Comments on: My problem with American politics (a visual approach) https://habitablezone.com/2012/03/14/my-problem-with-american-politics-a-visual-approach/ Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:41:18 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2012/03/14/my-problem-with-american-politics-a-visual-approach/#comment-12522 ER Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:12:14 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=10999#comment-12522 The choice is not between despotism and anarchy, but to recognize that there is a middle ground between the two. As for America's undeniable good fortune, how much of it was due to the vast resources taken by force from its aboriginal owners, or the agony of those forced to toil in chains to develop them? The choice is not between despotism and anarchy, but to recognize that there is a middle ground between the two.

As for America’s undeniable good fortune, how much of it was due to the vast resources taken by force from its aboriginal owners, or the agony of those forced to toil in chains to develop them?

]]> By: Robert https://habitablezone.com/2012/03/14/my-problem-with-american-politics-a-visual-approach/#comment-12520 Robert Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:49:08 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=10999#comment-12520 <p>At least you're paying attention.</p> You picked up on the saintly human angle...me and Gandhi, sitting on the other side of the political universe from the pack of presidential candidates. Political alienation in chart form. We all like to think we're on the side of the angels, and I have the graph to prove it. At least you’re paying attention.

You picked up on the saintly human angle…me and Gandhi, sitting on the other side of the political universe from the pack of presidential candidates. Political alienation in chart form.

We all like to think we’re on the side of the angels, and I have the graph to prove it.

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2012/03/14/my-problem-with-american-politics-a-visual-approach/#comment-12510 TB Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:51:38 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=10999#comment-12510 <p>There are governments, and there are governments.</p> When an Empire let go of North America, something better rose in its place. Hobbes' <em>Leviathan</em> notwithstanding, the choice between the extremes of despotism and anarchy is a false one. There are governments, and there are governments.

When an Empire let go of North America, something better rose in its place. Hobbes’ Leviathan notwithstanding, the choice between the extremes of despotism and anarchy is a false one.

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2012/03/14/my-problem-with-american-politics-a-visual-approach/#comment-12508 ER Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:03:53 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=10999#comment-12508 A true absence of power will create a vacuum, something will rush in to fill it. If not some new government constituted primarily to benefit its rulers, then some alliance of gangsters or businessmen whose "competition" will not moderate the tyranny, but just involve everyone else in the bloody conflict that determines the head bully. When the Empire falls, you don't get a Libertarian paradise, you get feudalism, serfs, warlords, local barons, fiefdoms and constant war as the bosses jockey for power. Every culture with a feudal past went through the same process, in Europe, China, and Japan. When the Emperor lost his grip, the power was taken over by those who were able to monopolize the means of production (generally, in those days, agriculture). And feudalism, although relatively stable, is not a meritocracy, although the thugs in charge tend to feel it is because they are convinced they have god-given merit due to their superior cunning, strength, brutality, or entrepreneurial skills. The Libertarian Utopia will be a corporate medievalism, with the world divided into industrial monopolies, great plantations, and street gang turf. A true absence of power will create a vacuum, something will rush in to fill it. If not some new government constituted primarily to benefit its rulers, then some alliance of gangsters or businessmen whose “competition” will not moderate the tyranny, but just involve everyone else in the bloody conflict that determines the head bully.

When the Empire falls, you don’t get a Libertarian paradise, you get feudalism, serfs, warlords, local barons, fiefdoms and constant war as the bosses jockey for power. Every culture with a feudal past went through the same process, in Europe, China, and Japan. When the Emperor lost his grip, the power was taken over by those who were able to monopolize the means of production (generally, in those days, agriculture). And feudalism, although relatively stable, is not a meritocracy, although the thugs in charge tend to feel it is because they are convinced they have god-given merit due to their superior cunning, strength, brutality, or entrepreneurial skills.

The Libertarian Utopia will be a corporate medievalism, with the world divided into industrial monopolies, great plantations, and street gang turf.

]]> By: VelociraptorBlade https://habitablezone.com/2012/03/14/my-problem-with-american-politics-a-visual-approach/#comment-12504 VelociraptorBlade Thu, 15 Mar 2012 04:00:25 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=10999#comment-12504 I love the man and what he stood for, but his "swaraj" seems a bit unsustainable. People, when left with power in their hands, tend to consolidate it into some form. Give them no government, and they'll create one. I love the man and what he stood for, but his “swaraj” seems a bit unsustainable. People, when left with power in their hands, tend to consolidate it into some form. Give them no government, and they’ll create one.

]]> By: Jody https://habitablezone.com/2012/03/14/my-problem-with-american-politics-a-visual-approach/#comment-12501 Jody Thu, 15 Mar 2012 02:54:15 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=10999#comment-12501 Those other two forums are pansies. Those other two forums are pansies.

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2012/03/14/my-problem-with-american-politics-a-visual-approach/#comment-12498 ER Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:39:20 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=10999#comment-12498 I see how it works. Kind of like a horoscope. I'm a Virgo. I see how it works. Kind of like a horoscope.

I’m a Virgo.

]]> By: RobVG https://habitablezone.com/2012/03/14/my-problem-with-american-politics-a-visual-approach/#comment-12497 RobVG Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:35:51 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=10999#comment-12497 <p>It's a contraction</p> Since it contains the word "fuck" in the title, it's an infraction. I belong to two forums that scold you for what they call "cartoon swearing"- @*#%:+&!!. It’s a contraction

Since it contains the word “fuck” in the title, it’s an infraction.

I belong to two forums that scold you for what they call “cartoon swearing”- @*#%:+&!!.

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2012/03/14/my-problem-with-american-politics-a-visual-approach/#comment-12494 TB Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:12:43 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=10999#comment-12494 Gandhi's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swaraj" rel="nofollow">actual politics.</a> Go figure. Gandhi’s actual politics.

Go figure.

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2012/03/14/my-problem-with-american-politics-a-visual-approach/#comment-12493 TB Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:07:58 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=10999#comment-12493 You could look up "Nolan Chart" and all the variations and thinking on the subject. You could look up “Nolan Chart” and all the variations and thinking on the subject.

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