I'm questioning the democractic nature of the US political system, and the British one while I'm at it. I didn't think democracy was the voice of those who don't feel so alienated by politics that they vote? Winning is the mandate to rule you say? So when Mugabe wins that will be enough, he will have a mandate to rule?
will -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: 18 February 2002 16:26 To: CF-Community Subject: RE: jihad for kids .. wheeee Winning is the mandate to rule. In a representative government, that's all you need. Getting a majority of the votes (in a three-way election) is irrelevant. Getting a majority of all registered voters is even more irrelevant. I don't really get you're point, however. What does this have to do with democracies being careful? There is no democratic code that says all people must vote. In fact, not voting is a form of voting. Furthermore, I don't want all people to vote. Too many people who are ill-informed vote already any way. Of course, that's their choice, but I don't believe democracy suffers when people choose not to vote. The nice thing about a free society is that you can choose not to participate in the civic process if that's what floats your boat. People should be free to choose that option without being made out to be cretins. H. -----Original Message----- From: Will Swain [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Monday, February 18, 2002 2:25 AM To: CF-Community Subject: RE: jihad for kids .. wheeee I see what you are saying but I do worry that there is a dangerous undercurrent lurking in the background there. Like maybe we could just ask them what they think about it? Otherwise it is simply a case of a dominant culture imposing it's values on everyone else. Yes, it might be from the best motivations, but I think you could see the arrogance there. Furthermore, I think you are on very dangerous ground with your assertion that "A government that is formed from a mandate from the masses (and not from some farcical aquatic ceremony) is the only way to go." Again, imposing a morality and world view on others. Who is to say that a benevolent dictatorship is not a better way to live? Also, I think we who live in 'democratic' countries should be very careful. After all, is it not true that less than half the population of the US voted in the last election, and arguably less than half of those who did actually voted for Bush? Hardly a mandate to rule? will -----Original Message----- From: Lon Lentz [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: 15 February 2002 23:32 To: CF-Community Subject: RE: jihad for kids .. wheeee I will never accept the premise that "correct" and "right" are subjective. They are not. Killing is not necessarily wrong. Murder is wrong. Completely different. If killing is "wrong", then why do we hire "cops", give them badges and guns, and allow them to "kill" in our name? Why do we let the state "kill" in our name? Why do we let the US military "kill" in our name? There is no subjectiveness here. There is only absolute. I am not in anyway trying to suggest that we shove our western ideals down their throats. A government that is formed from a mandate from the masses (and not from some farcical aquatic ceremony) is the only way to go. That is absolute. However they choose to do it. Proper human behavior is right and just. No matter where you live. No matter what religion you follow. No matter your ethnic background. Would you suggest that the female castrations that go on in Africa, could in some way, be "right" or "correct" for those people? I don't care what kind of society they have, that is wrong. > -----Original Message----- > From: chris.alvarado [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Friday, February 15, 2002 5:01 PM > To: CF-Community > Subject: Re: jihad for kids .. wheeee > > > no I'm suggesting exactly what I stated. > > Absolutes are absolutely wrong. > > case in point: > > Killing is wrong. > > Killing in self defense, is that wrong? > > most people would tend to say no, if the choice is kill or be killed, and > that is the only way, then killing in self defense is not "wrong", which > completely contradicts the first statement: 'killing is wrong'. Killing is > killing no matter how pretty you try to paint it. > > "right" and "wrong" is all a matter of perception. > > believing that something is right or wrong does not make it so. > > I believe that the events that occurred on 9/11 and some of the events > thereafter were "wrong" but that does not make it universally so. > > Who put you, or me for that matter in charge of dictating what is right or > wrong? > > Freedom is not just about living the way you want to live, it is > about being > able to also acknowledge the way others choose to live whether you agree > with it or not. > > Unconventional thought? perhaps, but this country's ideals were founded on > what was considered to be unconventional / 'unpopular' thinking. > > in short, what is right for you, may not be right for others, I'm > not saying > that about freedom or any one thing in particular. I'm saying, in general. ______________________________________________________________________ Structure your ColdFusion code with Fusebox. Get the official book at http://www.fusionauthority.com/bkinfo.cfm Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
