Politicians

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Everyone knows that IronPlant is my boyfriend.

Now, if idiots like you and g0zen would please mind leaving the thread until you have something worthwhile to say on the topic (which has nothing to do with your political affiliations, at all), that'd be swell. If you dont, well I imagine there are plenty of threads where you can spill your stupid anti-Bush vitriol. Thanks. :)



For one thing, politicians have been lawyers for a long time. In any case, if politicians are sleazy and corrupt, it is not because they are lawyers, it is because we are sleazy and corrupt!. That is Madison's arguments.

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There is some relative truth to that. As I've said in another thread I have spent time with the three different generations that are in my family this past month due to my great aunt passing away. There are huge differences between each, but one of the biggest one I've noticed is how hard the oldest generation tries to do right by the other.

An example of this is because my great aunt did not will any of her personal effects to anyone they were up for grabs. The younger generations said get whatever you want and if someone else wants it, they can come to you and talk it out. The middle generation wanted to have an auction so anyone who wants anything can get it fairly through compatition, and the oldest generation didn't want to get anything as they were very afraid to hurt someone elses feelings if they got something the others wanted.

Something that really caught me as odd was just how much all of the older people caried and worried about upsetting one of the other older people. The values people hold now, and their order of importance have changed greatly from what they were 20 to 50 years ago.

I, for one, agree with Madison.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

I know a lot of (mostly left-wing) folks would say its because the general populace of the US is too stupid, but of course that is nonsense. Simple statistical theory tells us that most people in the US are of average intelligence, and back in 1790, most people in the US were of average intelligence. Besides, anybody who is saying that is undoubtedly not referring to themselves or the people they are talking to. I cant count how many times Ive read "the people of the US are so stupid! Of course, if youre reading this, youre not one of them!". Michael Moore has said that a few times, especially in his books, which are all best-sellers. So how can his books be best-sellers if everyone in the US are stupid? Besides, simple math tells you that if one person thinks that everyone is stupid but them, and that gets repeated 150 million or so times, then nobody thinks they are stupid. So that whole "the US is full of idiots" argument goes out the window, right now.

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I know why the stereotype of the elitist Northeasterner exists - because Northesterners are rude asswipes who are so full of themselves they cant see anything past their driveway.

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Quite frankly, I would be hesitant to proclaim my state's superior intellect, especially if my state happened to be the one that has elected Ted Kennedy lord knows how many times. What are you guys up to, six?

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So you're saying that most people aren't stupid, just those from Massachusetts? How can you discard anyone else's opinions for lack of fact and than say something like this?

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But of course, this all goes back to the "everyone in the country but me is an idiot" way of thinking. Unfortunately for you, its fallacious logic.

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Isn't that, in a sense, what you did in these posts?

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Everyone knows that IronPlant is my boyfriend.

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The Meach is going to be jealous!

the American public isn't stupid. Only miniorities, gays, young people, Alaskan bears, foreign nations, and liberals!

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

of course, the point of this thread is not to discuss whether politicians are corrupt and sleazy. An educated Massachusetts elite like yourself should realize that without too much trouble. The point of this thread is to say, where does this conception come from,

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This idea comes from ourselves, the weak voting populace, that cannot bear taking responsibilty for our own actions. Namely, voting into office politicians. These politicians are not corrupt/sleazy (tho we wish it so, whereby we can absolve ourselves of any responsibility for electing bad governors). They are human. They want to do the right thing, they are convinced they are doing the right thing...unfortunately, the right thing (when it comes to governance) is often doing nothing (in a lawful free society).

To put it simply, when gov't screws up, we've only ourselves to blame (generally speaking). We can't handle that (who blames himself for his problems when another scapegoat - politicians - is readily substituted?), so we tell ourselves, 'Hey, it's not my fault, the guy was corrupt/greedy/sleazy/whatever'.

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Originally Posted by Melf

So you're saying that most people aren't stupid, just those from Massachusetts?

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Having had to deal with people from Massachusettes; between their terrible attitudes and terrible driving (they call them "Massholes" for a good reason) I can totally back diffusionx up on that statement.

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So you're saying that most people aren't stupid, just those from Massachusetts? How can you discard anyone else's opinions for lack of fact and than say something like this?

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No, I didnt say people from Massachusetts were stupid, I simply said they werent smarter or better than the average citizen from, say, Missouri. That is the thing that dave is ok was contending to be true.

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Isn't that, in a sense, what you did in these posts?

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No... Yoshi, Brisco Bold, dave is ok, and Mike said that, not me.

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Originally Posted by dave is ok

. People are friendlier in the south.

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LOL UNLESS YOUR BLACK.

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Originally Posted by MarkRyan

A fat guy was our class president.

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No he really was, and there almost wasn't a senior prom because of him either.



K, my input on what exactly. Massachusetts, or what Madison said about intelligent people voting?

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Originally Posted by Mike

Having had to deal with people from Massachusettes; between their terrible attitudes and terrible driving (they call them "Massholes" for a good reason) I can totally back diffusionx up on that statement.

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Don't throw MA under the bus just because you don't know how to drive here.

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Originally Posted by The_Meach

This idea comes from ourselves, the weak voting populace, that cannot bear taking responsibilty for our own actions. Namely, voting into office politicians. These politicians are not corrupt/sleazy (tho we wish it so, whereby we can absolve ourselves of any responsibility for electing bad governors). They are human. They want to do the right thing, they are convinced they are doing the right thing...unfortunately, the right thing (when it comes to governance) is often doing nothing (in a lawful free society).

To put it simply, when gov't screws up, we've only ourselves to blame (generally speaking). We can't handle that (who blames himself for his problems when another scapegoat - politicians - is readily substituted?), so we tell ourselves, 'Hey, it's not my fault, the guy was corrupt/greedy/sleazy/whatever'.

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Listen, anyone who believes that every politician is a self-serving prick, well thats a jaded attitude. Everyone who believes they can't make mistakes, or change their minds when they get into office, doesn't understand how the real world works in the slightest.

With both of those statements out of the way though, everyone who doesn't believe that someone running for president, won't say anything and everything to get himself elected (look up clinton's healthcare speech from 92, and G.W. talking about how the US. military shouldn't EVER be used for nation building from 2000 if you want proof), is just naive.

I like to believe Politicians mean well and are human beings, but 90 percent of the time, their actions are not helping their own cause.

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Originally Posted by youandwhosearmy

Don't throw MA under the bus just because you don't know how to drive here.

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I can handle traffic anywhere. It's just that Massholes can't drive properly outside of their state. The fact that they call the whole state of Connecticut a "speed trap" should be an indication: I've seen maybe two or three state troopers on any major CT freeway in my whole life.

That, however, is better than people from New Jersey who can't take a turn unless they slow to an absolute crawl.