"Men of Genius"?

[forumdude]

amen. in a democracy the lies are more subtle.

[Elbowski]

As long as we're talking about failed forms of government, I vote for self government. Actually I don't vote, and neither should anyone else if they don't like the candidates. A vote cast for anyone is approval of the system, even if it fails us completely. We should not approve.   

[greatspiritmonk]

Real democracy is a kind of utopia. Unless you live in Switzerland where in small villages they still vote laws by raising hands, which is the only way to have democracy. Or in the Isle of Man where if politicians spend more money than budgeted they must pay with theirs. They never do.

Voting as we do is simply a way to give people the illusion to count something; in this it's better a dictatorship, at least you know "honestly" you count Zero. Everything changes but nothing changes, we're still in the Middle Age with slaves and nobles, only that it's no more only a birth right.
Every government cares about power, money, and not having to sweat for them. You in USA have a bigger problem due to the fact, and it's a natural law, that if I lend you some hundreds million dollar for your campaign I want them back. In a way or another.
And also some politicians are good at the beginning but when they arrive high they get infected; almost everyone.
All this comes down that if you don't have to be totally and personally responsible for your beviour you do what you want. How many politicians remember that they are there to help us live a better life? And not to play the role of Alexander the Great? Without his character and qualities? It's nice to be in heaven if you don't have to deserve it.

Great leaders live with their people and share the same life. At least this is what a man called Julius Caesar did, not exactly a lightweight. And he was loved by his men. Not so much by people in the Senate.

Forumdude you are right. I'm quite good with latin proverbs, but didn't knew about "cui bono". Maybe I have to review my little book on Roman's speeches. 

[sufidude]

Could an artificial island anchored in international waters be declared a nation? Could a dudeist homeland be made through such means?

Etz chaim he  Dudes!!

[greatspiritmonk]

There is something similar in the sea around UK. Only, if we made it somewhere, let's do not do what Tibetans did: forgetting the world is full of assholes. As Romans said: "Si vis pacem para bellum." Or, in the parlance of our times, if you want peace be ready for war. Like Switzerland.

[Rev.Wendy aka The Dude a-Rides]

Elizabeth May (Green Party leader) is moving to my island's ...uh...sanction, or whathaveyou. So I get to vote Green and feel like it counts. Hurray

On my island of about 10,000, while we (begrudgingly) adhere to gov't laws, sort of....we have a bit of vigilante justice, when need be. For example, you screw up large (someone caught selling drugs to teens, recently) and you get "banished" from the island (I assume the choice is that or face the law)

We have a bit of a "common sense" attitude here. You do what makes sense to you, and as long as you aren't too outwardly offensive, ppl leave you alone. I love it.

We recognize we can't really get OUT of "The Game"...so we play within it, with our own rules, under the radar. Nobody "out there" is really paying too much attention....so "Utopia" is your own game within THE GAME, if you have enough like-minded ppl , "like-minded" being fairly Dudeist that is.

[greatspiritmonk]

Excuse me Madam, do you know someone who could rent me a little piece of land where I can place a tent? Your island seems quite a good place to live. 10.000 people, not too many, not too few.
Seems great. And the attitude of taking care of your garden. Fucking A+.

[Rev.Wendy aka The Dude a-Rides]

you could probably tent right here in my yard lol. or wander off into the bush, as i know a few ppl who live that way. there's also some pieces of crown land that ppl camp on .

[greatspiritmonk]

Ok then. 

[Rev.Wendy aka The Dude a-Rides]

for real, if you're ever coming out, let me know, i'll hook you up.

[greatspiritmonk]

Thank you. Since I was around 10 yo I always wanted to visit Canada and especially British Columbia. Now I'm 39 so I guess it's time to come and have a look around. And I assure you, I'll be "regular" on the tenth of the month.  And I could even come to the theatre and give you some notes. Or to the landlord anyway.

Seriously thank you very much. 

[brandt]

only problem is that both fascism and communism promised to give power to the people but never gave it. to make everyone equal, but instead equally under the thumb of the elites - and even then, only the majority ethnolinguistic group. libertarianism tries to sell the opposite message but it remains unpopular because no one is offering to give you anything. fascism and communism had great success because it sounded like you were going to get lots of free stuff from heroic leaders. only they were scamming everyone there. like an evil santa claus.

also, the dude misquotes lenin. lenin never said "look for the one who benefits." it was cicero who said "cui bono" as a method to uncover a criminal. ironically, that was the key to the whole case. Dude was a genius even though he was stoned a lot in college and so mixed up his quotes a lot.

you're right, though, greatspiritmonk. cui bono is a great way to make sense of a mystery. just look at what's going on with the health care debate in the US. who benefits from all the idiots calling Obama a socialist? the drug companies and the medical industrial complex. it's so obvious you can't even call it a conspiracy theory. fucking fascists!

Well this here story I,m about to unfold......B.Franklin once said, "in wine there.. is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria", and in a caucasian there is...well friends like those, huh Gary. And let's not forget, let's not forget...A true patriot is one who protects and defends his COUNTRY from his Government!!
Am I wrong? Okay then. That's just like my opinion, man.

[greatspiritmonk]

Well, it seems to me that you are quite right instead. B. Franklin was really a wise man.

Does anyone know of a country in the world where the government doesn't try to fuck its citizens in the ass?

[RevWade]

What about australia?  I've got some mates down under who say it's pretty chill.

[greatspiritmonk]

It might be, good climate, beautiful places. I like the Isle of Man, where if the government goes over the budget they must pay the difference with their own money. Or Switzerland where in a lot of places they still vote raising hands. Look at the difference in Europe where in around 24 states on 27 the new constitution has been voted by politicians and not citizens. Is this democracy? As regards Italy there was more under the king.

Power should be given to those who don't want it.