Absolute Capitalism

[Ziggy Stardust]

Nice Dachs. Hope you didn't spend much effort looking for it.

Trust me, you'll learn a lot about my political theory through this 10 minutes.

You will learn about comical superficial spin which will only sway people who want to believe it before they saw it. (And I use the term "sway" quite wrongly there)

I have been noticing you have thrown that garbage at many a discussion as if it is an argument. It isn't. You have done precious little to support any argument, and seem to think that repetition is a way of debating.

I sure wish the right wing of the country would get it right. They just hate democrats so much they have to degrade the word.

Funny how you hear all those people say they also didn't like it when Bush did it (because he operated under the exact same system) but only go vocal about it when their guy lose an election. (And yes fellers, McCain was very much your guy, and I have no doubt whatsoever that if he had won, we wouldn't have heard a single peep out of you, except telling democrats who are acting like you are now to "stop whining" and suck your trucknuts.)

You would think that if those people are so righteous, they could have shown it in 2000 or 2004. Funny how they were so silent back then. Not complaining about democracy at all.

Oh how I enjoy sour losers.

 

[NBAfan]

You think you still have the same problems as 200 years ago? What are you scared Great Britain is going to invade you again..? The United States is the only superpower on the planet right now, and barring nuclear bombs, no nation could invade it. Even the European Union combined I doubt would have much effect if we exclude nukes.

I said basic, we still worry about the economy and still worry about whenever government is too strong or not strong enough.

 

[Grimz101]

I said basic, we still worry about the economy and still worry about whenever government is too strong or not strong enough.

It's totally different, 200 years ago 90% of people lived on farms. We may still fear about the economy (Which people have since they first grouped together). People will always care about the government being to strong on not. It's like saying America is the same as 200 years ago because men still have penises.

 

[NBAfan]

It's totally different, 200 years ago 90% of people lived on farms. We may still fear about the economy (Which people have since they first grouped together). People will always care about the government being to strong on not. It's like saying America is the same as 200 years ago because men still have penises.

My point is people don't change, outside conditions change.

 

[Grimz101]

My point is people don't change, outside conditions change.

People's behaviour is based on their culture, their culture is how they're raised and what they're subjected to whilst being raised. The world is a much more peaceful place then 200 years ago. People have changed.

 

[Leoreth]

Sure technology, boundaries and governments have changed but we really have the same basic problems.

What else should be the origin of our problems if not the society we live in and the technology we use? Or would you deny that our society has changed?

The social implications of the recently growing online society raise so many constitutional questions I can't even list them all.

 

[NBAfan]

People's behaviour is based on their culture, their culture is how they're raised and what they're subjected to whilst being raised. The world is a much more peaceful place then 200 years ago. People have changed.

Ok, you win then.

I still don't think the Bill of Rights is out dated though.

 

[Grimz101]

Ok, you win then.

I still don't think the Bill of Rights is out dated though.

I just think the 2nd for the points I mentioned earlier, what the hell is the third about though?

 

[spryllino]

The problem with comparisons to Rome is manifold.

1) Rome is not a good thing. It was full of slaves, blatantly oligarchic and hideously unfair and ruled by a load of aristocrats from one city, in a state that ruled half of Europe.

2) Rome was formed in a way that was not replicated by America in any way, and will not fall in the same way either. The threats to Rome were from "barbarians". But what Barbarians will take Washington? Some Inuit horde? The threats to the USA have always come from other Superpowers, particularly Britain, Spain, Russia, and China.

3) Rome, aside from what Dachs said, at various times was not actually republican or even oligarchic, but just a mess. There were times of mob rule, and the fact that this mob rule happened, for example during the Gracchi reforms, or even for various constitutional functions such as some sorts of law court (see Polybius), just shows the inefficacy of republican government. This is reinforced by the fact that the Republic actually fell, quite easily enough, into a despotic system. Also, one weakness of the Republic can also be shown by the enormous role of the army in Roman politics, for example with Julius Caesar's revolt and in the appointment of many of the Emperors.

Lastly, there were, of course, conscious elements of copying in the American Constitution, but the American constitution was filled with all sorts of democratic elements that Rome never had. Elected senators? Bicameral government? A single president? No tribuni populi? The form of American government is fundamentally Democratic, even if it possesses some less democratic elements such as the Constitution, and certainly much more democratic than Rome, and this renders comparisons to Rome functionally useless.

 

[sophie]

The Republic was extremely oligarchic. I remember in my Roman History class our professor showed us a graphical breakdown of all the consuls of the Roman Republic. Of this total, I think it was something like less than 20% being Plebeian or Equites, and of those Plebeian families, only I think it was something like less than 5% went on to have another member of their family serve as consul again.

 

[cardgame]

Spain/China, a threat to USA?

 

[Grimz101]

Spain/China, a threat to USA?

Spain use to be a superpower, and China.. it's debateable, but is a good chance they'll constitute a huge threat in the distant future.

 

[NBAfan]

Spain use to be a superpower, and China.. it's debateable, but is a good chance they'll constitute a huge threat in the distant future.

That distant future is much closer I think. China has a LOT of bachelors that can be put in the millitary.

 

[Grimz101]

That distant future is much closer I think.

They have significant steps to overcome, I hope they do not become the biggest superpower, let us hope for civil war!

 

[Dachs]

Spain? Really?

 

[Joecoolyo]

The Hapsburgs shall rise again!

 

[History_Buff]

You think you still have the same problems as 200 years ago? What are you scared Great Britain is going to invade you again..?

I for one live in constant fear of tariffs and impressment.

 

[Dachs]

Down with the divine right of kings!

 

[Lord of Elves]

Spain/China, a threat to USA?

China's a massive threat to the U.S. We owe them millions of dollars in pent-up debt, not to mention the fact that they are building up a massive military, and beginning to interfere in international affairs.

And there's one and a half billion of 'em.

 

[civver_764]

Spain sucks I would say if you really need a third country there Germany takes Spain's spot. China is very much turning into a modern day superpower.