Comments on: Debating Disillusionment http://blog.ryanashton.org/2008/01/29/debating-disillusionment/ Thoughts and opinions from Ryan Ashton Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:08:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Ryan Ashton http://blog.ryanashton.org/2008/01/29/debating-disillusionment/#comment-76 Ryan Ashton Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:11:01 +0000 http://blog.ryanashton.org/2008/01/29/debating-disillusionment/#comment-76 Well put N8. I think it's becoming more and more clear how ubiquitous the defects in our political structure are. It doesn't seem very likely that solutions that aim to work within the existing structure will be successful--the broken parts will simply contaminate any new repairs that are made. It's not just that Huckabee's comment was ridiculous because it represents his stupidity; it's ridiculous because it is a consequence of a wholly wrong-headed political structure. Without an already corrupt system, his point of view would not even make it into the realm of serious discourse. In an ideal system, comments like his would be laughed at and then ignored because the collective intelligence of the people would be far beyond that kind of nonsense. But, we're obviously not anywhere near such an ideal. Ha, the "Saddam was a dictator" response is especially outlandish. What the hell does that prove exactly? Oh yeah, that someone's trying to jerk me around. Well put N8. I think it’s becoming more and more clear how ubiquitous the defects in our political structure are. It doesn’t seem very likely that solutions that aim to work within the existing structure will be successful–the broken parts will simply contaminate any new repairs that are made. It’s not just that Huckabee’s comment was ridiculous because it represents his stupidity; it’s ridiculous because it is a consequence of a wholly wrong-headed political structure. Without an already corrupt system, his point of view would not even make it into the realm of serious discourse. In an ideal system, comments like his would be laughed at and then ignored because the collective intelligence of the people would be far beyond that kind of nonsense. But, we’re obviously not anywhere near such an ideal.

Ha, the “Saddam was a dictator” response is especially outlandish. What the hell does that prove exactly? Oh yeah, that someone’s trying to jerk me around.

]]> By: n8 http://blog.ryanashton.org/2008/01/29/debating-disillusionment/#comment-71 n8 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:54:19 +0000 http://blog.ryanashton.org/2008/01/29/debating-disillusionment/#comment-71 Nodoby really discusses the absence of WMDs anymore, but when mentioned, the stock response is: "Would you rather have Saddam in power? NO - NO, YOU WOULDN'T, BECAUSE SADDAM WAS A DICTATOR. He would have made weapons at some point." Check mate, apparently. I'm too disillusioned to list the ways this doesn't work. But believe me: it's a lot. I'm witholding the evidence, which means it must be true. Nodoby really discusses the absence of WMDs anymore, but when mentioned, the stock response is: “Would you rather have Saddam in power? NO - NO, YOU WOULDN’T, BECAUSE SADDAM WAS A DICTATOR. He would have made weapons at some point.”

Check mate, apparently. I’m too disillusioned to list the ways this doesn’t work. But believe me: it’s a lot. I’m witholding the evidence, which means it must be true.

]]>