Re: the Al Smith quote in your sig, "The Cure of the ills of Democracy is more Democracy." On the contrary, this is a case of democracy run amok. The masses approve of the violation of individual rights and the trampling of traditional freedoms in order to gain safety from imaginary boogymen. There could not be a clearer example of why we have a system of separated powers, a non-elected Federal judiciary, a written constitution and bill of rights. I much perfer Ben Franklin's comment, paraphrased here: Those who would trade a little liberty for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety. Democracy is simply the best tool so far for achieving the goal of liberty, but is not itself the goal.
Agreed. How can one say, "So far, the Internet seems to be largely amplifying the worst features of television's preoccupation with sex and violence, semi-literate chatter, shortened attention spans, and near-total subservience to commercial marketing", while having the power to improve the supposed situation and refusing to do so? It reminds me of the LA rioters following the Rodney King verdict who were so outraged by senseless violence (on the part of the police) that they decided to perpetrate some senseless violence.
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Re: the Al Smith quote in your sig, "The Cure of the ills of Democracy is more Democracy." On the contrary, this is a case of democracy run amok. The masses approve of the violation of individual rights and the trampling of traditional freedoms in order to gain safety from imaginary boogymen. There could not be a clearer example of why we have a system of separated powers, a non-elected Federal judiciary, a written constitution and bill of rights. I much perfer Ben Franklin's comment, paraphrased here: Those who would trade a little liberty for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety. Democracy is simply the best tool so far for achieving the goal of liberty, but is not itself the goal.
Agreed. How can one say, "So far, the Internet seems to be largely amplifying the worst features of television's preoccupation with sex and violence, semi-literate chatter, shortened attention spans, and near-total subservience to commercial marketing", while having the power to improve the supposed situation and refusing to do so? It reminds me of the LA rioters following the Rodney King verdict who were so outraged by senseless violence (on the part of the police) that they decided to perpetrate some senseless violence.