3 ms·

How does the government determine what the people need if the people do not engage with it, and vice-versa? The government is not a foreign occupying power, an

by w4 5y ago

How does the government determine what the people need if the people do not engage with it, and vice-versa? The government is not a foreign occupying power, and we are not its passive consumers. In the US the citizens are the government, and the government governs with their consent. With this comes the responsibility to engage and spend our time every so often to ensure that the government runs to our satisfaction.

matheusmoreira 5y ago
> In the US the citizens are the government I remember a video of a US politician making a speech about how "we are not them". Probably referring to the fact the US government routinely does questionable things such as violating the rights of its own citizens in order to protect its own interests. Not sure what his name was... > and the government governs with their consent Not really. Consent implies the right to say no. US citizens can't just tell the US government they don't accept it. Governments use force to impose their rule so if citizens don't accept the government their only choice is armed insurrection. I've been told that the threat of insurrection against the government is a huge reason why americans enjoy their right to bear arms. Those who actually try it though will probably be labeled terrorists and everybody knows how the US treats terrorists.
- w4 5y ago
  > Consent implies the right to say no. US citizens can't just tell the US government they don't accept it. Yes they can. That’s literally what elections are for.
  - matheusmoreira 5y ago
    Choosing who gets to govern you is not the same as choosing whether to be governed at all. The people in the white house change constantly but the white house itself endures and there's no way to refuse it. If 49% of citizens vote for politician X but politician Y wins by 51% majority, the 49% cannot simply refuse to be governed by someone they did not want in power.
    - msla 5y ago
      > Choosing who gets to govern you is not the same as choosing whether to be governed at all. You're free to leave. If nobody else is interested in your idea of society, you're not free to impose it on them.

by w4 5y ago

matheusmoreira 5y ago

> In the US the citizens are the government I remember a video of a US politician making a speech about how "we are not them". Probably referring to the fact the US government routinely does questionable things such as violating the rights of its own citizens in order to protect its own interests. Not sure what his name was... > and the government governs with their consent Not really. Consent implies the right to say no. US citizens can't just tell the US government they don't accept it. Governments use force to impose their rule so if citizens don't accept the government their only choice is armed insurrection. I've been told that the threat of insurrection against the government is a huge reason why americans enjoy their right to bear arms. Those who actually try it though will probably be labeled terrorists and everybody knows how the US treats terrorists.

w4 5y ago
> Consent implies the right to say no. US citizens can't just tell the US government they don't accept it. Yes they can. That’s literally what elections are for.
- matheusmoreira 5y ago
  Choosing who gets to govern you is not the same as choosing whether to be governed at all. The people in the white house change constantly but the white house itself endures and there's no way to refuse it. If 49% of citizens vote for politician X but politician Y wins by 51% majority, the 49% cannot simply refuse to be governed by someone they did not want in power.
  - msla 5y ago
    > Choosing who gets to govern you is not the same as choosing whether to be governed at all. You're free to leave. If nobody else is interested in your idea of society, you're not free to impose it on them.