Why Not Ask Why?

[jsoaps]

We in America, much like many citizens throughout history in their own country at a particular time, take our form of government for granted. Why is our form of representative republicanism (colloquially if imprecisely referred to as democracy) a good, better, or the best system

Comments

You give people too much credit.

[psiwulf7]

Because when people debate they are forced to question their own beliefs. To argue for anything is to be confronted with and attempt to improve upon, disprove, or rationalize away the opposing perspective. And as sad as it is, the average person, even the average above average person, is more a sheep than a human being, and can't handle the possibility that everything they were so happy to absorb in their youth and regurgitate in their adulthood may not be true. The average American citizen is a sort of dimly self-aware bovine, and when you fuck with their herd mentality - that system of beliefs they choked down whenever they realized that their current socioeconomic niche was the most they could achieve - they get nervous and either moo and cower away or start stomping, snorting, and pointing horns at bad places. At some point you just have to see them for the cattle they are and move on.

Re: You give people too much credit.

[jsoaps]

Even if I accept your premise and conclusion, I should move on to where... a state of self-satisfaction for being superior or a form of mental masturbation such that I can convince myself of my current beliefs much the way you accuse everyone else of doing?

I am not convinced that paternalistic arrogance is the best place. I simply wish to discuss things with someone!

Re: You give people too much credit.

[psiwulf7]

Neither. You made the jump to an assumption of superiority based on your own beliefs, not mine. People who question aren't better, just different; possessing a distinct mindset that lets us question our own beliefs without terrifying ourselves. My point was that you have to accept the fact that most people can't deal with exactly the kind of exercise that you desire to engage them in. You almost have to respect it. That's how they deal. And given your particular political leanings, it's going to be even harder to find someone of a similar mind who will be willing to talk about that kind of thing with you.
Even if you went outside of your own crowd, there are so few people who can carry an intelligent discussion...