Former Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter dead at 82

[Juror No. 8]

There is no difference other than one is legal and the other is not.

And who says what is and isn't legal?

 

[Juror No. 8]

The U.S. Government: I'm allowed to rob you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngpsJKQR_ZE

 

[NoStateofMind]

And who says what is and isn't legal?

Oh I get it. I'm not a fan either. But to answer your question its those in 'power'. That power is given to them by us. However not many seem to care as long as they have their cup of coffee and a smartphone.

 

[Juror No. 8]

Oh I get it. I'm not a fan either. But to answer your question its those in 'power'. That power is given to them by us. However not many seem to care as long as they have their cup of coffee and a smartphone.

I realize you get it, I'm just trying to push the dialogue forward.

For what's it worth, I disagree that we "give" them power. We enable them by acquiescing to the system and falling for its many deceptions, but we don't give them any power. They already had it.

You can go all the way back to the Constitutional Convention and you'll find a bunch of extremely rich men getting together and basically declaring themselves the new ruling Mafia. Nobody gave it to them, they simply took it, and then proceeded to be like the old Mafia they just replaced.

 

[NoStateofMind]

I realize you get it, I'm just trying to push the dialogue forward.

For what's it worth, I disagree that we "give" them power. We enable them by acquiescing to the system and falling for its many deceptions, but we don't give them any power. They already had it.

You can go all the way back to the Constitutional Convention and you'll find a bunch of extremely rich men getting together and basically declaring themselves the new ruling Mafia. Nobody gave it to them, they simply took it, and then proceeded to be like the old Mafia they just replaced.

Thats to say if those who give them power cannot seize it at will. If all citizens stormed the white house then the power structure would be in the hands of the people. Again that won't happen because too many are comfortable.

 

[UberNeuman]

Thats to say if those who give them power cannot seize it at will. If all citizens stormed the white house then the power structure would be in the hands of the people. Again that won't happen because too many are comfortable.

 

[NoStateofMind]

This is a lesson in apathy to activism.

EDIT But yes the end result may be the same, save for 100 years in between.

 

[lotus503]

Go ahead, tell me, what's the difference?






What's false about the equivalence? What makes the laws of the U.S. government ("we can tax you... pay up or else!") any more legitimate than those of a Mafia ("we can extort you... pay up or else!")?

One is for the betterment and advancement of all society, the other is for advancement of itself.

If you don't understand the difference between taxation with representation and extortion I can't help you.

 

[lotus503]

I realize you get it, I'm just trying to push the dialogue forward.

For what's it worth, I disagree that we "give" them power. We enable them by acquiescing to the system and falling for its many deceptions, but we don't give them any power. They already had it.

You can go all the way back to the Constitutional Convention and you'll find a bunch of extremely rich men getting together and basically declaring themselves the new ruling Mafia. Nobody gave it to them, they simply took it, and then proceeded to be like the old Mafia they just replaced.

I get where your coming from and agree on a lot of points. It's one thing to acknowledge where we are and how we got here. It's another trying to come up with anything that can be done about it, given a placated society.

 

[Juror No. 8]

One is for the betterment and advancement of all society...

Who says? And is it true?

Or, is it possible that this is what you've been taught to believe by those in power, so you won't upset their apple cart?

the other is for advancement of itself.

Yes, unlike the government, the Mafia actually tells the truth about it's goals. It doesn't try to pretend to be something it is not.

If you don't understand the difference between taxation with representation and extortion I can't help you.

No, I don't understand the difference because there is no difference, and you can't seem to explain one. This idea that the government taxes you and "represents" you is no different than the Mafia which extorts you and "represents" you. They both claim a geographical area, demand protection money, and then "represent" or "protect" those they extort against the claims and predations of other competitors. The competitors to a government are other governments, while the competitors to a Mafia are other Mafias.

Functionally they are both the same and have the same legitimacy, which is to say none at all.

 

[nextJin]

Yawn, another dead politician. Wake me up when something actually matters.

Condolences to his family though!