TOloseGT wrote:
yup, we're a plutocracy
It's worse than that (from my old man's perspective). Why do governments evolve to plutocracy where we are ruled by the rich?
The CURSE: "May the wicked be above you, deceivers on your right."Wickedness for the purpose of the conversation is the constant, continued, sustained, incessant growth of evil. Wickedness is more than just doing wrong it is pernicious in nature.
Wickedness is insidious by design.
Deception is more than telling a white lie. Often there is an element of fraud involved. Brainwashing, for example, is practiced deception. There is purpose and intent behind the lie.
Deception is harm by design.
Not all lawyers are 'evil' but...I'm talking like an old man here because I am an old man -- you get the idea; if the law is good corruption of the law is evil. I have a jaundiced eye. It has seen too much.
Okay, so what is "The Curse" doing in a thread about governmental authorities? Go along with me for a moment, please, as I demonstrate my point. I want to attack lawyers. Every lawyer studies intently to be able to argue his case without regard to it's true nature. Defense attorneys must defend without regard to the client's innocence or guilt. Corporate attorneys must be able to justify the client's position and argue from bottom line profit motives. [Insert Lawyer Joke Here]
Of the lot which is the worst offender? Political attorneys seem to stand out. Not all lawyers are wicked, at least not all started out that way. Learning the law in order to be able to argue better and profit by disagreement seems wrong (think about divorce lawyers who get more money if their clients argue). Learning the law in order to represent "the will of the people" only to then abandon them to the middle of the sea while voting against their interest seems more than doubly wrong. Creating a system for doing only this is astronomically wrong.
Hang out the shingle.
Advertise good will.
Gain power.
Kiss the babies.
Take polls. Determine public opinion.
Gain more power.
Betrayal, coercion and intimidation.
Run for office.
Give yourself a raise.
Now ask yourself how many Senators and Congressmen and Governors and governmental leaders have law degrees? If they don't they certainly have lawyers on their staff. Even City Councilmen have legal advisers on their staff. It's a requirement, isn't it? Common sense doesn't have a chance. In the US there are three visible branches of the government. The job of the Legislative Branch (Congress) is to pass laws so it only makes sense they are comprised of 100% lawyers. We've already mentioned the Executive Branch. What about the Judicial Branch? That goes without saying, doesn't it? Judges must have law degrees.
If
all governmental offices and positions of all branches are selected or appointed from the ranks of the lawyers with political aspirations where does representation of the common man fall? If justice is blind and does not respect rich or poor but prohibits one and all from sleeping under a bridge who can complain? How did the Plutocracy form? It formed from our apathy.
"May the wicked be above you, deceivers on your right." 
Deceivers on the right you say? What is mass media? Is it possible to understand that our trusted advisers, those who have the most influence on public opinion, might not have the best intentions toward those whom they manipulate? Saying that somebody is "on your right" speaks of their power. The formation of public opinion is more subtle than just controlling journalism. Newspapers, radio, television, the world wide web, Hollywood movies, commercials and sadly even the pulpit (perhaps especially the pulpit) -- all forms of mass communication create what we talk about when we "gather at the water cooler". The games we play, the subjects we study and all interactions we have with each other contribute to the formation of our values. Nobody likes it; we're cursed.
The topic starter asked what I expect from my government. I expect to remain cursed.
"May the wicked be above you, deceivers on your right."~Grandpa
