File spoon-archives/marxism-intro.archive/marxism-intro_2004/marxism-intro.0411, message 83


From: bobcat-AT-pseud.pseud
Subject: RE: M-INTRO: It all comes down to choosing between....
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 17:57:43 -0700


My question is this: since when was a dose of dissention a bad thing?  

We have every right to criticize our leaders.  We're the ones who elect
them.  We're the ones that re-elect them.  They're the ones that vote on
laws that directly affect us.  They make decisions to send us to war or to
build a dam or to fund a school.  The behavior of our political leaders has
incredible bearing on our lives, for better or for worse.

Because the people we vote for (or against, as the case may be) have such
influence in our lives, shouldn't we be concerned about how they act?
Shouldn't we praise them when we think a job is well done and rail them when
they do something that harms us?  The moment that we cease to hold our
leaders accountable is the moment that a democracy becomes a fanatical
despotism.

During election night, a CNN's viewer's comments were roughly presented as
follows:

When the election is over, I will support the president, even if I voted
against him.  I will criticize and question the president, even if I voted
for him.  

Isn't this the responsibility and privilege of every American?  

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-marxism-intro-AT-lists.village.Virginia.EDU
[mailto:owner-marxism-intro-AT-lists.village.Virginia.EDU] On Behalf Of
David-AT-pseud.pseud
Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 11:09 AM
To: marxism-intro-AT-lists.village.Virginia.EDU
Subject: Re: M-INTRO: It all comes down to choosing between....

No, it doesn't. Last time I checked it ranked 8th behind several Western 
European nation-states. Also, the U.S. has the most economic disparity of
any 
"developed" country.
In a message dated 11/17/04 12:35:15 PM, jeffkang21-AT-pseud.pseud writes:


> I also think the only idiot is chuckb, that was the dumbest thing I have
> ever heard.  This country has a better quality of life than anywhere in
the
> world.  If you wanna complain about our leaders, move to a third world
> country or something, then you'll stop complaining.
> 



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