4 ms·

It just seems strange to me that despite swaths of evidence, people in position of power _still_ think in short terms. Though we all agree computer science is

by MrJagil 12y ago

It just seems strange to me that despite swaths of evidence, people in position of power _still_ think in short terms. Though we all agree computer science is very important these days, who can deny the societal importance of philosophy, psychology etc despite the job market being narrower. Even fringe studies such as eskimology (the study of Eskimo's, and yes, you can study that in DK) will certainly have value in some way or another, same as going to the moon. Knowledge for knowledge's sake is important exactly because we don't know it's importance or value.

lordnacho 12y ago
"It just seems strange to me that despite swaths of evidence, people in position of power _still_ think in short terms." Are you kidding me? There's an election every four years and under the current government there's been umpteen reshuffles. Politicians have to respond to incentives, I mean opinion polls. As a fellow Dane I am not surprised at all that our politicians, many of whom are only partway through (the same) degree when they are elected, would take the short view of things.
- mkaziz 12y ago
  Does that mean the inability to think for the long term is a fundamental limitation of modern democracies?
  - lordnacho 12y ago
    Well, I don't know if it's fundamental. I hope not. Perhaps you could change the constitution somehow. You could mess with term lengths or limit someone's tenure. Or you could have a part time parliament like in Switzerland. That way the politicians need normal jobs and are not dependent on the voters for a livelihood. The question is, once you have the current system, how are you going to get the incumbents to vote themselves out of work?
  - lordnacho 12y ago
    Well, I don't know if it's fundamental. I hope not. Perhaps you could change the constitution somehow. You could mess with term lengths or limit someone's tenure. Or you could have a part time parliament like in Switzerland. That way the politicians need normal jobs and are not dependent on the voters for a livelihood. The question is, once you have the current system, how are you going to get the incumbents to vote themselves out of work?
  - lordnacho 12y ago
    Well, I don't know if it's fundamental. I hope not. Perhaps you could change the constitution somehow. You could mess with term lengths or limit someone's tenure. Or you could have a part time parliament like in Switzerland. That way the politicians need normal jobs and are not dependent on the voters for a livelihood. The question is, once you have the current system, how are you going to get the incumbents to vote themselves out of work?
  - lordnacho 12y ago
    Well, I don't know if it's fundamental. I hope not. Perhaps you could change the constitution somehow. You could mess with term lengths or limit someone's tenure. Or you could have a part time parliament like in Switzerland. That way the politicians need normal jobs and are not dependent on the voters for a livelihood. The question is, once you have the current system, how are you going to get the incumbents to vote themselves out of work?

by MrJagil 12y ago

lordnacho 12y ago

"It just seems strange to me that despite swaths of evidence, people in position of power _still_ think in short terms." Are you kidding me? There's an election every four years and under the current government there's been umpteen reshuffles. Politicians have to respond to incentives, I mean opinion polls. As a fellow Dane I am not surprised at all that our politicians, many of whom are only partway through (the same) degree when they are elected, would take the short view of things.

mkaziz 12y ago
Does that mean the inability to think for the long term is a fundamental limitation of modern democracies?
- lordnacho 12y ago
  Well, I don't know if it's fundamental. I hope not. Perhaps you could change the constitution somehow. You could mess with term lengths or limit someone's tenure. Or you could have a part time parliament like in Switzerland. That way the politicians need normal jobs and are not dependent on the voters for a livelihood. The question is, once you have the current system, how are you going to get the incumbents to vote themselves out of work?
- lordnacho 12y ago
  Well, I don't know if it's fundamental. I hope not. Perhaps you could change the constitution somehow. You could mess with term lengths or limit someone's tenure. Or you could have a part time parliament like in Switzerland. That way the politicians need normal jobs and are not dependent on the voters for a livelihood. The question is, once you have the current system, how are you going to get the incumbents to vote themselves out of work?
- lordnacho 12y ago
  Well, I don't know if it's fundamental. I hope not. Perhaps you could change the constitution somehow. You could mess with term lengths or limit someone's tenure. Or you could have a part time parliament like in Switzerland. That way the politicians need normal jobs and are not dependent on the voters for a livelihood. The question is, once you have the current system, how are you going to get the incumbents to vote themselves out of work?
- lordnacho 12y ago
  Well, I don't know if it's fundamental. I hope not. Perhaps you could change the constitution somehow. You could mess with term lengths or limit someone's tenure. Or you could have a part time parliament like in Switzerland. That way the politicians need normal jobs and are not dependent on the voters for a livelihood. The question is, once you have the current system, how are you going to get the incumbents to vote themselves out of work?