NationStates Jolt Archive

"The men who create power make an indispensible contribution to the nations greatness, but the men who question power make a contribution just as indipensible, espescially when that questioning is disinterested, for they determine whether we use power or power uses us."
-John F. Kennedy

Just a thought for today.

A good quote from Kennedy which has as equal importance today as it did when he said it. Simple post from the author which tells us the reason he posted it. Nothing too fancy. Very good.

YES.

Questioning a leader undermines his power and authority. It weakens the nation. The little people who make up the nation should always bow down to the great ones who lead. Questioning power is like a hand that refuses to obey the will of the person it's attatched to. It leads to weakness and paralysis.

My reasoning for posting is just a thought about the times. We have neo-conservatives who call any questioning of George Bush unpatriotic. We have people in Europe calling those who question their leaders decision against involvement in Iraq right wing nutjobs. We have the insurgents in Iraq who follow their religious leaders orders to the death. There are cases all around the world, and to list them all would take up a lot of post space.

People have forgotten the fact that their leaders are fallable. They can make mistakes, they are only human. And to be able to catch these mistakes we need to challenge our leaders. Challenge their correctness.

I see so many examples on all sides of people who just follow the party line. They take extremist views without question. They don't decide for themselves. They do what their leader tells them.

So yeah, here's my kinda jumbled explanation. I hope it makes sense.

Questioning a leader undermines his power and authority. It weakens the nation. The little people who make up the nation should always bow down to the great ones who lead. Questioning power is like a hand that refuses to obey the will of the person it's attatched to. It leads to weakness and paralysis.

Fascist.

Questioning a leader undermines his power and authority. It weakens the nation. The little people who make up the nation should always bow down to the great ones who lead. Questioning power is like a hand that refuses to obey the will of the person it's attatched to. It leads to weakness and paralysis.
Naturally it's better to be steadfast and wrong than questioning and right, isn't it so? Those in power must never doubt what they're doing, because power leads to correctness, right?

In nature this holds true, Darwinism, but I think it doesn't have to be so with humans. Even though we're animals, we can still separate ourselves a little bit.

Fascist.
Thank You

I can't believe it. More fascists.

My posts on this thread are just another example of my obnoxious sense of humor. Please don't take them seriously Letila.

I agree. All authority must be questioned because it is fundamentally untrustworthy.

oh my god,
a yank saying never question your leaders?
what about the war of indipendance(sp?) you question then why not now?

I think Joey P is just being sarcastic. That's all.

"Those who would give up liberty for the sake of security deserve neither." - Thomas Jefferson

Never question the Government! Ever! Never question our Authority!

Submit to our will! Submit I say!

Let's face it. The people in government have access to information that can't be shared with us because of it's sensitive nature. We must trust that they are acting wisely. They didn't get to be leaders by making bad decisions after all.

oh my god,
a yank saying never question your leaders?
what about the war of indipendance(sp?) you question then why not now?
Silly Canadian. Obviously one might assume, and only assume, that anyone living then does not exist now. Yes? I think none of us had anything to do with the Revolutionary War. Good.

On a personal note- Technically the Northern States are to be reffered to as Yanks, Circa the Civil War. Shame that term was spread so widely to include us all. Eh. Go Yankess! -Waves Baseball Angerly-

Silly Canadian. Obviously one might assume, and only assume, that anyone living then does not exist now. Yes? I think none of us had anything to do with the Revolutionary War. Good.

On a personal note- Technically the Northern States are to be reffered to as Yanks, Circa the Civil War. Shame that term was spread so widely to include us all. Eh. Go Yankess! -Waves Baseball Angerly-
i say yanks because i am a very bad speller. and yes everyone is dead from way back then but you have taken a shining example of your indipendance and have tossed it out the window so stand behind an idiot, always question, never submit. your not a sheep you live in a democratic country you have to question your leaders to elect good ones

Let's face it. The people in government have access to information that can't be shared with us because of it's sensitive nature. We must trust that they are acting wisely. They didn't get to be leaders by making bad decisions after all.
Wait...trust politicians? What are you smoking? They got elected by being lying moral vacua. Of course, you may just be being sarcastic again.

