Comments on: Lessons in civics http://www.yazadjal.com/2004/10/08/lessons-in-civics/ Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:33:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: Ck http://www.yazadjal.com/2004/10/08/lessons-in-civics/#comment-2140 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.yazadjal.com/2004/10/08/lessons-in-civics/#comment-2140 I used to enjoy reading Don Boudreaux but this post makes me want to rethink that. To summarize his statements - democracy is meaningless as it doesn't represent the people who elect it (and the alternative is???? Does Bank Of America represent my interest?) - Politicians are all deceitful liars - and they only got to power by lying to people. How is that different from any of the people in power - you think Ken Lay, Martha Stewart and all the CEOs got into their positions by being nice, truthful people. Politics is merely one field and just like others you have to claw and fight your way to the top. I used to enjoy reading Don Boudreaux but this post makes me want to rethink that.

To summarize his statements
- democracy is meaningless as it doesn’t represent the people who elect it (and the alternative is???? Does Bank Of America represent my interest?)

- Politicians are all deceitful liars - and they only got to power by lying to people.
How is that different from any of the people in power - you think Ken Lay, Martha Stewart and all the CEOs got into their positions by being nice, truthful people. Politics is merely one field and just like others you have to claw and fight your way to the top.

]]> by: Yazad http://www.yazadjal.com/2004/10/08/lessons-in-civics/#comment-2141 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.yazadjal.com/2004/10/08/lessons-in-civics/#comment-2141 Ck, I'm surprised (but glad) you enjoyed reading Don Boudreaux. Your views as evinced by your past comments are rather in opposition to his, and Boudreaux's views haven't changed much. BTW, the post is brief enough not to need any summary. Boudreaux may be harsh on the institution of government, but you mix it somehow with democracy. Democracy is simply a tool used to select a government (or a board of directors in a company or ...) He critiques the institution, not the tool. Finally your <i>How is that different from any of the people in power</i> point falls prey to the logical fallacy of <a href="http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/appeal-to-common-practice.html" rel="nofollow">appeal to common practice</a> Ck, I’m surprised (but glad) you enjoyed reading Don Boudreaux. Your views as evinced by your past comments are rather in opposition to his, and Boudreaux’s views haven’t changed much.

BTW, the post is brief enough not to need any summary. Boudreaux may be harsh on the institution of government, but you mix it somehow with democracy. Democracy is simply a tool used to select a government (or a board of directors in a company or …) He critiques the institution, not the tool.

Finally your How is that different from any of the people in power point falls prey to the logical fallacy of appeal to common practice

]]> by: Nilu http://www.yazadjal.com/2004/10/08/lessons-in-civics/#comment-2142 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.yazadjal.com/2004/10/08/lessons-in-civics/#comment-2142 Ck , seriously - what's your point? You can argue with him, but just pouring scorn on his conclusions without having the logic to refute his means is laughable at best(I donno if it anything otherwise, but heck I like to use that phrase ;) ) Ck , seriously - what’s your point?

You can argue with him, but just pouring scorn on his conclusions without having the logic to refute his means is laughable at best(I donno if it anything otherwise, but heck I like to use that phrase ;) )

]]> by: salasks http://www.yazadjal.com/2004/10/08/lessons-in-civics/#comment-2143 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.yazadjal.com/2004/10/08/lessons-in-civics/#comment-2143 Actually, CK, I think the whole point of the post was to get ppl thinking. His last bit of wisdom was to remain skeptical, so his points of wisdom are likely not to be taken at face value. Isn't it our role as citizens in a democracy to question our government and our leaders? Actually, CK, I think the whole point of the post was to get ppl thinking. His last bit of wisdom was to remain skeptical, so his points of wisdom are likely not to be taken at face value.

Isn’t it our role as citizens in a democracy to question our government and our leaders?

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