US Politics, Healthcare, and November · 1:46am Jul 3rd, 2012
Interestingly enough, I'm not going to go into any of that here. Would cause too much bickering, fighting, and statements from people who probably have no idea how the real world works (In other words, I'm not turning this into a AOL comment thread.) I recently left a rather heated debate with a tremendously close friend of mine, and while our political views are infact different, I was unwilling to give ground. As a result, I was called "selfish" and "had no compassion". (Let the record show that I did not insult them back, DESPITE how completely true these statements are. Merely tried to hold my ground, as cold as it might be).
*sighs* They weren't kidding when they said politics and religion are things nopony should talk about.
Because I am bored, and have SOMEHOW had two different people come to my door today and try to very earnestly peach to my why their party is better and the other is scum (I shut the door in both of their faces), I felt like sharing one of my favorite tidbits of wisdom for absolutely no reason whatsoever. Again, I'm bored and on a philosophical high. *shrugs*
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.
The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence: from bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependency; from dependency back again to bondage."
-Attributed to Scottish History Professor at University of Edinburgh Sir Alexander Fraser Tytler (1747-1813)
Pick a stage. I think I know which one we are in.
Selfishness, right?
I heard the best form of government is a benevolent dictatorship. Someone with absolute power that works towards the benefit of the many, while allowing freedom outside politics. Can't say if its true or not.
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208295
Unfortunately, that can only exist in a theoretical perspective. That's where you get ideas like the "Just King" from. (IE. King Arthur Pendragon).
By the Nine Divines, I hate politics... And I hate people who talk about politics, and I also hate people who talk about religion too much...
Poli - Latin for "many"
and tics (ticks) - as in "Blood sucking parasites".
Coincidence? I think not.
Please, my friend, continue to stay awesome.
religion and politics are only topics you do If you want to make someone cry. I have no problems going into them but then again, I'm a complete asshole that never pulls any punches.
if I was a politician I will enforce something called shotgun politics. Us you imagination to figure that one out.
208285
Derpno*. We're in Complacency-Apathy. At least, that's my opinion on this. And are already pretty far into Dependency (Who do we get a majority of oil from? And who do we get...just about everything else from?). Also, if China cashes in the debt, or certain events happen, we could easily fall down a huge sinkhole into Bondage.
And thus ends my political-y stuff that I'm gonna think about for tonight. Also, excellent quote. I'm forwarding it on to family and friends.
*The "derp" is me, actually. I tend to say stuff like that a lot.
208306 I HAVE A COPY OF THAT!!!!
Did you read his America (The Book) yet?! Its the one before it.
Dude.... Supreme Judges... what was seen could not be unseen....
You know, maybe I'm insulting alot of people... but who cares.
But doesn't it seem that a solid 90% of voters are brainwashed/sub-moronic? On both political parties, both in and out of office.
Intelligence and common sense have steadily been going down in America. How I wish that was an exaggeration on my part...
208323 I think you are right in all regards. The governing of a nation a shouldn't be driven by those seeking to bring power to one group, but by those, and only those, that have the best interests of the country and its people in mind. Unfortunately it will be a long time before it actually happens.
I really can't comment here on my views without starting a shitstorm.
208323
By the eight Divines you mean...
I'm always awesome. Maybe not Aimbot awesome, but still pretty awesome.
I also have an ego that is one third the size of Hoity Toity's.
Heh, I know that feeling all too well Dawn, I've received similar comments from my friends when discussing politics. The trouble is that people start taking it super personal when you don't believe exactly what they believe. I prefer to go in and just screw with everyone indiscriminately, playing devils advocate and drive them all up the walls, it's fun to watch
I do like that quote tho, I've thought for awhile that America is starting to circle the drain in terms of where the "leadership" is taking us. Keep on being awesome, and when the world ends, all the bronies can form together and make a survival colony and laugh as everyone else falls to our friendship cannons
I always hate talking about religion and politics. I every time I share my opinions I always offends them in some way when I don't mean too because I speak what I believe in and they go and tell me I'm wrong and I'm a bad person. I try my best to avoid the topic at all cost. However it really hard to do that when my dad side of the family talks nothing but politics. Which is why I always prefer sitting at the kids table.
