pdxeddie1111 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

fair answer. Though I don't put much stock in Darwin or his theories. I can definitely agree with most of what you say.

jpwjr1199 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I think that most people are decent. However, power corrupts. When you have a ruling class about 2% that own 90% of the wealth, the 2% that run everything will do what they have to do to protect their interests no matter how self-serving. Capitalism/social darwinism teaches us that this is the way to live. It's a lie, but that's treated as irrelevant in our society, and the system makes it so. That's why mind-control is widespread in the US. The ruling class needs to keep the masses polarized.

jpwjr1199 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Now, to answer your question, Polyarchy is a term coined by Robert Dahl, Yale Professor. You can read up on it, if you'd like; however, British invesitgative journalist, Mike Curtis summed it up very nicely. He said, "Polyarchy is usually what British leaders mean when they speak of promoting 'Democracy' abroad. It's a system in which a small group actually rules and mass participation is confined to choosing leaders in elections managed by competing elites." US gov't/life in a nutshell.

pdxeddie1111 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Ok I get what you and conoba are trying to say. I'll ask this a different way then. Why can't people just be decent then?

jpwjr1199 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

First of all, I apologize for losing my temper, but when I am called an idiot, albeit indirectly, naturally, I get a bit irked. I'll answer your question in my next post (character limit).

pdxeddie1111 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Ok... since I'm such an idiot I'll ask an idiotic question. What does polyarchy mean?

jpwjr1199 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I didn't ask you any questions, and you are the idiot.

pdxeddie1111 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

man you people, I guess I literally need to define the word good as used in my first comment . I just figured it would be obvious, I guess I was WRONG. of moral excellence; virtuous; upright. It's not a matter of some kind of relativity or something. consumerism doesn't think in terms of good or bad, consumerism just does. where do you people come from? I in the U.S. don't live in a democracy. In fact it never was a democracy. I'm answering any more idiotic Qs until my 1stQ is answered.

jpwjr1199 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I don't think that Conoba had any "mumbo-jumbo" in what he said. "Good" is not necessarily empirical, although DECENCY might be; furthermore, the planet may not die as a result of expired resources, humans surely will. The world is not an infinite resource nor is it an infinite garbage can. Otherwise, your intuitive intelligence wouldn't tell you that "conservation is a good idea". Ideally, in a democracy, the citizens are able to have a shared impact, but in our capitalistic polyarchy? No.

singray7 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

the purpose/meaning of life is to develop and maintain love within your sphere of influence. I know we'll never do that, but it's still true. People who do that are "good"... Now, you can insult me for saying this. Unfortunately, people are by nature self-serving, which is just the opposite of what we should be.