Politics.

[Mankind]

I hate politics, I hate that grown men in positions of power who should know better take petty swipes at each other, I hate how people like David Cameron surround themselves with people who went to the same/similiar expensive private schools, I hate how people seem unable to judge ideas and policies on themselves and instead see 'conservative' or 'liberal' instead, I hate how politicians have been all talk and little action since Hitler.

Discuss.

[Sean]

I love politics.

I hate politicians, but then who doesn't? I hate the fact we exist with a system merely because it is there and working, i hate that change requires huge effort, rather than seamless and efficient progress.

What i adore about politics is that it goes straight into the very fundamentals of who we are, are we *******s or kind given the chance etc etc, given extra freedom how would we react to it, given a gun what would we do with it, it's a very interesting mix of psychology, philosophy and social science that is why i hate the fact that nearly all politicians are so removed from 'normal' society that they never stand a hope to understand what human nature really is.

you bored btw? you seem to be making these rather easy but thought provoking threads as a mission atm =p

[darktidus]

Originally Posted by Mankind

I hate politics, I hate that grown men in positions of power who should know better take petty swipes at each other, I hate how people like David Cameron surround themselves with people who went to the same/similiar expensive private schools, I hate how people seem unable to judge ideas and policies on themselves and instead see 'conservative' or 'liberal' instead, I hate how politicians have been all talk and little action since Hitler.

Discuss.

Well, I dunno, Nelson Mandela did a little action I hear.

But certainly, you're correct. That's why there are so many anarchists and so many libertarians.

You do sound like a 'minimum government' guy. Is that roughly right?

[teflon]

Yeah, Nelson Mandela the terrorist scumbag got his own statue in Westminster I see. If Ken Livingstone had his way, it would probably be standing beside Stalin and Che Guevaras.
Politicians bug me something awful too, but I think there is a fundamental flaw in the system anyway. Any person conceited, megalomaniacal and lacking in self-awareness enough to become a politician, is clearly not the type of person who should be in charge of any system.
So what we end up with is a greedy, one-eyed communist who apparently suffers from tetanus, up against a posh smoothie who is so wrapped up in unproven green issues that he tried to install a little wind turbine on his roof in the centre of London. Not forgetting the incredible 300 year old man who just disagrees with everything the other two ever say.

There is nothing we can do about it though. Just imagine the madness that would happen if everyone got to vote on every single issue. We would end up with a gay wheelchair-ridden Pakistani with AIDS as prime minister, or maybe Wayne Rooney, free phone credit for teenage mothers and public stonings for petty criminals.
And all because of the sh*thead media aimed at sh*theads like the S*n and ITf***ingV.

[darktidus]

Originally Posted by teflon

And all because of the sh*thead media aimed at sh*theads like the S*n and ITf***ingV.

Judging from things we hear there's lots of people who reckon those are well good sources of information. You're born ignorant but it takes sh*t like that to make you stupid.

[emma roids]

just out of interest, what would any of you do if you were in charge of this country??

[teflon]

Have you shot.

[emma roids]

wow thats a great coincidence cos thats exactly what i would have done to you

[ShiningForce]

i) Formally create some sort of constitution, sending a clear message to the people of this country what their rights and responsabilities are. could also get rid of those silly human rights destroying terrorist act laws, and put a stop to ****ing muslims trying to instigate shariot law in parts of london.

ii) come clean about all the skeletons in the governments clauset, and have those who commited the big baddies tried under treason.

iii) Make my opinions of the EU clear to them, and state that I won't think twice about withdrawing if they don't drastically review the laws (imo the EU far outsteps it's boundaries).

iv) Reform the education system to be what it should be.

v) Put police back on the beat, and stop tieing them up with paperwork or chasing speeders.

these are just some of the bullet points from my manifesto.

[darktidus]

One thing and one thing only:

Minimise the role of Government.

[MaKo]

Do you really think that is viable to any meaningful extent given the country's current role in global politics and own internal issues like the rise of the education scorning underclass? How would you minimise the role of the government? I'm not saying i disagree with your underlying motives, i'm very interested to hear how you'd expect to be able to carry it out though.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by MaKo

Do you really think that is viable to any meaningful extent given the country's current role in global politics and own internal issues like the rise of the education scorning underclass? How would you minimise the role of the government? I'm not saying i disagree with your underlying motives, i'm very interested to hear how you'd expect to be able to carry it out though.

i'm not sure if this is what darktidus means but my understanding of a libertarian minimum government would mean that governmental roles such as education, health-care and general welfare become the responsibility of the private market, competing insurance packages, charities, volunteer groups etc.

People who don't work are basically ****ed unless charity/volunteer groups exist, or companies invest into welfare schemes.

Meaning taxes are cut to a extreme level, technically freeing up income again for people to invest into insurance schemes.

The only governmental role still existing would be of a international role both military and diplomatic and policing - though both of these again potentially will be privatized somewhat, like security forces for companies, transport of prisoners, even jails themselves....but that's already happened, so meh.

It's interesting, but personally i can't stand the idea.

[Mankind]

Originally Posted by darktidus

You do sound like a 'minimum government' guy. Is that roughly right?

No, I think people in power in government should be say, scientists or philosophers rather than posh Etonians though. People with no financial agenda, no friends from school in their party, and the best interests of humanity as a whole at heart. People who would happily plough billions of pounds into research into curing cancer even if it mean taxing stuff more. People who wouldn't instigate knee-jerk reactions to the odd jihadi bomb to get votes by playing on people's fears, and take a more sensible long term view of the problem.

I have little to no knowledge of economics, so can't say anything about whether this would be feasible though. Probably not.

It sounds really gay to say 'best interests of humanity as a whole at heart', I know, but I think it only sounds gay because it is so far-fetched an idea compared to what govts normally seem to act like.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think it would remotely easy to get some kind of utopian society like philosophers long for, but at least we could have a go.