Posted by john on May 01, 2002 at 06:41:30:
In Reply to: I am answering your post! posted by kat on April 30, 2002 at 21:42:19:
This is fun.
: I have to take it as it comes lacking the resources to do otherwise. And I will tell you one thing I agree with Zola, the New York Times is a RAG!
Of course, my underlying point here is to take everything critically and try to extrapolate the real issue. We have to assume there is bias and try to deduce what part is being slanted. Critical thinking at it's finest. It isn't so because it says so. And any idiot can get a book published. I actually saw a guy who made all these statistical references to these studies from 10 years ago, and the citation gave the name of the book the study was published under. But a little further research revealed both the study and the book he cited, were his previous work! The man was citing himself as an expert! Still more often, and common in the news, is that they will say something like, "5% of all deaths are caused by X, most people agree it should be banned." First half based on fact, second half all opinion!
: Well, to be blunt your civil disobedience is extremely ineffective. The only way it would be effective is if you formed your own grassroots group and started lobbying like all the other candidates, platforms, agendas and idealogies. I disagree, your vote does count especially at a local level, if your freedom is usurped and you sit by and do nothing saying it is civil disobedience then you have nobody but yourself to blame. You have such a strong opinion and could influenc others, you should be vocal and you should be telling people who's a good candidate or there are no good candidates, or whatever! You realize that so many people think there vote doesn't count that about 30% of the population of the united states decides for you who is going to sit in your representatives seat! Why in the world would you let that happen, why do you think no one decent runs for office, they need people like you to get behind them!
Ahh but it is effective. Power rests in the hands of the people. If only 30% are voting then 70% of the people don't believe in the government. It may be able to make laws but ultimately those laws are unenforcable. What are they going to do, arrest the greater portion of the populace? Then you have a dictatorship and you set into play a whole other course of events, that will result in drastic reform or revolution. In fact, look at how much time and money is spent trying to get people to vote. If the leadership wasn't worried, they wouldn't care. They only really want us to vote because they hope they can swing our vote their way. Well when I see a candidate worthy of my vote, I'll vote.
Now as for the local level... at the extremely local level it does have power, but even at the county level there is so much graft and corruption you wouldn't beleive it. Power corrupts absolutely.
: Something I thought of recently...
: Your idea for your friends to live in a 'community' great idea! The only thing is if you did that and Janet Reno is Governor of Florida well then let's just say I hope we dont' have any weapons in the compound is all. Just a thought.
This brings up another issue. I'm not a militaristic kind of person, but have you ever thought about why the governement is so into gun control? It has nothing ot do with public safety, that is the excuse, because world-wide and time-tested detante is the best public safety, arm everyone then the criminals are so worried about getting their head blown off that they are very reluctant to cross anyone. The real reason is that an armed public has the potential to turn into an armed revolt. We just said that only 30% of the people are participating in the system. So what happens if you piss off that other 70% and all of them have weapons? you see this is the sedate through illusion method. Make us think we don't want the right to something, so they come off looking good rather than the dictator method where you force everyone to give it up.
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: : Yes yes I agree, however you have three choices, work within the system, work outside the system, do nothing. I don't know I think A is a good choice right now and if that doesn't work then we go to plan B, but I think i am too much of a patriot to just sit by and do nothing (even though you think working in the system is the same as doing nothing ; P )
: I choose B. As a citizen of heaven I choose to honor no men before God and I mean this literally. It's kind of like why the Catholic church doesn't make statements on political candidates. The laws I'm concerned with are God's laws, and who can argue with those. Love your neighbor as yourself, and love God with all your heart mind and soul. So ultimately I don't care about the earthly political power God is still in control of it all, and I'm working for Him.