Orban meets Putin for peace talks

[Revoltingest]

I think it's possible

It's possible that Martians using mind
control are responsible. Instead, we
should discern what is likely based
upon evidence. We have plenty of
that for the explanation that voters
approve of war, eg, re-election of
Obama & Dubya.

 

[Stevicus]

It's possible that Martians using mind
control are responsible. Instead, we
should discern what is likely based
upon evidence. We have plenty of
that for the explanation that voters
approve of war, eg, re-election of
Obama & Dubya.

And why do the voters approve of war? Because they believe war is necessary to protect the country from danger. They believe the country is in danger, but without any real evidence.

Looking at the world as it currently stands and based on the current evidence at hand, it seems most problems we see are of a typical nature which could be easily resolved with a bit of diplomacy and reason. There's no need for a permanent defense establishment nor a US military presence in over 80 countries. Whatever "danger" is out there has been wildly exaggerated by our government and others out there to the point where people believe the outside world is some kind of great zombie apocalypse.

That's why the voters approve of war. How do you think they get these silly ideas into their heads in the first place?

 

[Revoltingest]

And why do the voters approve of war? Because they believe war is necessary to protect the country from danger.

That's merely one reason.
Vengeance is another, eg, after 9/11.

They believe the country is in danger, but without any real evidence.

Voters often hold views independently of
evidence to the contrary, eg, belief that
Biden stole the election from Trump.

That's why the voters approve of war. How do you think they get these silly ideas into their heads in the first place?

Do you think some cabal conspires to
control their minds? This would be hard
to accomplish, given the existence of
echo chambers on all sides of any war.
How does it work?

 

[Stevicus]

That's merely one reason.
Vengeance is another, eg, after 9/11.

Maybe, although they may have gotten vengeance on the wrong people. That's one of the pitfalls of war fever and making important decisions while angry.

Voters often hold views independently of
evidence to the contrary, eg, belief that
Biden stole the election from Trump.

Some believed that, yes.

Do you think some cabal conspires to
control their minds? This would be hard
to accomplish, given the existence of
echo chambers on all sides of any war.
How does it work?

I don't know about any cabal conspiring to control people's minds. But politics is about the art of persuasion anyway, which is how it has worked going back to the days of the ancient Greeks. That's how it usually works, through the standard political processes. Rile the people up, fill the mob with fear and anger. That's how it works.

 

[Revoltingest]

Maybe, although they may have gotten vengeance on the wrong people. That's one of the pitfalls of war fever and making important decisions while angry.



Some believed that, yes.



I don't know about any cabal conspiring to control people's minds. But politics is about the art of persuasion anyway, which is how it has worked going back to the days of the ancient Greeks. That's how it usually works, through the standard political processes. Rile the people up, fill the mob with fear and anger. That's how it works.

It appears (but with plausible deniability)
that you believe voters aren't responsible
for their votes. Someone else is.
On this we disagree.

 

[Stevicus]

It appears (but with plausible deniability)
that you believe voters aren't responsible
for their votes. Someone else is.
On this we disagree.

No, I believe voters are responsible for their votes. I'm merely identifying the usual maladies which the masses typically fall for from those trying to persuade them to support a warlike policy. I also believe that voters should learn to restrain their fear and outrage and other emotional states which might cloud their judgment at the ballot box.

If we both agree that the voters are the problem and that they are responsible for their votes, then does that mean the voters have too much say or not enough?

As a whole, the electorate in a democracy might be something not unlike a constitutional monarch. A government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Substitute the word "king" for "people," and it works out the same. So, shouldn't the "king" (aka "the people") be provided enough information so as to be able to make a sensible decision as to whether to go to war? If there's a possibility of corruption in the Defense Department, isn't that something that a wise ruler would investigate?

The voters, the people - they have a right to know if their government is up to no good. It does a disservice to the rights of the people to try to impede that or handwave it away as some kind of "conspiracy theory."

 

[Revoltingest]

No, I believe voters are responsible for their votes.

Good.

 

[David1967]

It's possible that Martians using mind
control are responsible. Instead, we
should discern what is likely based
upon evidence. We have plenty of
that for the explanation that voters
approve of war, eg, re-election of
Obama & Dubya.

Martians using mind control? Well, there's a possibility I hadnt thought of.