I am fascinated by people that find fault wherever they look, list and/or rant about the negativity within our government, yet do not have a viable plan that they promote for a better system.
Sure there are things that need to be corrected, but not IMO to the point of putting the whole house to the torch.
We are getting too off topic here and need to return to the subject of the OP.
I know you are fair-minded, Grape. I am sure of it. I
know you will allow me to respond to your criticism of my post before enforcing a return to the thread topic.
Also, and especially since the current diversion was not particularly mine, but a criticism of an earlier post of mine by SteveinCO. I am sure your fair-mindedness would recognize an inclinination to momentarily defend a principle against irrational criticism. I know you wouldn't unfairly deny me a chance to respond rationally, calmly, and without personal attack. I know that, even if you wanted to close this thread for off-topic, you would have the breadth of view to solve it by moving this diversion to the Social Lounge, rather than just shut it down.
So, here it goes:
I say again, it is not up to me to explain myself, nor suggest an alternative*. I am not the one advocating the perpetuation of a 4500-year old institution with a
proven track record of untold human misery, death, and economic destruction.
This is not particularly aimed at the moderator's criticism. It is aimed at irresponsibility.
Lets take a look.
Under the current institution in this country, numerous people arrogantly believe that just because they vote they have the power to rule others without their express, individual consent. That is to say, since
some agree to vote, whichever voters are in the majority get to dictate policy to
everybody--including non-consenting equals.
But, they don't
actually get to dictate policy. Their representatives do: the representatives who lied and pandered to those majority voters. Those majority (and minority) voters who ignored extensive history about pandering, lying politicians.
So, there are the first two points of irresponsibility. One, arrogantly believing that voting somehow--perhaps through voodoo?--gives one the right to rule other equals. And, two, the failure of voters to thoroughly investigate and confirm the lying panderers are not lying panderers.
Then, having arrogantly voted to afflict their fellow human beings with government, too many of those voters then do not vigorously ensure their representatives only pass
malum in se laws. Too many of those voters do not vigorously ensure their police, prosecutors, and regulators do not violate rights. Too many of those voters use the most fantastic justifications to explain away the depredations of the government they support. Too many of those voters do not vigorously ensure the government they voted in behaves itself. They don't plumb its deceptions, its lies, its mis-directions. Too many of those voters just shrug their shoulders.
This is
breath-taking irresponsibility towards their fellow man. Think about it for just a moment. Not even sleep on it. Consider just for a moment. People who support government in its current form are saying in so many words that it is the most important social institution possibly excepting marriage. One would think that on such an important question--the importance they give it--government supporters would spend a
whole lot of time sorting through their viewpoint and the ramifications of their conclusions. On something so, so, so important...if they had more than a shred of concern for their fellow man, even a small sense of responsibility.
I know you, Gentle Reader, have that sense of responsibility. You wouldn't be here if you didn't. You wouldn't be here if you didn't give a darn about the right to defend self and
others.