Trust in institutions

[WickedCossack]

Sure thing, I shall await your reply.

Edit: Ah this reminds me I never got a response from @benj89 on the topic of gun safety. I don't remember the thread though.

[benj89]

As far as I remember, I checked the link to one of your point, found the research paper and realised the data was biased (looked at it few mins, would have to double check to make sure) then gave up because I would have to study each link with the corresponding paper that way which would probably take a few hours. Also been pretty busy since then, so don't feel like doing that on my free time. Will answer when I feel like it though

[lejend]

I think there are a few posts I haven't replied to to. That discussion with Benj about starting a business, I think. And I'm pretty sure there was a religious discussion with Goodspeed and Cossack. I might reply to them in the not too distant future.

[spanky4ever]

about USA healtcare
take a look

phpBB [video]

hearth breaking

[Jam]

about USA healtcare
take a look

phpBB [video]

hearth breaking

At least in America people have the freedom to not be able to afford healthcare if they so choose!

[XeeleeFlower]

Relevant article: https://splinternews.com/how-people-die ... 1822743566

[TheInvincibleJannisary]

Well I guess you're a worthless human unless you can turn a profit.

[spanky4ever]

Relevant article: https://splinternews.com/how-people-die ... 1822743566

Just one word for that read: heartbreaking

[Gendarme]

TheLiteralistJannisary

[Goodspeed]

Well I guess you're a worthless human unless you can turn a profit.

A lot of people actually have negative value.
It's funny how, all humans put together, we might actually have negative value as a civilization.

[Gendarme]

...and that's when he realized humanity is shit.

#DiariesOfAMartian

[Dolan]

It's more like the huge majority of people is passive, easy to entertain and distract and only care about trifle shit. And a handful of people are those who actually build things and run things.

Sadly, we wanted freedom but most people are incapable of using their freedom.

(That's why the Enlightenment failed. It made assumptions about people that were far too abstract, removed from reality. It must have been that things were, by comparison, really bad during monarchical regimes, that freedom/reason/emancipation for all sounded like a great idea.)

[Goodspeed]

...and that's when he realized humanity is shit.

More like capitalism and the way it values people is shit, but this I was already well aware of.

[TheInvincibleJannisary]

Well I guess you're a worthless human unless you can turn a profit.

A lot of people actually have negative value.
It's funny how, all humans put together, we might actually have negative value as a civilization.

Maybe that's because the system is set up in a way for failure in regards to many people.

[Goodspeed]

I'd leave out the maybe

[lejend]

It's more like the huge majority of people is passive, easy to entertain and distract and only care about trifle shit. And a handful of people are those who actually build things and run things.

Sadly, we wanted freedom but most people are incapable of using their freedom.

(That's why the Enlightenment failed. It made assumptions about people that were far too abstract, removed from reality. It must have been that things were, by comparison, really bad during monarchical regimes, that freedom/reason/emancipation for all sounded like a great idea.)

Democracy is the worst system except for all the others.

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy."

[spanky4ever]

@lejend made this quote, and I wonder what he means by it??
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy."[/quote]

how are "democracy" in USA working out for most ppl? One would think that a democracy would mean that you make rulings that benefits most ppl I wonder

[Dolan]

Democracy is the worst system except for all the others.

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy."

Yeh, hopefully this time we avoid relapsing into despotism. But it doesn't look like people care rise to this opportunity.

I'd rather see the species splitting into separate groups based on different types of political organisation. Like some opting for some forms of technocracy, others for some forms anarcho-socialism, others continuing with same old equalitarian democracy that eventually leads to populism and glorification of the lowest common denominator's values.

[spanky4ever]

I will post this list for you guys, an Index over best/strongest democracies in the world.
no one; Norway
no 21 USA (ranked as flawed democracy mind you)
no 61 Romania (also ranked as Flawed democracy, only worse than USA - go figure that one out!!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index

[lejend]

@lejend made this quote, and I wonder what he means by it??
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy."

how are "democracy" in USA working out for most ppl? One would think that a democracy would mean that you make rulings that benefits most ppl I wonder
[/quote]

Government only makes decisions good for the government.