I'd say somewhere between Complacency and Apathy.
But I agree; politics is not fun to discuss. Me and my uncle (and this is the same uncle who introduced me to MLP in the first place) have wildly differring views on Religion and politics both, so when he tries to bring it up, I shift the conversation towards ponies, Transformers, or writing -the three biggest things we have in common- with the unfortunate result that he thinks me rather shallow.
208357 Me and My friends are the same way, I always love talking with my friends about these topics as unlike some people we know that there is nothing wrong with different opinions. Also send me the location of this colony I want to be prepared just in case.
208385 Haha, well Western WA is pretty agreeable year-round, and plenty of resources from the land and Puget Sound, sooooo, yea
Funnily enough, while our favorite program SEEMS to be a monarchy, in some form or another, many of the ideals of the show are squarely in the realm of Communism, mostly Marxism.
Someone toward the top mentioned a Benevolent Dictatorship as a possibility the best form of government. If that is true, than Marxism is definitely second, if actually practiced the way it was intended (which would be basically impossible). The problem is that both Dictatorships and Communist Governments lend themselves far too much to corruption and/or power-mongering. But, that is neither here nor there... The fact is that a Capitalist Democratic Republic has only a certain 'shelf-life' before it fails. I am pretty sure that America is fast approaching it's expiration date.
Anyway, that is my two cents.
Let the record show that I did not insult them back...
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I guess taking a jab at immigration doesn't count since technically you didn't specifically call her a dirty immigrant :D
I'm just going to come out and say it: that quote in 100% bullshit.
Think about when and where that quote was made: specifically, England, likely sometime in the late 1700s or early 1800s. What was going on at the time? Well, for the later part of that time span, the French Revolution and associated fallout was making a good bid to shred all of continental Europe, and America had recently stunned the world by actually winning its independence. What was going on (roughly) 200 years earlier? Why, nothing less than the Glorious Revolution, which kicked King James II the hell out of England and led to the creation of the English Bill of Rights, a vital step in the evolution of constitutional governments.
I think it's safe to say that whoever made that quote was commenting (quite pessimistically) on the events of his own time, and before you blindly accept his predictions, you really ought to see how well his last batch held up, which is actually not very well, given that 200 years after the fact, British representative government is still alive and kicking. Heck, the empire might be gone now, but it kept going for a good 150 years after its predicted expiration date, and the only reason it died was because of the First and Second World Wars. Changes in the general body politic over that period of time--which were huge given the ever-expanding circle of political emancipation--were survived without so much as a a ripple. It 's also important to note that every one of those changes added a new group to the voting public that was damn sure to vote for causes that furthered their own self-interests.
America is not going into decline just because we had a bicentennial, and the current round of political bickering, vitriolic as it is, does not herald a breakdown of representative government. Democracy might be more pleasant if everyone is politely civil, but civility sure as hell isn't built in as a system requirement. Democracy has always battled with its demons of unenlightened selfishness, and to say that things were ever otherwise shows a fundamental lack of understanding of American history. Yes, redsides and bluesides really don't like each other right now (not that they ever have really gotten on all that well). Yes, this is going to make for an excessively annoying year leading up to November. Yes, even November isn't going to stop all the whining.
Take heart--this all will pass, and things will get better. But that's a whole 'nother barrel of lutefisk.
And, just for the record, I prefer Cnn.com comments.
208460 You sir, show a great understanding of history. I agree with your sentiments also America has always had rough patches, but as long as the people who inhabit this country remember the Ideals it was founded on, it will survive.
208389 Ah. Good. Said colony is close to water. I could never stand being uber far inland. I like, NEED to be near water one way or another. Even if its a puddle, man. I can deal with a Sound.
