Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Krugman: Losing Our Country

[Michael <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

> I personally believe that in almost every situation, the government of 
> a country is a strong reflection of the people of that country.  This 
> is certainly the case in democracies, but I think most of the time it 
> is true of other systems of government as well.
>
> If we have corruption or greediness in our politicians, this reflects 
> that a large proportion of the general public are also corrupt or 
> greedy.  So you can create all the systems and balances in the 
> government that you like, but as long as the general populace don't 
> clean up their act, neither will those who are in charge.

I agree for the most part. People get the government they deserve. 
Unfortunately that applies to us as a group and not as individuals. If 
the majority of our society is retarded then likewise is our government.

> I believe that America has done well in the last century or so, 
> because its people have generally been relatively hard working and 
> honest.  I say relatively, because we really are not all that hard 
> working and honest, but compared to some cultures we are.  I think 
> that America is quite possibly slipping in this area, and this will 
> probably be reflected in America's economic decline over the next 
> century or so.

I'd say we did great during the last century overall.. only really 
beginning to spiral towards death in the 60's and onward. Since then our 
government and society has been falling and it's begun to seriously 
impact our technology and economics too. We have nuts running around 
decrying extremely useful things like genetic and nanotech research 
while ignoring real problems like corporate/media abuse, immorality, 
education decline, and misuse of limited natural resources. Meanwhile 
we're getting left behind other countries with little chance of catching 
back up soon due especially to our need to reform education. And we're 
heading towards a possible major rift between the corporate overlords 
and the youth that think information should be free.

> Incidently, I have an approach to campaign finance that is sure fire 
> to work.  Simply persuade the general population not to fall for those 
> expensive glitzy advertisments, but instead to actually look at the 
> candidates themselves.  If you do this, campaign finance reform is 
> virtually automatic.  Fail to do this, and any efforts in this 
> direction are basically band aid solutions.

That'd be great if our society hadn't totally sold itself out to glitz. 
The foil hat wearing guy in me sees the continual downward spiral of our 
education system as a good way for politicans to maintain their control 
of the lemmings. If they're dumb as bricks they won't be smart enough to 
vote you out let alone actually stand up to you. Democracy doesn't work 
when the majority of people are uneducated and stupid.

--
Michael <EMAIL:PROTECTED>
http://kavlon.org

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