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I think what is more fascinating is that high-ranking politicians have always sought ways to circumvent the rules, in order to get ahead, securing themselves ex

by wanda 5y ago

I think what is more fascinating is that high-ranking politicians have always sought ways to circumvent the rules, in order to get ahead, securing themselves exorbitant personal fortunes, even in times of financial crisis, and often at the immediate or delayed expense of the taxpayer (if not simply evading taxes). And this phenomenon is not new. It has most probably been going on as long as the concept of money has been around, or even the concept of trade and personal-private wealth, be it tribal chieftains/shamans, monarchs and satellite nobles, land-owners/feudal leaders, warlords/military commanders, right the way up to contemporary politicians. and yet, what the people get up in arms about is the garden party? How many of the UK's politicians have bizarre private companies and "offshore" bank accounts? How many of them paved the way for absurd legislation and policy decisions that serve only the top 1%? How many of them let their actions be determined by lobbying and veiled bribery rather than any personal convictions or, heaven forfend, the views of the electorate? People are getting upset about this, even though a non-trivial portion of the same people broke the law at the same time to see family and party? The people should pay attention to what else is going on. Of course, the people mostly pay attention to whatever is put on the stage and given the spotlight. And that is determined not by an obligation to pursue and broadcast the truth, but rather by whatever can sell newspapers and online news subscriptions, and whatever can capture people's gaze on the television screen and online ad real estate -- but, critically, without shaking the foundations of the status quo. It's all just a theatrical presentation. Politics and its coverage in the media is little more than a reality TV show. None of it deserves your time of day.

feurio 5y ago
> People are getting upset about this, even though a non-trivial portion of the same people broke the law at the same time to see family and party? That's a may be, but they aren't Prime Minister and they haven't lied to the Commons and the entire British people about it.
- wanda 5y ago
  Fair point. Can you show me a Prime Minister who hasn't lied to the Commons and the British populace about something? Sorry, that's unfair. Can you show me a [governing body/individual] who hasn't lied to the [country]'s populace about something? My point is only that people should be pretty pissed off about a host of other lies and fuck ups by this government and every government prior, but they're not. Why aren't they? Well, because when governments screw up, the world keeps ticking over. Somebody embezzles a few million here, does some insider trading there, covers for some sex offenders elsewhere, etc. But none of this messes with a person's daily routine. Their world keeps going, the company they work for still exists and if not, they'll just work somewhere else. And it's obviously a lot more effort to dethrone the bloated corpses of our entrenched governments, and even more effort to replace it with something that is better. Especially when, to the best of our knowledge, there isn't a better alternative to liberal democracy, but it comes with the small print that corruption is pretty much a part of it. No one wants to rock the boat. The boat's got some leaks, we have to empty the water out every now and then, sometimes she runs aground due to some fairly terrible decision making by the captains, but it's the only boat where people can live in relative peace that's proven seaworthy so far.
CodeGlitch 5y ago
> I think what is more fascinating is that high-ranking politicians ... Expand that to anyone in a leading position, including tennis players. You don't get to be at the top without bending the rules.

by wanda 5y ago

feurio 5y ago

> People are getting upset about this, even though a non-trivial portion of the same people broke the law at the same time to see family and party? That's a may be, but they aren't Prime Minister and they haven't lied to the Commons and the entire British people about it.

wanda 5y ago
Fair point. Can you show me a Prime Minister who hasn't lied to the Commons and the British populace about something? Sorry, that's unfair. Can you show me a [governing body/individual] who hasn't lied to the [country]'s populace about something? My point is only that people should be pretty pissed off about a host of other lies and fuck ups by this government and every government prior, but they're not. Why aren't they? Well, because when governments screw up, the world keeps ticking over. Somebody embezzles a few million here, does some insider trading there, covers for some sex offenders elsewhere, etc. But none of this messes with a person's daily routine. Their world keeps going, the company they work for still exists and if not, they'll just work somewhere else. And it's obviously a lot more effort to dethrone the bloated corpses of our entrenched governments, and even more effort to replace it with something that is better. Especially when, to the best of our knowledge, there isn't a better alternative to liberal democracy, but it comes with the small print that corruption is pretty much a part of it. No one wants to rock the boat. The boat's got some leaks, we have to empty the water out every now and then, sometimes she runs aground due to some fairly terrible decision making by the captains, but it's the only boat where people can live in relative peace that's proven seaworthy so far.

CodeGlitch 5y ago

> I think what is more fascinating is that high-ranking politicians ... Expand that to anyone in a leading position, including tennis players. You don't get to be at the top without bending the rules.