America's political system was designed to limit the government's power, by protecting the individual instead of sacrificing him to the masses, but humans are fallible and no system can contain their envy and greed forever.

I'm really curious why you think I or anyone consider America or its systems perfect?

[spanky4ever]

Government only makes decisions good for the government.

America's political system was designed to limit the government's power, by protecting the individual instead of sacrificing him to the masses, but humans are fallible and no system can contain their envy and greed forever.

I'm really curious why you think I or anyone consider America or its systems perfect?

I guess you mean good for the super rich and corporations, on the expense of most people. That go by the name of a "flawed democracy" - you got that right

Why I think you concider American system perfect?? Hmm, guess that is because you propaganda for it all the time, concealing it as "freedom" - etc
If you are not of that openion, I appologizy for thinking so.
Maybe I could ask you for your openion of why you do not concider it as the best (dont like perfect, cos nothing are)?? What is the things you would want to change, if you had the meens to do so

[Dolan]

I will post this list for you guys, an Index over best/strongest democracies in the world.
no one; Norway
no 21 USA (ranked as flawed democracy mind you)
no 61 Romania (also ranked as Flawed democracy, only worse than USA - go figure that one out!!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index

And why should I believe anything published by the "Economist ((((Intelligence)))) Unit", based in the UK? Are they doing this out of pure altruism, you think?

Show me how democratic your country would be if Norway had the Ottoman Empire and Russia as neighbours for centuries. It's rich that you're lecturing me when you basically live in an oil-funded democracy. Norway is basically the Europe's Saudi Arabia.

>inb4 but nooo, we produce so many things, oil is just a bonus
>mfw I never bought a product made in Norway, maybe some smoked salmon once

[spanky4ever]

I will post this list for you guys, an Index over best/strongest democracies in the world.
no one; Norway
no 21 USA (ranked as flawed democracy mind you)
no 61 Romania (also ranked as Flawed democracy, only worse than USA - go figure that one out!!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index

And why should I believe anything published by the "Economist ((((Intelligence)))) Unit", based in the UK? Are they doing this out of pure altruism, you think?

Show me how democratic your country would be if Norway had the Ottoman Empire and Russia as neighbours for centuries. It's rich that you're lecturing me when you basically live in an oil-funded democracy. Norway is basically the Europe's Saudi Arabia.

then I will read more from the list for you:
no 2 Iceland
no 3 Sweeden
no 4 New Zealand
no 5 Denmark
Finland no 9.
What you should subtract from this, is that the Nordic model are ranked as the highest in the world. And not only by this ranking.

[lejend]

Government only makes decisions good for the government.

America's political system was designed to limit the government's power, by protecting the individual instead of sacrificing him to the masses, but humans are fallible and no system can contain their envy and greed forever.

I'm really curious why you think I or anyone consider America or its systems perfect?

I guess you mean good for the super rich and corporations, on the expense of most people. That go by the name of a "flawed democracy" - you got that right

America is not perfect but it's as good as it gets compared to everywhere else. But it depends what you're looking for. In theory, America is a place where you can succeed or fail due to your own effort. If you want a society where nobody succeeds or fails, where everything is provided for you, then obviously America will sound terrible.

You will never find a perfect society on Earth. The best thing is to maximize liberty and keep tyranny, whether benevolent or malevolent, as difficult to achieve as possible. Under this system some lose, many win. While it isn't perfect, it is better than the alternative.

Remember that tyrants never gain power by pledging to oppress people. They rise to power, by promising to care for and "liberate" them from powerful minorities that are keeping them down. Learn from history.

[spanky4ever]

"liberate" them from powerful minorities that are keeping them down. Learn from history.

Well, so should you @lejend. the powerful minorities, will soon come for the lots of you (if you are in that category - rich bitches)