Feb 10 2013: I would not agree that vocabulary is a problem. Political figures have their own writers who can write their speeches in depth about complex matters without taxing listeners vocabulary. While I agree that there are communication problems from government side, but I emphasize that it's an average's voters fault that politics are that they are and that for achieving better kind of rule, first we must to look to yourselves there ours fundamental flaws lies.
In the end I would like to add, if we want a true democracy or any other similar rule, then we must agree on importance of voting. Voting cannot be something that you do light-headed or on a whim. Due to that, "serious" debates, ideologies and candidates misdoings should be a prime way of electing all political figures and sophistic methods and rhetoric should be a sing of incompetence instead of viable way of achieving popularity.
Feb 10 2013: I made an impression that you tend to view politics as a separate layer of our society. Like in the past political rule were only achievable to person with certain social status as it's now, a political rule is bound mostly to charisma. While your view on politics is of course an accurate one, but it doesn't mean that it's the only one or it's not flawed. For example: in ancient times, thinkers thought same about rule coming from merit or in other words- aristocratic rule. While this kind of rule is obviously very effective, but sadly it's prone to degradation. Aristocratic rule tend to end up like oligarchic one or political class become so separate from ones they rule that they no longer tend to sympathise with lower classes.
Once our one time de facto president and further dictator, Smetona assumed control of our country via coup not, because he wanted power, but for benefit of the nation. Our society was simply not ready for democracy for many reasons. After gaining independence, nothing has changed. We would still do better with autocratic government and not with a democratic one. Considering politics as entertainers are far more true in my country. In fact, political figures are true entertainers from television or as now are popular- basketball players. Political parties invites as many popular faces as possible for popularity. This is also often true and in others, more mature societies in varying degrees. While this is of course outrageous, there is nothing that educated part of society can do. Masses will out-weight any voting until society matures enough for democracy. Sadly, this kind of rule have already costed us dear...
Feb 7 2013: I would like to discuss this topic in greater depth, but sadly, I have very little free time left for it.
I cannot think of any system that would be completely uncorruptable. Functioning of ruling system largely depends of worth of ruling class. In monarchy, autocracy and similar ruling methods largely it depends on virtue of ruling class while methods such as democracy or republic depends more on voters worth. In democratic regimes, laws more often can be twisted to will of ones who execute them while in Absolutism or communism it's far less true.
In order to create good system you first need to identify your country's flaws and strong points. Not every nation needs a democracy, it's far from the best way to rule for a lot of nations. I wouldn't like to get into details just that exactly every way of ruling would need, but I would like to say that accountability is one of the most important things. Also, it would be good to think that exactly are main ways of corruption. By identifying problems and fixing them in one way or another makes system less likely to fall by those flaws. For example: if political system is consists of hierarchy then you would need to make sure that this ruling elite would feel pressure and from "bellow" to better perform their duties. I'm referring to one of the main flaws of Soviet Union. If a burocrat have an immense authority and it's only accountable to his superiors then there is quite a chance that he will try to use his power to his own advantage. Even more, he have quite a chance to hide all his personal pursuits! Also, he can convince his superiors to profit mutually. Because of this, corruption can easily hide itself in lower and even higher tiers of ruling hierarchy thus making it very tempting. If this or some other activity is a low-risk and high-reward then I can bet, that sooner or later it will be exploited despite a virtue of rulers or voters.
Feb 5 2013: As I have often saw, most people just love to blame someone else for their mistakes. Same goes and with all their problems. As you can see, if people's problems are external (rise of oil prices, military draft and etc) they will try put blame on government. New problems arise as old ones diminishes and cycle of negative emotions toward government continues to grow. Over time, they simply add up, there is often no "good" side of being ruled. We take that we are given for granted and ask for more without an appreciation of that we currently have.
Due to nature of politics there quite much place left for certain kind of incompetence. Also, far deeper problem are low and medium-grade government workers who often face little to no personal standards requirements for their job. Sadly, they job is arguably most important since they enforce and support policies. They are responsible for running the government. It's they, not small elite at the top who are responsible for decisive laws usage. Because of them, we see government as being "cold" and "bullish", "unfriendly" or even corrupted. Their failings to understand the meaning behind laws and weight of bureaucracy further corrupts the system.
