5 ms·

Why incredible? Don't anthropomorphize countries, there is absolutely no obligation for a country to behave in a way that's consistent with it's behavior a few

by ithkuil 13y ago

Why incredible? Don't anthropomorphize countries, there is absolutely no obligation for a country to behave in a way that's consistent with it's behavior a few years back; countries are not individuals, please stop attaching human values to countries.

workhere-io 13y ago
Countries are run by humans, and in a democracy we can and should expect politicians to do what's right for citizens and to behave ethically.
- linux_devil 13y ago
  True , but these days, democracy : "Buy"/by the people , "Far"/for the people , "off"/of the people
  - workhere-io 13y ago
    Depends on which country you're talking about.
- noarchy 13y ago
  How is it that this democratic ideal has failed to deliver on many of these things, of late? To be sure, some are content with what government has brought to their lives in some areas, yet the complaints remain. Are our democratic systems failing to actually represent us, or are they delivering as-expected...or both?
  - workhere-io 13y ago
    I'm not denying that the US democracy is broken; I'm countering ithkuil's argument that since countries aren't human they shouldn't exhibit moral behavior.
- shiven 13y ago
  What democracy? In letter or spirit or both or neither? Politicians are borne of the people who let them come to power, stay in power and get away with mostly acting in their (politician's) best interest. Over time, power concentrates in the hands of those who have have it and can muster the resources to keep growing it. Eventually becoming the face of the people and the country. That's my cynic's view of democracy. Not that I know of a better system. Yet.
- ithkuil 13y ago
  That's the right thing to expect and require! But we cannot be surprised if a country that was behaving in one way in year X is behaving in a radically different way a few years later. As you say, a country is run by humans (note the plural) but many of its accomplishments or errors are done by part of that population, not necessarily sharing the vision and ideals of the whole population.
adventured 13y ago
Countries very specifically are made of only individuals. There's nothing else a country can consist of but the people that make it up. The culture of a nation is the total compilation of all of its individuals, to the extent of their contribution and its net effect. Thus, a country does possess human values. Some countries are more far more charitable across the board than others. The reason for that is the culture derived from the individuals that make up the country. As one simple and obvious example. When a country turns back from the brink of making a terrible decision, that is due solely to human values held by the people. Why does Germany respect privacy to the extent that it does? Because of the values its people hold and enforce upon the government. All decisions made by a country are human decisions made by someone. Countries consist of The People and their values, and ultimately a nation will reflect the values of its people.

by ithkuil 13y ago

workhere-io 13y ago

Countries are run by humans, and in a democracy we can and should expect politicians to do what's right for citizens and to behave ethically.

linux_devil 13y ago
True , but these days, democracy : "Buy"/by the people , "Far"/for the people , "off"/of the people
- workhere-io 13y ago
  Depends on which country you're talking about.
noarchy 13y ago
How is it that this democratic ideal has failed to deliver on many of these things, of late? To be sure, some are content with what government has brought to their lives in some areas, yet the complaints remain. Are our democratic systems failing to actually represent us, or are they delivering as-expected...or both?
- workhere-io 13y ago
  I'm not denying that the US democracy is broken; I'm countering ithkuil's argument that since countries aren't human they shouldn't exhibit moral behavior.
shiven 13y ago
What democracy? In letter or spirit or both or neither? Politicians are borne of the people who let them come to power, stay in power and get away with mostly acting in their (politician's) best interest. Over time, power concentrates in the hands of those who have have it and can muster the resources to keep growing it. Eventually becoming the face of the people and the country. That's my cynic's view of democracy. Not that I know of a better system. Yet.
ithkuil 13y ago
That's the right thing to expect and require! But we cannot be surprised if a country that was behaving in one way in year X is behaving in a radically different way a few years later. As you say, a country is run by humans (note the plural) but many of its accomplishments or errors are done by part of that population, not necessarily sharing the vision and ideals of the whole population.

adventured 13y ago

Countries very specifically are made of only individuals. There's nothing else a country can consist of but the people that make it up. The culture of a nation is the total compilation of all of its individuals, to the extent of their contribution and its net effect. Thus, a country does possess human values. Some countries are more far more charitable across the board than others. The reason for that is the culture derived from the individuals that make up the country. As one simple and obvious example. When a country turns back from the brink of making a terrible decision, that is due solely to human values held by the people. Why does Germany respect privacy to the extent that it does? Because of the values its people hold and enforce upon the government. All decisions made by a country are human decisions made by someone. Countries consist of The People and their values, and ultimately a nation will reflect the values of its people.