Subject: Your View of The World
Posted by: Christinap
Date: Nov 01 09
I have a rather cynical view of the world at the moment. Here we have had the MP's expenses row and it seems as though the concept of public service has been lost. Our soldiers, and those of other Countries, are dying in Afghanistan to defend a corrupt election, Iraq seems far from peaceful judging by recent events, and to cap it all the European Union seems hell bent on dragging us into the Federal States of Europe whether we like it or not, and personally I don't. I know that President Obama has been asked for extra troops for Afghanistan, but I think that is a war that cannot be won. Surely the time has come for us ordinary people to be listened to over a whole range of issues that politicians from all Countries seem to be ignoring at the moment.
Posted by: Christinap
Date: Nov 01 09
I have a rather cynical view of the world at the moment. Here we have had the MP's expenses row and it seems as though the concept of public service has been lost. Our soldiers, and those of other Countries, are dying in Afghanistan to defend a corrupt election, Iraq seems far from peaceful judging by recent events, and to cap it all the European Union seems hell bent on dragging us into the Federal States of Europe whether we like it or not, and personally I don't. I know that President Obama has been asked for extra troops for Afghanistan, but I think that is a war that cannot be won. Surely the time has come for us ordinary people to be listened to over a whole range of issues that politicians from all Countries seem to be ignoring at the moment.
27 replies. On page 1 of 2 pages. 1 2
satguru 
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I learnt at school the few who want to run things are not normally the ones who should. Unfortunately power is one of the greatest drives along with greed, so our current situation is a lovely mixture of the two. The greed of the governments relaxing borrowing regulations, the banks earning fees on every deal, and the poor guys who fell for the easy credit. We knew already, they will never learn as they have probably lost nothing. These attitudes permeate all levels of government and other organisations, you have a few decent caring people trying to improve things while everyone else is on the take or trying to make history like another Napoleon. Every generation does the same thing, only the names and places change. Unless you spend your life at it and join them, and probably get bumped off as a whistleblower if you do, we can only watch and try and come off as undamaged from it all as possible. Reply #1. Nov 01 09, 7:55 PM |
tezza1551
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I recently attended a conference where one of the keynote speakers was a former Premier of Western Australia - Dr Geoff Gallop. He spoke on democracy and explained the difference between democratic elitism, where the electors only right is to choose their representative; and strong demlocracy, where electors are consulted with and asked for their opinion at various points in the process: this input can range from providing information and allowing the public to have their say, right through to seeking input through forums etc. I think that part of the reason so many of us are feeling that our world has got out of control is that, while we live in a so called democracy, we are actually being governed by the democratic elitism Dr Gallop spoke of. Our legislators stopped listening to their electorate at the moment the poll was declared. Reply #2. Nov 01 09, 8:12 PM |
| satguru
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Here it's called 'representative government', created under the 19th century idea the people are too stupid to participate in their own government. Now in the 21st century that attitude permeates just about every organisation in the world. We are the mother of all parliaments indeed, and very ashamed of that fact now I see the outcome. Reply #3. Nov 01 09, 8:26 PM |
BxBarracuda
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Thats some tough quesions, I had written a response that looked more like an essay, then my computer froze and I lost it, no time tonight to put it together again. It basically said, Democracy is still a system that is a work in progress, but improving. Also about how who we vote can be just one of many, and even national leaders are not going to feel the same as us on every subject. Reply #4. Nov 01 09, 8:56 PM |
| Sizzileen
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I love ya Barracuda I really do but when you said "and even national leaders are not going to feel the same as us on every subject." I had to laugh, most of them are so far out of touch that even AT&T couldn t reach em! Reply #5. Nov 02 09, 6:08 AM |
| BxBarracuda
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That's me, I can be the guy that starts singing the song at the end of "The Life of Brian". That original train of thought I had typed down, which is currenly in bits and pieces with some of the bits missing at the moment, would have given that statement more context. It talked something about the other things it takes to get things done in politics and would one community have understanding for their elected representative voting for national funds to go to another community, even though it would be best served there. Having a rural community understand that a big city needs funds for infrastructure or a big ciy community to understand the need for improved irrigation. Most in the the other communities would have no real idea what the value of whatever the funds were going to was, nor if the project was worth it. Reply #6. Nov 02 09, 7:41 AM |
| satguru
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That's nothing BX, over here in Britain we give our tithes to the European Union despite actually getting no more in return than the fact we've lessened the difference between the economies. Robin Hood is still alive and well and working in Brussels. Reply #7. Nov 02 09, 1:26 PM |
| BxBarracuda
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How does that work itself out? Do you get anyting, even a big thank you card, in return? Is the money sent to the EU considered automatically forgiven? Reply #8. Nov 02 09, 1:55 PM |
