It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried -
Winston Churchill
That is precisely what I'm getting at.
Extremely powerful businesses are able to abuse their own powers which is why there must always be regulation. A very wealthy business will attempt to buy out politicians and do so successfully. So what needs to be done? This must be prevented by possibly giving caps on how much a politician can spend on a campaign etc. It's an evolving process. Something very much worth thinking about. Other than that, they will attempt to become a monopoly of one kind or another, which by the way is illegal and is the cause of much conflict between the law and the large businesses.
It's just a part of the process and it keeps all parties pretty sharp.
Do you think companies are the only ones who try to manipulate? Everyone tries to manipulate. But this is also why false advertisement is also illegal. The best way to counter this is none other than good education.
Even news networks, for profit and not for profit, are manipulative. So whether you get rid of all the for profit news networks or not doesn't really solve the problem.
The only thing that keeps some of the manipulation in check other than education is the fact that there is a PLURALITY of "manipulations" all with their own elements of truth in it that allow us to see things from different angles. if you get rid of this plurality, we will have one source that answers directly to those in power and no other view whatsoever. Do you think you will enjoy internet under a Communist totalitarian state? Don't bet on it. You'll have one of those radios or TVs that you can't turn off, only turn down a little bit... just like the ones the folks in North Korea have.
And for any democracy to have any meaning, you need a well educated population with a meaningful amount of wealth or at least, a potential for gaining wealth. If the state does not have any power at all, it will simply dissolve into a corrupt rabble. The state's chief power comes from its laws and tax money. When people don't have money, there's not going to be much tax money either, at least not in a sustainable form. When people have no money and no hope, they will be likely to be stupid enough to vote in Communists in the next election.
My reference to you being a Communist has to do with what you said in the other thread.
Oh and save me the tag line laid out by the party. You told me that companies try to manipulate people. So do political parties. "Our product will help ensure that your car will have the sort of gloss that will make you proud of even a basic two door econo-car." "Our party stands for equality, eradication of poverty, etc etc etc."
Your party slogan says nothing about what their general plan is, and you could slap that sort of slogan on a political party that is very pro-business. It also sounds a lot like what a Communist party would say. So what does it means? It doesn't mean anything, that's what it means.
But I know what you're doing here. You're just taking this around in circles and dragging it on and on until I make a little mistake and you'll go "HAH! See???"
I've read what you wrote.
You're a Communist.
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite. -John
Kennith Galbraith
And I'm sure that life in South Korea is just as miserable as life in North Korea
EDIT: Let me grab that party slogan of yours and fix it for you.
My entry/comments in bold.
"The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty
by controlling how much electricity you use, how much water you use, how much paper you are issued...
, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity
and this will be done by issuing the same clothes, eating the same food, not getting paid and having only one source for information.
. We champion the freedom, dignity and well-being of individuals
as long as it is exactly in line with Perseus' Communistic principles, we acknowledge and respect their right to freedom of conscience
as long as it's Communism and their right to develop their talents to the full
but not if it involves the use of paint, paper or any other resources as this would be a waste of resources on something not practical or life sustaining. We aim to disperse power
away from individuals and straight to the top guy, to foster diversity
by all doing the same thing and to nurture creativity
by thinking the same stuff. We believe that the role of the state is to enable all citizens to attain these ideals...
actually ideal... work to death and don't get paid... yeah?, to contribute fully to their communities
(key word: Full) and to take part in the decisions which affect their lives
(obey or die)."
There I fixed it for you. The Perseus version. It's consistent with the things you were saying were necessary to "save the world."
