EMW

Just wondering. Humans have always been controlled by government, but the question is if it is right. Then again, there is no such thing as true freedom. I would like to hear your opinions on this issue.

Personally I don't like the ways goverments work sometime. (But their are some good goveners out there). Just always want mony. They devize ways to get our mony without getting in trouble. But that's life.

For those who have no idea what Connor is talking about:
http://www.bivingsreport.com/2006/china ... -internet/

Pirate92 wrote: But that's life.

No, that is not life. That is the current society. Largely because of apathetic statements like, "That's life."
If you dislike it, why do you dislike it? What would you change? How would you change it? Why say you dislike something, and then dismiss your own opinion?

Apathy is the reason China is the way it is. That is why it's government can spend billions of dollars to build impressive stadiums for the Olympics while its citizens starve.

China is petrified of its citizens. Anything they can do to subvert their people they will do so as they may keep power.
We are fortunate enough to live in a country founded by rebels. As a result, we live in a society where such as a thing as an Internet filter as China has would be close to impossible, as would successful reinstatement of the draft (barring imminent homeland threat).

I can't do any thing, That's what "That's life" can stand for. It's happening and goverment wont stop, so why bother? That's what "That's life" can stand for. Sorry if I caused you to misunderstand.

Pirate92 wrote:I can't do any thing, That's what "That's life" can stand for. It's happening and goverment wont stop, so why bother? That's what "That's life" can stand for. Sorry if I caused you to misunderstand.

You can do a lot more than you obviously think you can. You can educate yourself and your future children at the very least. And that is the very least.

What China is doing with the internet is not directly tied to money. It is a tyrannical, oppressive attempt to subvert their people. That's not life. If it were, we ourselves be on a filtered internet. Because "that's life" would be universal.

Oh no I meant here not China. I have no clue what goes on there.

Oh no I meant here not China. I have no clue what goes on there.

Pirate92 wrote:Oh no I meant here not China. I have no clue what goes on there.

Fine. Here, then.
The government is not some untouchable entity. The government is people. People that we elect.
How do you change things?

First: Educate yourself. Seriously. It's your duty to do so--as an American and as a future voter/parent, etc... Politics are not difficult. History is the basis of everything. Learn your history. Learn Saudi Arabia's history, China's history, Zimbabwe, etc... That is your duty as a human being. History can only repeat itself if people allow it to do so.

Second: Educate others. We live in a very passive society. Even though our generation does have a bit of a reputation to oppose authority, they usually do it just to oppose authority and not necessarily oppose an actual idea. Friends don't let friends be stupid.

Inevitably: Educate your children. From day 1 you are your child's first teacher. If you don't know, neither will they.

Find a political message board and join it. Just lurk if you want to at first, but eventually try to post. You will get every single thing you stand for challenged. It is your job to educate yourself and defend yourself.
I recommend http://politicalcrossfire.com/

I joined almost four years ago when I had just graduated high school and was gearing up to vote in my first primary election. I became a better debater, writer, and American due to that site. You meet people from all over the world with every opinion you could possibly imagine. You couldn't find a better classroom if you attended Harvard, which many of the posters did. Some even teach there.
College professors, fast food workers, students, businessmen...they all gather in one space to challenge each other, and you are missing out if you are not a part of it.

Ok ok, I am starting to regret posting. I didn't even know what I was getting myself into.

Pirate92 wrote:Ok ok, I am starting to regret posting. I didn't even know what I was getting myself into.

Don't regret posting. If we didn't have discussions like these we would just be talking about the same mundane stuff.

Go read the link I posted, form an opinion, and post it.
I promise to be nice.

Well, I was tired, it was late last time. Ok now that I'm in my right mind (And not on crack anymore). I am currently in school for debate. So if I am ever led to this kinda stuff then I'll be ready to argue. About polatics? No I have no idea. Mabye I will learn in collage.

Hmm, seems like the age old debate, people want security, the want protection but they also want to do their own thing. How do we get the perfect balance of both. How do we get others to protect us without them taking advantage of us themselves? I know some people who have lived in China, my Dad has been to China on several business trips and although the country is weak there is a strong sense of hope that things will turn around. America is not so different. Much of America is controlled through media rather than politics, in fact, politics in America has started playing second fiddle to the media. This is not always a bad thing, "The Jungle" exposed the mean packing industry for what it was and politics got on board in changed it.

Second point, politics is more complicated than most people are led to believe and is not really controlled by the common people. Most of the presidential candidates are not basing their marketing campaigns on politics but on name and face recognition as well as other "product selling tactics" and when it all comes down to it we only have a choice between two people, two parties. What if we don't like either one of them? In order to be truly involved in politics it's not enough to just vote, you need to get elected. Then you can make laws and really change things.

Many people think they know a lot about politics but all they really know is information they get from the media. It's one thing to listen to right winged talk radio and watch left winged TV. It's another thing to actually read policies and talk to real people and make decisions based on real information.

VIP wrote:
Second point, politics is more complicated than most people are led to believe and is not really controlled by the common people. Most of the presidential candidates are not basing their marketing campaigns on politics but on name and face recognition as well as other "product selling tactics" and when it all comes down to it we only have a choice between two people, two parties. What if we don't like either one of them? In order to be truly involved in politics it's not enough to just vote, you need to get elected. Then you can make laws and really change things.

Merely voting is not enough. Revolutions can't be fought from the couch.
This election was an amazing step forward for non-mainstream candidates. Ron Paul raised more money in one day than some of the big name candidates did their entire campaign. It was all via the internet. Thousands of people came together for a Revolution, and even though Ron Paul will not win, the steps taken by his supporters are overwhelming and amazing. It was the media that thwarted Ron Paul--attacking him and even ignoring him.

We don't have those two choices because it is forced upon us by anybody other than the majority of our people. There are plenty of choices. The problem is that the majority of the public refuse to do their own research and rely on the media, which is obviously (and inevitably) biased. Little fish don't sell. It is a waste of media resources to highlight all of the candidates. They pick the meaty ones and cover them. Which is why most Americans didn't know about Ron Paul, and if they did, it was because that man has an absolutely rabid group of fans dedicated to spreading the word about him. He's the most honest politician I have ever heard, and even if I don't agree with a lot of his views, I'd rather an honest president with views I didn't necessarily agree with, than a dishonest one who only said what I wanted to hear. Because at the end of the day, the President does not make political choices--his administration does. Honest Presidents are able to counter that puppetry with honesty and integrity.

"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Benjamin Franklin

Hey Connor. Make sure you put your paper on your site or something so we can read it.