Topic: Good grief, SOPA's back again?

[Mooning Freddy]

With how much American government kisses corporate ass and the frightening power the big-business CEOs hold, it's a fair assumption that the country's long since been bought.

That's not a conspiracy, that's politics. Whoever has more money and power is in control. In fact, according to the great political scientist Schumpeter, that is the meaning of representative democracy:

For Schumpeter voters should first elect their representatives and the representatives themselves would choose what they think the best policy is. The representatives would compete for the votes of the voters like firms compete for customers. Thus Schumpeter likens Democracy to a free market mechanism where parties (firms) have to offer to electorate (the customers) the best policy in order to win their votes. The voters are free to decide on their representatives and they can be demanding. If parties fail to deliver they would lose votes on the next elections. So we arrive at Schumpeter's definition of Democracy: "And we define: the democratic method is that institutional arrangement for arriving at political
decisions in which individuals acquire the power to decide by means of a
competitive struggle for the people’s vote." (Schumpeter 2003:269).

Now the problem with America is that the majoritarian election system created a two-party system in which voters have only two reasonable choices, which is complete bulls**t of course. A third party stands no chance in that system.
As for Corporate bailouts, that's more a question of economy than politics (though the two are interconnected) but the recent economic crisis presented situations in which the US government bailed some companies out and others when it let them go bankrupt. It's a difficult argument when you try to separate economy from politics (practically impossible).

[A-Yty]

I think modern times and all that's going on should be enough to re-evaluate what is a conspiracy theory and what is thinking that you may disregard as crap because of an attitude which you can't fully say originated from your own, fairly unaffected deductions.

There exists a number of crackpot ramblings. For example; that lizard men are stealthily taking over the world. But then there are reasonable ones that to some people, still get labeled as make-believe conspiracy nonsense. JFK and 9/11 are good American examples.

[Kale]

Wow... this is random... but.... Lizardmen are stealthily taking over the world. That's the plot of Vindictus, the MMO. I shit you not.

Politics is a load a ass crap. I don't know what I want to happen, but I want something to happen. I almost want them dead, but at the same time, it feels extreme.

[Mooning Freddy]

Well, it's happening alright.

Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg is an Alien!

[A-Yty]

I almost want them dead, but at the same time, it feels extreme.

Wanting them dead is simply a quick mental picture relief and a distancing from thinking about all that for a second. A creative pause, if you will. Doing something to get them dead is when it gets extreme.

Killing politicians is like stomping on cockroaches. It may feel like you're doing something useful, but the reality is your house is infested with them and another will show up in no time.

I think that there are people who become politicians for the primary motivation of doing good and putting in an effort to genuinely maintain and better society. Most of these people get ruined by the game the scavengers and rodents wearing suits play. The ones who don't mostly have their efforts and presence trivialized or ignored.

But this has always been the case. Only thing changing is the world around these people. I like to think it means more people get more aware of what's going on.

[Shiroi Koumori]

There are some people who mean well when they are not with power, but give them power, then they turn into the same guys they hated before.

The power of the majority might not be enough to persuade evil people in power. Sheeple can be swayed.

Awareness will only work with a few because those in power will always try to maintain status quo.

[A-Yty]

Awareness will only work with a few because those in power will always try to maintain status quo.

That is why there needs to be more.

[Dracula9]

I didn't say it was a conspiracy, Freddy. I was defending X's post context from your accusations of it being so.

"Freedom" or awareness. Take your pick. This system's a crock regardless.

[Lelygax]

I prefer freedom, if they want awareness they should choose other surveillance ways, not intrusive ones that involve internet, cellphones and cable boxes.

[Pfil]

cable boxes.

LOL

[X]

I prefer freedom, if they want awareness they should choose other surveillance ways, not intrusive ones that involve internet, cellphones and cable boxes.

You also forgot about the XBOX 180.

[Mooning Freddy]

"You are free to do something when nobody intentionally prevents you from doing it."

Classic liberal definition of freedom. Learned it in a contemporary philosophy course. 

[Kale]

What they should choose is to fuckin' follow the laws, like they expect other people to.

[Lelygax]

What they should choose is to fuckin' follow the laws, like they expect other people to.

^THIS^
Thats what I try to say, they try to enforce law on us but dont even follow them. We cant put cameras inside the White House and watch them for example. They are normal people like us, so they are suspect too (Im not pointing fingers, they are).