Politics are one of my worst subjects, it's too complicated a system for me to really get a good grip on... as a result I'm quite apathetic. Basically anything I have trouble learning/lack interest in, is something I know very little about.
Seconded! I thought I was the only one who struggles with this subject.
Thirded (incorrect use of language but never mind)
I thought we were just talking about politics ( not anything to do with AFF )
I teach government, and I hear from my students that they hate politics and it's boring and their parents hate politics and their parents think it's boring and blah blah blah...
but if you think the current state of affairs and the future of people on the spectrum is not 99% political, you're fooling yourself.
I think with me, I just see that one party is no better than the other ( in the UK) & the politicians are such proficient & able liars, mainly only looking to line their own pockets.
They only pretend to listen, unless really huge action is taken.
I can't say that this is true, but it is my perception.
Perhaps this line of discussion should go into another thread.
"Politics" is another word for people competing over limited resources. I myself prefer the business world, because people (in the aggerate) act more rationally when money is involved. One could also argue that the business world is more rational because power is measurered in money, and irrational actors don't keep money long enough to screw things up. Most of the politicians are little more than cheap mouthpieces trying to make money by selling their souls to the highest bidder.
"Politics" is another word for people competing over limited resources.
Gross oversimplification. You're much more nearly defining economics than politics.
I agree with you that my statement is a simplification. But it is fairly accurate. Politics generally is more about retaining power for a given faction than it is about leadership. Often a political shift is one faction taking over from another. I believe that you can think of enough examples.
Max, I agree with you that occasionally good things come of the political leadership, which is why we are typing these words back and forth online, and not clubbing each other in the stone age. That said, Politicians, like governments in general, are usually (but not always) best at concentrating power in themselves, until they anger enough people and lose power. Then another group takes over, and the process repeats. Power corrupts, and corrupts very quickly.
Btw, Australia is due for a Feral election later this year.
*grins* That's either brilliant social commentary, or the best typo ever!
I'm going to be helping out the greens this time around.
Max, if I had a large business that could be wiped out by some politicans deciding they don't like me, I'd be throwing money at the politicians as well. See the 1990 US Federal "Luxury Tax" on Boats wiping out the US boat industry for a fairly non-controversal example. There are many countries where the elected politicians are not bought by "filthy corporatist interests" that seem, by western standards, to be corrupt.
Besides, the alternatives may be worse. Public funding of campaigns (more than the comparatively limited funds issued by the US Government for Presidential campaigns and conventions) means that Governments will be funding campaigns, which, as noted above by the honorable tenaciouscj, means that additional public funds will not go to other functions of government. Also, by reducing the private influence over elections, more influence is given to the media, which in most countries with elections is yet another private corporation.
Edit: the Third sentence of the 1st paragraph of my above post should read as follows:
There are many countries (which seem, by western standards, to be corrupt) where the elected politicians are not bought by "filthy corporatist interests".
I was really annoyed by the film The Madness of King George.
It should have been The Madness of King George III, but the III wasn't used in case the film was thought to be the second sequel in a series!