Infact, why don't ALL the bronies band together and form our own country. I mean, legit. Its not like they can arrest millions of people who decide to hunker down in one area.
208399
We added a pingpong table to the oval office. 
I had a dream the other night in which my brother and I both ran for presidency. Together. He had studied Democratic views, I republicans, and we said "buck it! Let's be our own party! And make the decisions together as a team!" Our focus was like how when Romulus and Remus were split, Rome would only achieve half its glory. Then the voters were like "No, you can't both be president. One of you need to be a Vice-President". So we flipped a coin and he lost.
But you're absolutely right. Sad enough, WE let it happen.
We have Team A, and Team B. Anyone not on Team A must be on Team B, otherwise they're wierd, radical, or don't care about votes. Sad enough, come November, I will vote. I will vote for the person under whose "umbrella" I won't get rained on... more... :/
Srsly, why can't we form our own colony now?
208524 I was thinking the same thing. I would totally immigrate after a few years, I have to finish High school, but I would definitely move to the colony/country as soon as I was finished with school .
208524 YES, This, ALL of this!!! I'm the same way about living inland!
I don't see a reason why not. I mean, what's the worst that could happen
208592 Someone start researching how to do this and get the word out we are starting a country.
WOOOOOHOOO
The ONLY politician I trust is Niccolo Machiavelli-and he's dead!
208629 Whatever did happen to him? I know what he did in general but I don't the specifics.
208632 I... don't know. Look here.
208694 You know I was not expecting a reply, when I made that comment.
208356 Holy ****, did Dawnscroll just compliment me? [Fanboy mode: Activated]
And no, I mean the Nine Divines. Despite the fact that I'm a loyal subject to the Empire, I still worship Talos in secret... Oh crap, did I just say that out loud?
208702
208753 Thank you, Thank you, I will be performing in the United Brony Republic for my life once it is founded.
208766 Huh, fancy meetin' you here.
Why is that, My good sir? Sorry I am trying to sound fancy when I don't need to.
208805 Seriously why is it a surprise to see me here?
208821 I was being more of a smart-ass than anything else. And it's (sorta) my way of saying 'Hello'.
208829 I don't know how saying "fancy meeting you here" is being a smart-ass. But what made you pick me out to say it to?
208837 You know, now even I'm confused... I just noticed you're following me, and here we are, having a (not-so-friendly) conversation.
And I never said I was good at being a smart-ass.
208844 How is this not a friendly conversation? I am enjoying it quite thoroughly. And yes that was definitely not a good way to sound like a smart-ass.
208850 I don't know... Maybe I'm just sensitive...
Nah...
208852 I am absolutely sure that is not it.
208855 Oh, so now I'm not a sensitive person?
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Now I'm all sad-faced....
208866 Hey, I didn't say you weren't a sensitive person. Just that was probably wasn't what made you fee like you originally did about this conversation.
208870 That was my poor attempt at a joke. I was pretending to have a mood-swing.
208890 Yes I know. And apparently I played along too well.
On a side note aren't we kinda far off the topic of this blog?
208906... Now that you mention it, yes, we are... Let's stop wasting this good man's space, shall we?
208911 I agree, lets meet up and continue this conversation once the UBR is founded. Agreed?
208918 Sure.... Now, a parting gift.
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Since the beginning the trend in this country has been towards tyranny. As soon as our Republic was formed the moochers and the looters have been chipping away at our individual liberties constantly, taking advantage of mistakes written into our constitution. It was merely a trickle until 1913 though, and it got really bad under Roosevelt, though we’ve recovered somewhat from his New Deal. We have allowed our nation to be over taxed, over regulated, and over run by bureaucrats. I’m pretty sure the framers would be ashamed of us for what we put up with. They gave us a republic, but it is apparent to me that we didn’t deserve it, given we destroyed it ourselves.
Pick a stage? apathy to dependency in my opinion.