is rather serious. And I'm talking from the perspective of my experience in my country. I'm not sure how things are in yours.