| Christinap
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Nope, not even a Christmas Card. The way it works is we pay a vast amount of money as our "membership" fee. The EU take this money and give it in subsidies to various groups of people, like French farmers, and poorer members. All fine and good and very altruistic until you realise that the auditors for the EU have not felt able to sign off the accounts for around 5/6 years in a row now. We are supposed to get money back by way of capital regeneration in inner city areas and increased trade, but it works out that we are a net contributor, not a net taker and many of the manufacturing outlets that we have attracted to this Country have been mainly Japanese or American so are not affected by the EU at all. They have negotiated their own deals with our Government over tax breaks etc. Now we are faced with the Lisbon Treaty which effectively sets up the Federal States of Europe, complete with unelected President,currently tipped to be Mr Tony Blair (talk about Dracula has risen). We were promised a referendum on whether or not we would ratify this treaty, we would have voted overwhelmingly No, so the promise was reneged on and Gordon Brown signed it. Reply #9. Nov 02 09, 4:35 PM |
| BxBarracuda
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Is that money, which is being held auditors, sitting there or has it been redistributed to other projects? Tony Blair is up for a serious position like that? I would have thought he had enough fun as a leading politician already. Reply #10. Nov 02 09, 6:00 PM |
poneke
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(Very tongue in cheek...) Wow! All this complaining from ungrateful citizens unhappy with our leaders...imagine how hard it is for one quarter of the entire earth's population to be heard in a system that imprisons those that speak out against their leaders http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-10744133 The Bilderberg Group must wet their pants with anticipation when they see this kind of leadership. Reply #11. Jul 24 10, 6:40 AM |
Greatguggly
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If the Obama regime could get away with imprisoning people who disagree with them, they would. Until then they'll just have to be content with ignoring us (us being the majority of Americans). They're getting better at it. They ignored us during the health care debacle and they're ignoring our views on illegal immigration. Just like the words radical Islam bother them, so to do the words illegal immigrant. They call them undocumented aliens. Could these jerks being any more phony?! Reply #12. Jul 29 10, 2:42 PM |
Cymruambyth
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I can't wait for our next federal election because I can't stand our present neocon government, but at least I live in a country where I can cast a vote (despite the fact that I am female!) I'll take our present system over that which prevails in Zimbabwe, for instance, or North Korea! Like just about everyone else I talk to, I wish that our troops were out of Afghanistan (obviously none of our leaders have figured out that nobody - not even Alexander the Great - won a war in Afghanistan!) Reply #13. Jul 29 10, 7:53 PM |
| Cymruambyth
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gg, is your university degree in hyperbole? Reply #14. Jul 29 10, 7:54 PM |
| honeybee4
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Great Guggly I agree that something is out of whack and the country is in sad shape when the people are not being heard, if that is what you meant. I won't get into our so called politics. Reply #15. Jul 29 10, 8:04 PM |
| s-m-w
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Think we are being a little hard on GG, after all, previous governments could get away with imprisoning people who disagree with them, take “Gitmo” and the infamous “Extraordinary Rendition” which uncle Dubya subscribed to and most of the world was against. Perhaps its such memories that haunt him and gets him confused with that nice Mr Obama? Reply #16. Jul 30 10, 12:43 PM |
| honeybee4
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s-m-w things are going on now and the American people definitely are being put on the back burner. It is an upside down world. Can we talk about this on Funtrivia? Reply #17. Jul 30 10, 1:31 PM |
rayven80
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My view of the world is that we need to stop worrying about Iphones and get back to the basics. Things like "how are we going to feed our population?", "Are we giving the children a good education?" and "If it's not in response to an actual proven attack by a nation, why go to war about it?". Sorry I'm ranting but people don't pay any attention to important things anymore! Reply #18. Jul 30 10, 2:10 PM |
| poneke
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As Freedom to think for yourself and voice an opinion is not a universal birth-right; Those who Can think and talk and discuss their views of the world, Should ..... look at China. Not just on FT; There's a deafening silence all over the Internet of their views of the world. State censorship of journalistic freedom and individual freedoms on the net have been brutally curtailed by their despotic regime. Rather euro-centric to make it 'all aboout you'. About time we started engaging in dialogue as current ways of censoring comments haven't been sucessful in silencing opinion. Just because we don't want to hear people's complaints, doesn't make their complaints go away...it just makes us deaf!....still thinking of China here... Reply #19. Jul 31 10, 8:46 PM |
| Cymruambyth
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My view of the world took a bit of an upswing today because of two interesting news items. The first item was the California federal judge ruling against Prop 8 as unconstitutional (the pro-Prop 8 folks intend to appeal, but I don't think it will wash). The second item was that 40 of the wealthiest American families are giving half their fortunes to charity to help those less well-off. That's great! Reply #20. Aug 04 10, 10:39 PM |
27 replies. On page 1 of 2 pages. 1 2
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