In moments when the election hoopla threatens to conquer my intellectual discipline I remind myself that the system is corrupted by a business/consumer mentality that panders for votes and values homogeneity and instant gratification -- speaking of which there is absolutely nothing wrong with waiting a few weeks until votes are counted carefully and thoughtfully.
And yet BushCorp. must be ousted. Their removal from power will have real meaning for enough people on enough days to make the undertaking worth it. You disagree?
I agree about the ousting of Bush but the Kerry difference is debatable. At best modern presidential elections are a choice between lesser and greater evils.
Or lesser and greater goods; to be fully aware of the system, and rebuke it accordingly, is good. To get Bush out of office, to stop his team from inflicting harm with their worldview, is the greater good.
I completely agree - the system is corrupt and broken. But this election is, at it's core, a referendum on Bush's first term. I think it's vitally important that the American people send a clear message that we solidly reject the neocon worldview. I think we were all fooled coming in, and given the astronomical turnout now it's pretty clear most people have their eyes wide open. We'll know for certain by tonight, hopefully. Fixing the system comes next.
and you propose _________________ instead of a business/consumer based society? Please, please, please take an Economy class at some point in your life.
It might be time for another consumerism thread where I prefer to discuss this subject in greater detail. But for now I'll just type this: based on memories from my macroeconomics class plus fragments from various theories capitalism's social benefits come from the profit motive (buying, selling, working, owning businesses, etc.) The problem is the profit motive is still the primary motive -- Bill Gates wanted to make money first and change society second. Unfortunately no alternatives exist until humans can improve their nature to create an economic system without the profit motive like earth in Star Trek.
Of course profit is first and "change" is second. Why is profit as motive a "problem?" Most people call these things jobs. But let's pretend we did change first. Change to what? (And you can't say, "to like earth on Star Trek," as I and many others who aren't D&D playing potheads never watched star trek) And once your change is here, THEN what?
How can Americans says that they want Bush out if its's 50-50? 50% of the people prefer Kerry or one of the independent candidates and 50% prefers Bush.
I know what ya mean, but when you read the post, it seems as if 98% of the country is pro Kerry. It may be, but the polls that they make public have it that it's 50-50. Ya never though since they aren't polling everybody.
Earth's economy in Star Trek doesn't use money so people no longer "work for a living". Instead they work to improve themselves as humans. The abundant advantages of such a society should be obvious: artists can focus on creating art; scientists can focus solely on research and experimentation; athletes can focus on solely on their sports; politicians can focus on honest governments and campaigns. In elections the profit motive would be less of a problem if the major media organizations offered ads for free as a civic duty -- that's the least they could do.
Well - the clear and easy choice (I thought) on the referendum on Bush's first term was eschewed by the American people. Bring on the soma!