From personal experience I know well, that if you answer others people "communications" with stoic patience and friendliness and goodwill, you will likely "touch" person with whom you're dealing with and often you will earn its respect. With that, I doubt that there would be any anti-government sentiments if bulk of basis of low and medium grade government officials would do their jobs well beyond of narrow requirements of their role.
Feb 5 2013: The agreement on further statements might be difficult to different personal experiences.
As I see now, voting for your candidate have a very little difference. Candidates or parties have very little difference between each other despite of their titles or "beliefs". All that we get is bravado. An circus where side with most money to fund their activities have a massive advantage over another. Masses are often stupid and ignorant. Often people are won over with "shiny political commercials" or most bizarre statements about their bright future. I have witnessed on many occasions that people aren't taking their voting seriously. They will just vote from feelings, for a joke or even "just to see that happens if X would won". People no longer place any responsibility on their vote. Sense of duty have extincted. Serious debates or analysis are often ignored by masses due to their laziness. Even if they would watch them, there are no guarantee that they would "get it". Stupidity, intellectual laziness and today's culture made a large part of our voters unable to understand any deeper meaning beyond that is given to them. Furthermore, voters memory tend to be last just a month or two, making situation even worse. Sheer majority of masses overwhelm all sophisticated opinions about politics thus making a democracy fools rule at best.
Feb 5 2013: My comment on this topic could use some editing and further improvements, but I want to state my personal experience and opinion before this topic is not too old.
We have founded our nation as a response to foreigners attacks. It was pretty late in world's history and we were one of the last one's to do so. State have represented two things: a need to achieve something that is too much for any individual entity or rule that was bringed to local populace by force. In history we can clearly see how evolvement of central rule and of unity have increased nation's power. The most remarkable example might be an transition from feudal rule to absolutism. One ruler have forced a nation to centralise, to hoard its resources to one place instead of wasting them among many separate rulers. By that a nation were able to wield much larger armies thus making such rule of method superior. As we can see, there are direct connection between that a country's unity and its power. By diving itself into smaller self-ruling areas we simply degrade ourselves to ancient times which obviously, isn't the best idea for many reasons.
As it's now, a country is more of tradition. As we are born into pre-existing "working" model of government, we take it for granted without a serious thought put into "why" or "maybe". This is the part of far deeper problem. I believe that ours view about personal liberty are deeply flawed. Too much liberty are toxic and often serves no purpose just to parasite for personal benefit. For now, I will focus on talking about on how personal freedom and basics rights can twist into something that is dangerous to the nation.
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A comment on Conversation: Is "the state" our enemy?
In the end I would like to add, if we want a true democracy or any other similar rule, then we must agree on importance of voting. Voting cannot be something that you do light-headed or on a whim. Due to that, "serious" debates, ideologies and candidates misdoings should be a prime way of electing all political figures and sophistic methods and rhetoric should be a sing of incompetence instead of viable way of achieving popularity.
A comment on Conversation: Is "the state" our enemy?
Once our one time de facto president and further dictator, Smetona assumed control of our country via coup not, because he wanted power, but for benefit of the nation. Our society was simply not ready for democracy for many reasons. After gaining independence, nothing has changed. We would still do better with autocratic government and not with a democratic one. Considering politics as entertainers are far more true in my country. In fact, political figures are true entertainers from television or as now are popular- basketball players. Political parties invites as many popular faces as possible for popularity. This is also often true and in others, more mature societies in varying degrees. While this is of course outrageous, there is nothing that educated part of society can do. Masses will out-weight any voting until society matures enough for democracy. Sadly, this kind of rule have already costed us dear...
A comment on Conversation: Is "the state" our enemy?
I cannot think of any system that would be completely uncorruptable. Functioning of ruling system largely depends of worth of ruling class. In monarchy, autocracy and similar ruling methods largely it depends on virtue of ruling class while methods such as democracy or republic depends more on voters worth. In democratic regimes, laws more often can be twisted to will of ones who execute them while in Absolutism or communism it's far less true.