Democracy? Hah! The United States of America has transgressed into The Fundamentalist Christian Republic of Corruption Inc.

Aside from that though, did your comment refer at all to the current administration? 'Cause, after all the campaign muck and whatnot everything seems to relate back to it. If not, what do you mean by the "Shining example of Independence" bit?

And on another note, what Independence? Yes, the USA is a soveriegn nation, yet Independent? I think not. Even then, what does that have to say about how the US runs? Sudan is an Independent Nation. The USSR was an Independent nation, as is North Korea. Does that make them good?

"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President or any other public official save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country."

-Theodore Roosevelt

Should you question your government? I'd say no, because the gorvernment is there to serve and protect you...and who would question someone that was trying to protect him. I'm not saying to never question authority, there are times when authority must be questioned, when it crosses the clearly defined line of people's rights. All in all, authority is a good thing and shouldn't be questioned unless people's rights are at jepordy.

"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."

-Thomas Jefferson

As the greek philospher socrates gave the great advice to question everything before he was forced to drink hemlock, so honor socrates and question everything.

Democracy? Hah! The United States of America has transgressed into The Fundamentalist Christian Republic of Corruption Inc.

Aside from that though, did your comment refer at all to the current administration? 'Cause, after all the campaign muck and whatnot everything seems to relate back to it. If not, what do you mean by the "Shining example of Independence" bit?

And on another note, what Independence? Yes, the USA is a soveriegn nation, yet Independent? I think not. Even then, what does that have to say about how the US runs? Sudan is an Independent Nation. The USSR was an Independent nation, as is North Korea. Does that make them good?

What the fuck are you smoking? The US is very much a democracy...we elect our leaders, we have extensive freedoms. And how the hell are we not independent? We're free from rule from any other country but ourselves.

Democracy? Hah! The United States of America has transgressed into The Fundamentalist Christian Republic of Corruption Inc.

Aside from that though, did your comment refer at all to the current administration? 'Cause, after all the campaign muck and whatnot everything seems to relate back to it. If not, what do you mean by the "Shining example of Independence" bit?

And on another note, what Independence? Yes, the USA is a soveriegn nation, yet Independent? I think not. Even then, what does that have to say about how the US runs? Sudan is an Independent Nation. The USSR was an Independent nation, as is North Korea. Does that make them good?
Yeah, it's a democracy. The problem with democracy is that sometimes the majority will make a decision that just doesn't make sense.

"Those who would give up liberty for the sake of security deserve neither." - Thomas Jefferson
If I may correct you, please read my profile. That is all

Should you question your government? I'd say no, because the gorvernment is there to serve and protect you...and who would question someone that was trying to protect him. I'm not saying to never question authority, there are times when authority must be questioned, when it crosses the clearly defined line of people's rights. All in all, authority is a good thing and shouldn't be questioned unless people's rights are at jepordy.
So you should never question power? Would you really trust a power-hungry megalomaniac with your life? Your rights? Never questioning your protector may put you in more danger than if you didn't have one.
"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."

-Thomas Jefferson
Hear, hear!

The fact of the matter is that people should have a healthy skepticism of their leader's actions

Independent as a Nation?

Yes.

Independent in the Global Market?

Not in the least bit.

There are different degrees of Independence. Independence from Oil inports, Independence from Technology Exchanges, Independence from Trade Commisions, etc etc etc.

And remember this-

Independence does not equal an Ideal nation. Extensive freedoms? They're banning marriage.

And no, we are not a Democracy. We are a Republic. We elect officials to take care of the Government for us, hence, Elections. Hence, Senators, Congressmen, The President. Say the Pledge of Allegiance to yourself, and you'll be quite suprised.

The Leaders of the free world are the voices of those they lead and should listen to what their folowers say. This is the only way a Democratic Republic can exist. So go on and question your leaders, this is our job.

The fact of the matter is that people should have a healthy skepticism of their leader's actions

Agreed.

