That doesn't change the plutocratic nature of your society. So presidential powers such as veto or whatever are irrelevant? How about all the other powers that come from the president? Look all the shit that Bush accomplished and get me back on that, will ya? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! If down there is anything like up here, you are in big shit with presidents like Bush. Which we both know it is the truth indeed. So you are giving up? Again, look at Bush and get me back on that... LOL! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Ever read sandy's posts? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
The one who had the tiff with Hotchick? Bush Jr. was the first president to have a fire sale on pardons to felons in his last year in office? Or to drop bombs on foreign countries throughout his reign?
He has done nothing that other presidents haven't done before. He has pushed the limit of those actions far beyond what has been seen in nearly a hundred years. The power that the Executive now hold is *way* out of line with the 1/3 balance that it's supposed to be. Refusing oversight, avoiding laws it doesn't care for, ignoring subpoenas. And the Congress let this happen, out of fear of being called Unpatriotic. The amount of legally questionable action, and the methods that are being employed, is destructive to this nation. Hell, telling White House aids to not comply with a congressional subpoena last week appears to have been in direct violation of federal law, but no ones doing anything about it!! http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/015273.php Be aware, Bush didn't pardon Libby, he commuted the sentence. Very different, and given the timing, VERY problematic. He did it on the grounds that it was over-harsh. However, he did it *before the appeals process*, and in doing so damaged the case law for the prosecution of similar cases in the future. He did it while at the same time sending friend of the court letters to judges presiding over identical cases, suggesting harsher punishments. He did it when the very rules used to set the sentence were based on guidelines set forth by the Bush Admin in the first place! His actions weaken the rule of law in the this country.
It's all gonna bite the republicans in the ass. Because when a democratic president is elected in O8 they are going to inherit all that extra power. This plus the democratic house and senate does not look good from a republican perspective.
Bush is above the law. Or so he believes. I fail to see why he's not in a jail by now. Sorry, but guys are slow to action... At least Sheenan is trying to impeach him...
You guys live in an anarchy, btw. Not fully, but partially. And of course it is disguised as "democracy".
A very good constitutional scholar review of the current situation and impeachment. 24 minutes, VERY worth the watch. http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/video_popups/pop_vid_impeachment1-1.html
What if you could make people enjoy obeying you? Would that be considered cruel? Like, for example, you could somehow genetically engineer a strain of benevolent human being that actually enjoyed servitude etc....or you implanted babies with a chip that could stimulate endorphins (or whatever) when the person obeyed commands from a person implanted with another chip....you get the idea. Would that be cruel or otherwise?
Geez, wives do that all the time to their husbands!! Give him sex once or twice a month, and husbands are more than happy to obey! ...LOL Yeah, it's cruel, but then, if they don't know that it's cruel, is it only cruel to the observer? And if so, does that make it cruel to the "victim"? My guess is, if the "victim" is perfectly happy, yet the observer forces a change because he thinks it's cruel, then wouldn't that be even more cruel to the "victim"? Baron Max
Kind of the same idea that a sadist could never be happy with a masochist. Wives & sex ... that's perfect!Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Well now, Baron might be onto something here. Apply the wives (or gf)/sex analogy to the original question by TS. Doesn't it fit his original premise? Vagina=power. In fact, if you subscribe to his (albeit loose) definition, it would be even more overtly slavery since most relationships don't even give the illusion of freedom; quite the contrary. If corporate marketing and media controls our minds through catering to our desires, how are women any different? TS, does your significant other know you feel this way? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Have any of you seen the movie Equilibrium? Such a strange movie... pharmacological inputs to work the unwilling into the willed. (wielded?)
hum. But sex kinda works both ways, doesn't it? Seems different from the government. I just can't imagine government having that kind of appeal. Although to a lot of people I guess it has, all the patriots and soldiers... and it has those flashy, cool ribbons that you can wear if you're good... so there's an adequate rewarding system. Keeping people slaves by tricking them into thinking they're free. Hm. Maybe by hiding anything they (we) could directly complain about? Make it so complicated, they don't really know WHAT they would rebel against. Or how. And then add some specific annoyances, direct targets (lousy TV, high prices) that people would complain about. "So you are giving up?" - when the horse is dead, it may be best to give up kicking it.
Yup. And systematically dumbening the population through the media and primetime! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Who's givin' up?
Truthseeker, the system you speak of is required to sustain society. If your 'slave masters' wouldn't lead the slaves, there would only be a unorganized mess. Without slaves all doing what they can do to maintain society, produce and transport food and water, we would all die off from bad distribution of life supplies. Then there are luxury products and services, which are needed to keep life interesting. Would you want to live a life without any luxury products, only doing what is needed to survive?