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#26,641 ·
ElijahTW said:
I've been thinking a lot about a governmental system that would actually work. I believe by this point it's been more or less proven that Monarchies, Dictatorships, and pseudo-democracies known as representative democracies all eventually end in failure.

The only system I could think of was the idea of a direct democracy - where everyone has a chance to vote on every issue. It didn't take long to immediately realize that wouldn't work very well.

First, while not impossible with today's technology, actually getting ~330 million people, or even a decent percentage to vote on the hundreds of issues that come up every day isn't likely.

Second, humans are are often incapable or unwilling to make sacrifices even if it would be beneficial. For example, you'd likely be able to get a majority to vote for dramatic tax cut. You'd also have a majority that wants the national infrastructure to be rebuilt. You can see the issue here.

Third, you run into the issue of the majority oppressing the minority. While I suppose in a true democracy, anything that 50.01% of the population wants should be what happens, but at one point in time you could have got 50.01% of people to vote in favor of slavery.

Fourth, even if you somehow fix the above issues, people are stupid. Even if there was no more politicians to corrupt, people are still stupid. In a direct democracy, I believe the tobacco industry would have been able to convince enough people that tobacco was perfectly safe and didn't need to be regulated. Companies would use their money to push their agenda, but in this case they wouldn't need to buy politicians - just ad space.

Fifth, there are some things - and I hate to admit this - that the public just can't know about for the sake of national security, however these things need to be known to make informed decisions on things such as war.

I've also pondered the idea of a hybrid direct and representative democracy, where the public gets to vote on certain major issues, but other things are done as they are now. Should pot be legalized? Gay marriage? The public should have the say. Other issues, such as national security should be done as they are now. Even though I think this would be an improvement on what we have now, it still leaves way too much room for corruption.

tl;dr We're all fucked and there is no such thing as a government that won't end up corrupt and won't fail eventually.
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It's basically which government system leads to least possible fuck-ups. In general democracy is seen as the best, but it is no means perfect and can easily be undermined or lead to pretty shitty government.

Democracy is basically mob rule, but can lead to shit results, even genocide (the Nazi party was democratically elected).

Benign dictatorships can be beneficial, with the only problem being most aren't benign.

There will only be perfect government when the people themselves become perfect i.e. never. In many ways the people who govern are a reflection of those who vote for them in the first place. Fucked up people lead to a fucked up government. Morons who vote for people like Trump, really thinking it will make things better having an imbecile leading them. They are the problem.
 
#26,642 ·
Its actually a system that exists and works peacefully, but is heavily propagandized against internationally.

Believe it or not, direct democracy existed in libya, and popular commitees couldve be formed from local representatives, get audiences with and overrule the gouvernement/ruler decisions with enough support, all without getting thrown into death camps afterwards. Unpopular actions were rarely enacted against the commitees' reluctance, which helped public trust in governements (national and regional).
 
#26,643 ·
Hard core Rikki said:
Its actually a system that exists and works peacefully, but is heavily propagandized against internationally.

Believe it or not, direct democracy existed in libya, and popular commitees couldve be formed from local representatives, get audiences with and overrule the gouvernement/ruler decisions with enough support, all without getting thrown into death camps afterwards. Unpopular actions were rarely enacted against the commitees' reluctance, which helped public trust in governements (national and regional).
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Where does such a true direct democracy currently exist? I don't think Libya is a good example as it didn't last all that long.

I can only see it possibly working in very small countries (hundreds of thousands maybe, but not hundreds of millions)
 
#26,644 ·
It lasted at least 4 decades and could've longer. It never collapsed due to internal challenges or structural failure but foreign military interference, dismantling its hierarchy and until its last years, economic sanctions that capped its growth.

Lesser notable but better known exemples are switzerland (a limited few regions), and russia (usually city-specific, according to local gouvernance specificities like taxation sources - with the governed able to vote for and veto a wide range of decisions, to as trivial as erecting a fountain somewhere
For switzerland, its experimentations in governance, but for the latter its only a continuation of past soviet-era practices uniquely specific to eurasian countries with autonomous selfgoverned regions (pretty much only russia).
 
#26,646 ·
Damn you Amazon! i bought the Samsung UE65KU6509UXZG and now i got notified after almost two weeks waiting that i'm not getting the TV because of issues with the seller and others don't send the TV here.

First DHL can't find my new address bullshit and now issues with the seller... F*CK that SH*T i just bought a Hisense H65MEC5550 65" 4K TV instead which now after a update has HDR too. I will spend the extra money on something else.
 
#26,647 ·
I actually try to buy things in retail stores again to help the local economy but it's largely a lost cause. Everyone buys everything online, I guess with good reason. Still, it's a shame to see when another store chain falls over, it's happening so much lately. :(
 
#26,648 ·
Samor said:
I actually try to buy things in retail stores again to help the local economy but it's largely a lost cause. Everyone buys everything online, I guess with good reason. Still, it's a shame to see when another store chain falls over, it's happening so much lately. :(
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I prefer local stores over online ones for the fact that you just go there and pick up things. The reason why i buy things online still is because the service is far supperior in comparison to the mediocre service i have experienced with local stores. A good example is when the device is broken or something isn't right. Local stores makes you fill a paper with lots of bullcrap then your device is sent back to the retailer and you have to wait over a month sometimes, they do offer you a new one at times but most of the time they don't have one in the store or there is other issue. Amazon in the other hands let's you print a retour and you send your device for free back and within few days you have your money back or a new device is sent to you which is awesome.

