For a Constitutional Scholar- Obama Fails Miserably At History

[jbeukema]

Of course. They want a good obedient populace that doesn't ask questions

[earthtoned]

well, its been stated before in this thread, the word "democracy" has over the years been rendered fairly vague, if not entirely meaningless, in part by the number of countries that attach the word to their despotic regimes in a vain attempt to legitimize their rule. I take your comments about use of words at heart, but it goes both ways. the modern usage of "democracy", right or wrong, is popularly used to describe any form of government that ostensibly responds to the will of the people through some type of voting process. it may cause historians to cringe, but ultimately it is the culture as a whole that dictates the meaning of words. In a modern context, there are very few people who would define democracy in the strict classical sense.

[jbeukema]

That's because there are very few people who take the time to learn anything >.>

Again... this is why some people should not be let near a polling booth... I think that wa the intent of some of the early restrictions: only those with access to education and witha stake in the wellbeing of the State would be active participants

Just because most people are stupid does not mean that we should bend truth to their lack of education. This is why we have learned linguists and lexicographers create dictionaries and why we can even ask what the meaning of a word IS. If we allow groups and masses to decide for themselves, words becomes meaningless and effective communication meaningless. Our language is alive and will adapt and evolve, but that means we must actively seek to monitor it and to allow it to grow and not to whither, not that we should throw out all accepted agreements on language, its meaning and form and wait for it to fragment completely. Bear in mind that language is the primary unifying factor for our nation so devoid of many other when taken as a whole. Indeed language is one the of the major factors that can define groups, identities, and loyalties and make a unified State possible- as I discuss in some of my other writings (drafts of which can be seen on this forum).

[earthtoned]

Again... this is why some people should not be let near a polling booth... I think that wa the intent of some of the early restrictions: only those with access to education and with a stake in the wellbeing of the State would be active participants

ive privately expressed similar statements out of frustration, but i think this creates more problems than it solves, and in particular it is subject to insidious abuse, as pons mentioned earlier.

furthermore, by your own definition, i'm not sure who would be disqualified. All citizens have access to education. the quality of that education is another matter, but so long as it is supplied by the state, should it not meet the requirements of voting for it?

perhaps i'd be open to the concept of requiring a high school diploma or equivalency, but i'm not sold.

it's quite easy to make the statement "stupid, ignorant people shouldn't vote".

but who are the arbiters for such a distinction? who makes the rules? who enforces them fairly? who regulates the enforcers? the opportunities for political manipulation of these rules are obvious.

and while it may not be a position based strictly on principle, i think the resulting disenfranchisement would boil over into civil unrest, which would threated the stability of the nation.

if it is the ignorance of the masses that is undermining the country, then why not treat the cause rather than the symptom, i/e improving the public education system and standards?

[namvet]

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Give him a break, it was 3AM! :p

most people know which end of a phone to use anytime. except him.

[earthtoned]

most people know which end of a phone to use anytime. except him.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x280/icebergslim1047/barackonphone.jpg

you mean like this guy?

what kindof long legged freak wears his watch on his left hand anyhow?

[namvet]

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x280/icebergslim1047/barackonphone.jpg

you mean like this guy?

what kindof long legged freak wears his watch on his left hand anyhow?

right. post editing...............

[earthtoned]

i like to think of it as affirmative action editing.