redwolf wrote:

jackspratt wrote:

redwolf wrote:yeah, aside from my taunting words, I do wonder what some would find preferable, authoritarian rule + censorship, or living in fear of all-out mob rule ?

Why do believe those are the only two options?

I am sure most of us would prefer neither - including you "comparatively intelligent types".

Your cartoon is as extreme and silly as your "alcoholic clowns" comment.

Come now JS, -surely principles have to meet reality at some point.

Indeed most of us prefer neither authoritarian rule nor mob rule, -and while you and many others are brave and willing enough to stand up for better, how likely is it true democracy will come about?

Understood that the fundamental human nature of this place being corrupt comes from the history of this land's peoples being ruled long and hard by subtle and at times no so subtle versions of the 'iron fist'. -Such that they cannot truly think for themselves, -or when they do it it is with a deeply selfish fervor.

By escalating the situation (by the way of the cartoon you scold me over and Socksy embellished with comic genius, and with all due respect yes Socksy understood you are not playing the role of clown this time), by taunting the drunken clowns on one hand, and getting a rise out of the Socrates and Plato types, -perhaps I will get an answer to the question that I find more at the root of this thread's subject matter:

Out of the groups of men with guns, which do people really prefer?

Because any other purpose for such a thread is a bit pointless.

People in this part of the world are wired differently, -for better or worse our ideals simply do not suit the lot of them.

Even if the 'noble ideas' did suit them, and they adopted them in earnest, they have an all-powerful neighbor who will surely over-run such ideals with impunity.

Perhaps one day true democracy could flourish. But I have sincere doubts of this, much to my chagrin and truly one of the deeper fears, as I have a young precious daughter being raised here.

Thus in the present context I see zero validity in ankle-biting authoritarian figureheads with criticisms of their land holdings, financial status, or holding to much account those who abide by the censorship rules such figureheads will surely crack down upon, -some day soon.

And as I have seen you enforce many a thread, I am betting you understand implicitly.

But in the end you must be thanked, for at least some real discussion of merit has taken place.

For me, I am deeply against turning the concept of discourse into a shambles (by the current circumstance of not being able to speak freely), -but I think some here are clever enough to say what we think and still be within the bounds of the "so-called" rules.

Would that not be better than having no venue at all?

I simply ask out of my own genuine concern.

RW