I haven't had any issues until now with Amazon but recently there seem to be a wave of hacks and issues with resellers. I hope is not going to turn into a common issue.
 
#26,650 ·
I stopped buying stuff from ebay like 5 years ago because there were too many scammers and also there was too many people trying to trick you. Amazon since then have been a reliable way to purchase my stuff not to mention far cheaper than local stores.
 
#26,651 ·
eBay is good for things like HDMI cables where the quality doesn't really matter much. I've bought HDMI cables for 99 cents (with free shipping... no idea how they make money..) and they work perfectly fine.

Also useful for things that are difficult if not impossible to find elsewhere. Parts for your old truck, laptop, etc.

But generally, I'll pay a little more if I can get it on Amazon, especially since I have Prime and get two day shipping. Worst part about eBay is when you realize the thing you bought is coming direct from China. "Well, I'll see that in two months..."
 
#26,653 ·
Kaizen said:
As each day goes by I am more and more tempted to create a neogaf alternative without the mental SJW shilling. I have the funds to develop a site as big and I hate SJW rhetoric and lies enough to do it.
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What exactly is SJW shilling? SJW rhetoric? Just because someone doesn't actively call people out on being douches doesn't mean they aren't mentally side eyeing them. :|
 
#26,654 · (Edited)
Xblade said:
What exactly is SJW shilling? SJW rhetoric? Just because someone doesn't actively call people out on being douches doesn't mean they aren't mentally side eyeing them. :|
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Neogaf is a propoganda site to portray a prevalent image of the average gaming consumer being a far left radical interested more in breaking down culture than games themselves.
This is subversion by design in order to influence developers and publishers to live up a marxist agenda, silencing and shaming the majority that hold no malice.

If you say the slightest, tiniest little comment that is innocent but doesn't fit their hard line rhetoric you will be banned as you must not pollute or damage the propoganda machine.

Oh my god I am saying things not approved by the marxists, I must be #literallyhitler

What gender are the curtains in assassins creed?
Ouvre le fintre is le rapeo

Edit: I just want to add a disclaimer that I looked up the bin thread to snag a funny picture of the MAD neogaf thread topics to see you demonstrate your love of the site.
I thought your reply was genuine and not concern trolling so I am showing it the brutal and direct honesty it deserves. Neogaf is cancerous and the time of political seppuku has ended.

I am not sorry.
 
#26,656 ·
Xblade said:
So I'm guessing it extends beyond people calling others out for saying really sexist or racist things? I_I I don't go on that website.
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It's a bunch of nerds acting like dicks because of other nerds acting like dicks, both camps claiming they have the biggest dick of righteousness.
Make sure you keep not visiting it and you'll be fine.
 
#26,657 ·
Thanakil said:
It's a bunch of nerds acting like dicks because of other nerds acting like dicks, both camps claiming they have the biggest dick of righteousness.
Make sure you keep not visiting it and you'll be fine.
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Isn't that the entire internet, though?

For the record, my dick is 1000 meters of pure righteousness.
 
#26,658 ·

I find it funny how much outrage there is over this by the same type of people who will gladly laugh at holocaust jokes, japan nuclear bombing jokes, jokes about how we're drone bombing middle eastern countries....

Also, too bad the outrage made this store close. I'm in the market for a new mattress, and getting a king size for the price of a twin sounds like a fantastic deal.
 
#26,659 ·
Just ate some Scottish buttered shortbread cookies/biscuits. Damn, those things are delicious. Taste great with sparkling cider or wine too.

Image

https://eatingthebigapple.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/item16.jpg
Sadly they are considered a seasonal item here in certain stores, and are hard to come by even then. Only one place I know sells them year round, and they are $1.25 usd per package of two biscuits. IMO, they are even better than the Danish ones.

Kaizen, are these considered seasonal treats where you live? I can't seem to get them by the box until late autumn.

Bluey.
 
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#26,660 · (Edited)
blueshogun96 said:
Just ate some Scottish buttered shortbread cookies/biscuits. Damn, those things are delicious. Taste great with sparkling cider or wine too.

Image

Sadly they are considered a seasonal item here in certain stores, and are hard to come by even then. Only one place I know sells them year round, and they are $1.25 usd per package of two biscuits. IMO, they are even better than the Danish ones.

Kaizen, are these considered seasonal treats where you live? I can't seem to get them by the box until late autumn.

Bluey.
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nope. all year.


but why only seasonal? why do you have seasonal things like that? i understand for xmas, easter and stuff but stuff like shortbread is seasonal is weird.

The states is a weird one
 
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