4 ms·

Not really surprising, but how do we stop it? Can it be stopped, or is corruption in government, just something we're forced to live with forever?

adventured 13y ago
"The price of liberty is eternal vigilance."
- mercurial 13y ago
  But the price is cheaper if you redefine liberty.
coldtea 13y ago
It's not "corruption in government" (e.g some rotten apples). It's what people used to call the "military industrial complex" which operates the government too. Those are not the works of some lunnies -- those are examples of official policy, discussed, planned, and executed long term for decades...
glesica 13y ago
Well I don't know if this is a solution, but a useful observation might be to point out that war and violence is extremely financially profitable for a large number of people. When we want more of something, we make it profitable (solar energy, whatever), so can we really expect any different when we make violence profitable?
kmcd 13y ago
> but how do we stop it? Can it be stopped, or is corruption in government, just something we're forced to live with forever? Excellent question - the question of our time. I think you'd have to learn what lessons you can from the peace movements of South Africa, East Germany, the color revolutions and so on. However, this raises the question: if the government has unofficially declared war on the civilian public - should the public declare war on the government? These books by Gene Sharpe are worthy of further study (especially "From Dictatorship to Democracy"): http://www.aeinstein.org/english http://www.aeinstein.org/english Perhaps a new form of government entirely? e.g. decision making using the jury system: http://equalitybylot.wordpress.com http://equalitybylot.wordpress.com Very encouraging that more people are becoming aware of the machinations of power. The real terrorists are much closer to home unfortunately ...

adventured 13y ago

"The price of liberty is eternal vigilance."

mercurial 13y ago
But the price is cheaper if you redefine liberty.

coldtea 13y ago

It's not "corruption in government" (e.g some rotten apples). It's what people used to call the "military industrial complex" which operates the government too. Those are not the works of some lunnies -- those are examples of official policy, discussed, planned, and executed long term for decades...

glesica 13y ago

Well I don't know if this is a solution, but a useful observation might be to point out that war and violence is extremely financially profitable for a large number of people. When we want more of something, we make it profitable (solar energy, whatever), so can we really expect any different when we make violence profitable?

kmcd 13y ago

> but how do we stop it? Can it be stopped, or is corruption in government, just something we're forced to live with forever? Excellent question - the question of our time. I think you'd have to learn what lessons you can from the peace movements of South Africa, East Germany, the color revolutions and so on. However, this raises the question: if the government has unofficially declared war on the civilian public - should the public declare war on the government? These books by Gene Sharpe are worthy of further study (especially "From Dictatorship to Democracy"): http://www.aeinstein.org/english http://www.aeinstein.org/english Perhaps a new form of government entirely? e.g. decision making using the jury system: http://equalitybylot.wordpress.com http://equalitybylot.wordpress.com Very encouraging that more people are becoming aware of the machinations of power. The real terrorists are much closer to home unfortunately ...