Mark Twain on Politicians

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[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

Actually, the "politicians" who get the most done are those who stay in "power" the longest.

Now about the use of quotes:

  1. Politicians, by definition, never achieve anything. They are in the game for their own hubris and gain, not to implement a vision for their nation, which they do not have. As such, yes, POLITICIANS need to be changed often. Or better yet, not used at all, in favor of: LEADERS. An actual leader has a vision for his nation, he is interested in seeing it through. He might resort to brutal tactics to maintain his status but in the end, striving towards the implementation of his vision is usually beneficial in some way. This differs vastly from the aims of the politician which is only to bleed the people for personal gain.

Examples of leaders: Hitler, Gaddafi, Putin.

  1. Power. Politicians don't have any. They are just figureheads for whoever put them where they are. Lobbies, corporations, subversive elements, whatever. They owe their position to those guys and will use their so-called "power" to serve them. As such, they are as powerless as the rest of us. It's the guys pulling the strings you have to go after, and as such, changing politicians often does nothing, since the guys pulling the strings remain unchanged.

[–]zyxzevn[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

Good points, and interesting discussion topic.
A reason why I made this sub in the first place.

I think that you mean that leadership needs to be stable and well organised.
And it can carry a country to a stable progress or to war.

The politicians on the other hand, are trying to to follow the events in their country and try to adjust it. They are more followers than leaders. In a democracy they try to make the most people content. And in an Oligarchy they try to please their donors or lobbies.

Based on this insight,
Now I want to investigate the POWER structure within each country.
So we can see who has the power to influence who.
I think it would be very interesting.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

The politicians on the other hand, are trying to to follow the events in their country and try to adjust it. They are more followers than leaders. In a democracy they try to make the most people content. And in an Oligarchy they try to please their donors or lobbies.

In a REPRESENTATIVE "democracy", politicians try to make LESS PEOPLE UNHAPPY than the next guy. Pleasing the majority? Why, when your opponent will please at best 20% of the population. Nah, it's come to voting for the "lesser evil" politician.

Which is why I am a fan of the Swiss direct democracy model. Their politicians are kept in line for real.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Why not crowdsource democracy somewhat more like the Swiss do ? It is quite a hassle for a normal citizen i was told but since they aren't forced to participate their system is quite cool. They feel quite well represented and happy because of this.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Oh I agree. This is one of the reasons why the USA has had an immense brainwashing campaign on the theme of "WE ARE THE GREATEST NATION ON EARTH". With such a campaign, and the perpetual reinforcement of "the greatness of our democracy", no alternative can ever gain traction, and the crony system of the USA will remain in place, until the sheeple TRULY AWAKEN.

But it's not just the USA: Germany, France, Canada, the UK, and every other developed nation would stand to gain from such a system. It's the political apparatus that stands to lose. So long as the proles suck at the informational teat of their oppressor, nothing will change.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I only can speak for Germany and in this context my small but well ordered circle of rl-friends and myself:

We don't suck in information state propaganda tries to force-feed us. We stopped with this shit awhile ago when some of us started a business together. (I personally stopped to believe into our state propaganda tv and press when i wrote my first own bill which was around 2009...)

There are certain obligations you feel for your employees if you have any conscience and want to keep the "good" ones permanently. For us this includes active debating over company politics and as a consequence also debate over "external" political circumstances.