I Think the Whole World...

[XemnasXD]

I was rash. I re-thought it. If you are at least registered to vote and then opting not to vote i can see that as a way of you expressing your opinion. Bit the majority of people who doesn't vote aren't registered and i guess its more those people that i have a problem with. At least if your registered you're saying your recognize the system and have decide to at least have the ability to participate in the electorial process of this nation rather than opting to recognize the system and then saying that the reason they're not voting is bad candidates when in reality even if they wanted to vote they couldn't so its not even like they're making a statement at all....

[Grimjaw]

I watched the video and I liked it, it reminded me of the video Zypher once posted:

Here it is:

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=100143

[Mr.Ganji]

So get off your ass and try and be a leader. Do something with your life that will get you some money. Excel in a field that has importance. Make something of yourself instead of just bitching that theres nothing you can do about it. Its really that simple. Until you actually get off your ass and do something to actually help change the world don't even talk about it like its an impossible deed because you clearly NEVER intend to try. You're like those bastards who don't vote and then complain about the president and their senators and why they keep getting the raw end of the deal. Your not doing anything to help, you don't plan on doing anything to help, you can't even THINK of anything to help so just stfu and let the world pass you by...

I will.

Selfishness is excess? I always thought working in one's own self-interest was good for oneself and inevitably/usually good for the whole. I see where your coming from Ganji, but have I not accounted for your responses with my initial post? *shrugs* BTW; you answered a question that was rhetorical. One's goal may not be helping others directly, but a community is very complex. You may have noticed I never type in terms of governments, countries, nations, etc. I see individuals and what they're [in]/capable of.

It depends on what that self-interest is. Is your self-interest murdering Jews and taking over Europe? It was, for a man named Hitler. What a helpful self-interest it was!

Selfishness itself is an excess.

Everyday individuals have no power to change the world other than being able to vote or run for office and pursue their own agenda. Whole countries have to move towards a single purpose for anything to happen.

[Barotix]

Yes Ganji, one extreme example overrules the numerous examples of individuals in this world that just go about their lives associating with other individuals in hopes of getting a higher standard of living.

Everyday individuals have no power to change the world other than being able to vote or run for office and pursue their own agenda. Whole countries have to move towards a single purpose for anything to happen.

Since I never mentioned the power of the individual over the Nation-State I don't think your statement really refutes any of my points.

@Bold; They have no power to change things yet they can change things by pursuing their own interest and participating in the political process? [you contradicted yourself there] This does not make them any less "down to earth" than they were before deciding to take up their civic duty. Unless you think politicians are angels. I like how you agreed with me though. I didn't even bring up the subject of individuals changing things.

[XemnasXD]

it always starts with one person. Ghandi, MLK, Milk, Theresa, Biko, Hitler etc...all it takes is one strong person to start and lead a movement that can change the world.

[Mr.Ganji]

Yes Ganji, one extreme example overrules the numerous examples of individuals in this world that just go about their lives associating with other individuals in hopes of getting a higher standard of living.

I'm giving you an example of how selfishness, and anything extreme, can't be considered a "good" thing. Since when has society viewed selfishness as a virtue?

They have no power to change things yet they can change things by pursuing their own interest and participating in the political process? [you contradicted yourself there] This does not make them any less "down to earth" than they were before deciding to take up their civic duty. Unless you think politicians are angels. I like how you agreed with me though. I didn't even bring up the subject of individuals changing things.

What I was saying was that individuals have little motivation/ability to change things alone. To be participate in the political system, other than voting, requires you to have broad support, one way or another. And yes, you just agreed with me as well. I mentioned that political corruption was one of the obstacles standing in the way of making this planet a better place to live. I don't think politicians are angels, neither do you, because that's a fact. Politicians are usually downright dirty. And nobody's doing anything to change it in this country and doing anything of the contrary would defeat any politician running for power.

it always starts with one person. Ghandi, MLK, Milk, Theresa, Biko, Hitler etc...all it takes is one strong person to start and lead a movement that can change the world.

Of course it starts with one person...but if you observe closely, the best leaders always emerge during a crisis. Until we realize that the way we've been treating this Earth and each other this way is a crisis itself, it will be too late.

[XemnasXD]

It doesn't take a nation or the world to see a crisis before certain ppl consider it a crisis. There are alot of people out their who realize the state of the world and theres more than enough to get something done which is why things are being done....

[Barotix]

Since when has society viewed selfishness as a virtue?

Spoiler!

Society? I follow a school of thought that believes individuals working in their own self-interest [the good and the bad] is what drives human interactions on every level. From the local level [EX: A man buying an apple using a medium of exchange. A man donating to a charity. A man stealing a radio. A man talking to another man.] to the federal level [EX: legal plunder] and finally the international level [EX: two governments fighting, trading, or engaging in diplomacy]. Society is a result of this truth.

I never called it a virtue; I merely stated good and bad comes from one working in their own self-interest. Society has nothing to do with it. That's life man.

It [society] doesn't have to recognize human nature as a double-edged blade. Society is nothing more than a large group of individuals each with their own beliefs, values, morals, and principles.

And nobody's doing anything to change it in this country and doing anything of the contrary would defeat any politician running for power.

Some don't run for power. Don't be so quick to generalize. Besides I don't trust politicians, leaders, and would-be rulers; I prefer statesmen.

What I was saying was that individuals have little motivation/ability to change things alone.

Individuals have the power and means to change things that effect them directly. It usually takes a confederation of individuals to change things that effect them indirectly. So I agree with what you're getting at.

[willieb3]

that guy needs to settle down mmkay