In order to create good system you first need to identify your country's flaws and strong points. Not every nation needs a democracy, it's far from the best way to rule for a lot of nations. I wouldn't like to get into details just that exactly every way of ruling would need, but I would like to say that accountability is one of the most important things. Also, it would be good to think that exactly are main ways of corruption. By identifying problems and fixing them in one way or another makes system less likely to fall by those flaws. For example: if political system is consists of hierarchy then you would need to make sure that this ruling elite would feel pressure and from "bellow" to better perform their duties. I'm referring to one of the main flaws of Soviet Union. If a burocrat have an immense authority and it's only accountable to his superiors then there is quite a chance that he will try to use his power to his own advantage. Even more, he have quite a chance to hide all his personal pursuits! Also, he can convince his superiors to profit mutually. Because of this, corruption can easily hide itself in lower and even higher tiers of ruling hierarchy thus making it very tempting. If this or some other activity is a low-risk and high-reward then I can bet, that sooner or later it will be exploited despite a virtue of rulers or voters.
A comment on Conversation: Is "the state" our enemy?
Due to nature of politics there quite much place left for certain kind of incompetence. Also, far deeper problem are low and medium-grade government workers who often face little to no personal standards requirements for their job. Sadly, they job is arguably most important since they enforce and support policies. They are responsible for running the government. It's they, not small elite at the top who are responsible for decisive laws usage. Because of them, we see government as being "cold" and "bullish", "unfriendly" or even corrupted. Their failings to understand the meaning behind laws and weight of bureaucracy further corrupts the system.
From personal experience I know well, that if you answer others people "communications" with stoic patience and friendliness and goodwill, you will likely "touch" person with whom you're dealing with and often you will earn its respect. With that, I doubt that there would be any anti-government sentiments if bulk of basis of low and medium grade government officials would do their jobs well beyond of narrow requirements of their role.
A comment on Conversation: Is "the state" our enemy?
As I see now, voting for your candidate have a very little difference. Candidates or parties have very little difference between each other despite of their titles or "beliefs". All that we get is bravado. An circus where side with most money to fund their activities have a massive advantage over another. Masses are often stupid and ignorant. Often people are won over with "shiny political commercials" or most bizarre statements about their bright future. I have witnessed on many occasions that people aren't taking their voting seriously. They will just vote from feelings, for a joke or even "just to see that happens if X would won". People no longer place any responsibility on their vote. Sense of duty have extincted. Serious debates or analysis are often ignored by masses due to their laziness. Even if they would watch them, there are no guarantee that they would "get it". Stupidity, intellectual laziness and today's culture made a large part of our voters unable to understand any deeper meaning beyond that is given to them. Furthermore, voters memory tend to be last just a month or two, making situation even worse. Sheer majority of masses overwhelm all sophisticated opinions about politics thus making a democracy fools rule at best.
A comment on Conversation: Is "the state" our enemy?
We have founded our nation as a response to foreigners attacks. It was pretty late in world's history and we were one of the last one's to do so. State have represented two things: a need to achieve something that is too much for any individual entity or rule that was bringed to local populace by force. In history we can clearly see how evolvement of central rule and of unity have increased nation's power. The most remarkable example might be an transition from feudal rule to absolutism. One ruler have forced a nation to centralise, to hoard its resources to one place instead of wasting them among many separate rulers. By that a nation were able to wield much larger armies thus making such rule of method superior. As we can see, there are direct connection between that a country's unity and its power. By diving itself into smaller self-ruling areas we simply degrade ourselves to ancient times which obviously, isn't the best idea for many reasons.
As it's now, a country is more of tradition. As we are born into pre-existing "working" model of government, we take it for granted without a serious thought put into "why" or "maybe". This is the part of far deeper problem. I believe that ours view about personal liberty are deeply flawed. Too much liberty are toxic and often serves no purpose just to parasite for personal benefit. For now, I will focus on talking about on how personal freedom and basics rights can twist into something that is dangerous to the nation.