That's the foundation of a "true democracy," not government in general.
Indeed (and I can only speak of the US government here, thanks to
Norteamericanocentric education) that's explicitly *not* the basis of the
US government. Our government was set up with the notion that we would vote
for people who would be expected to represent us -- not represent us in the
sense of "doing what we told them," but in the sense of ruling for us. They
were expected to know the issues better than we did, generally speaking.
If hard pressed, I can't think of a current example of "true democracy"
anywhere. It's been pretty muched judged in quite a few countries that the
desires of the majority should not impinge on the rights of the minority.
>If you read what I said again, it's very clear. Do unto others as you
>would have them do unto you. If you want to kill/exile black people, be
>prepared to be killed/exiled yourself. A eye for an eye. I think the
>system would work very well. The biggest problem (isn't it always?) is
>actually determining /guilt/. Did s/he do it? We would still need the
>courts to determine this.
Hmmm. Yes. We'd have to have the courts decide that, wouldn't we. And
perhaps some guidelines as to how it should be interpreted in each case?
What about the person who kills in self-defense? Did that person first
"kill," and that's something that shouldn't be done, or how important are
the mitagating circumstances? What about civil cases, where both people
appear to have legitimate claims that what they were doing they were
enitled to do? And how does this not leave people open to "frivolous"
revenge? And what if countries behaved this way? Should the United States
send some people into Turkey and blow up one of *their* barracks, since
it's "eye for an eye?"
>> Again. I know people I don't *want* to be free.
>
>And I know people who don't want to be free.
>
YEAH! ME!!!!
Do *you* think I'd survive three days in an anarchy? I'm a
pasty-white-boy-academic-intellectual, with unpopular ideas and no ability
to tote a barge or lift a bale.
Should we follow democracy if 50.01% believe that black people aren't
really people? 50.01% believe that women shouldn't have any rights? 50.01%
believe that gay people ought to be killed/ostracized/hospitalized? 50.01%
believe all jews should be slaughtered? 50.01$ believe that this group,
that group, the other group is not really a member of the human race, ergo
the "golden rule" does not apply to them? 50.01% believe chucking the whole
process and having an Emporer is a really keen idea? 50.01% believe we
desperately need CFCs more than we need ozone?
Hey. Kill me now. No; wait, I'll go on a killing spree first, because
that's how *I* want to be treated.
-- John
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John Williams http://www.gnosis.slac.com/~prefect/ prefect@tricon.net
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