And no, we are not a Democracy. We are a Republic.
Thank you! We are a democratic republic, not a democracy. Hell, it wasn't until 1976 (?) that we could directly elect senators. Ever wonder why it says "and to the Republic" in the Pledge? (I'm not going to bring up the non-secular part, because that's not relevent here)

Thank you! We are a democratic republic, not a democracy. Hell, it wasn't until 1976 (?) that we could directly elect senators. Ever wonder why it says "and to the Republic" in the Pledge? (I'm not going to bring up the non-secular part, because that's not relevent here)

The 17th Amendment (direct election of senators) was passed sometime in the 1910's.

Let's face it. The people in government have access to information that can't be shared with us because of it's sensitive nature. We must trust that they are acting wisely. They didn't get to be leaders by making bad decisions after all.

Hehe... :D

Let's face it. The people in government have access to information that can't be shared with us because of it's sensitive nature. We must trust that they are acting wisely. They didn't get to be leaders by making bad decisions after all.
Um... everything Bush has done has been bad decisions, he's an alchoholic, he's a convicted drunk driver, he's driven every company he's been involved with in a position of power into the ground.

The 17th Amendment (direct election of senators) was passed sometime in the 1910's.
Must've been 1917 then, I believe.

Silly Canadian. Obviously one might assume, and only assume, that anyone living then does not exist now. Yes? I think none of us had anything to do with the Revolutionary War. Good.

On a personal note- Technically the Northern States are to be reffered to as Yanks, Circa the Civil War. Shame that term was spread so widely to include us all. Eh. Go Yankess! -Waves Baseball Angerly-
Actually, Yanks has been a foreign (sp?) term for all americans since well before the Civil War.

Should you question your government? I'd say no, because the gorvernment is there to serve and protect you...and who would question someone that was trying to protect him. I'm not saying to never question authority, there are times when authority must be questioned, when it crosses the clearly defined line of people's rights. All in all, authority is a good thing and shouldn't be questioned unless people's rights are at jepordy.
In that case, we should have started questioning him YEARS ago. Little Something called Patriot act. Its actually an anagram for some high, nobel sounding thing, then you realize that the entire thing is basically, "Okay, Remember the Bill of Rights? Yeah, its gone now, because we have to protect people from the boogieman. Oh, people get to keep guns though, because terrorists don't use guns, just knitting needles."

Um... everything Bush has done has been bad decisions, he's an alchoholic, he's a convicted drunk driver, he's driven every company he's been involved with in a position of power into the ground.
All part of his master plan. Could an ordinary alcoholic/drunk driver/inept businessman gotten that far?

In that case, we should have started questioning him YEARS ago. Little Something called Patriot act. Its actually an anagram for some high, nobel sounding thing, then you realize that the entire thing is basically, "Okay, Remember the Bill of Rights? Yeah, its gone now, because we have to protect people from the boogieman. Oh, people get to keep guns though, because terrorists don't use guns, just knitting needles."
Very eloquently put, I commend you. Just...it's not an anagram, it's an acronym.

All part of his master plan. Could an ordinary alcoholic/drunk driver/inept businessman gotten that far?
With a questionable election, and rather masterful spin by Karl Rove (I hate the guy, I think he might be the anti-christ, but I have to admit, he is GOOD at what he does, he manages to call into question Kerry's service while raising no questions about 'Hey, didn't Bush dodge the draft by joining the National Guard?')

Very eloquently put, I commend you. Just...it's not an anagram, it's an acronym.
Wouldn't exactly call it eloquent... Also, there is a reason I'm not an English Major

With a questionable election, and rather masterful spin by Karl Rove (I hate the guy, I think he might be the anti-christ, but I have to admit, he is GOOD at what he does, he manages to call into question Kerry's service while raising no questions about 'Hey, didn't Bush dodge the draft by joining the National Guard?')
Very true. Even though I loath Rove with every fibre of my being, I admire the man very much. He's more intelligent than I would've ever guessed, but I want nothing to do with his morals. Kind of like I recently learned that Kindasleezy Rice is actually an astounding individual. She graduated from college at 19, I believe. That doesn't mean I want her Powell's position, note you.

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Very true. Even though I loath Rove with every fibre of my being, I admire the man very much. He's more intelligent than I would've ever guessed, but I want nothing to do with his morals.
Pretty much the same way as I feel about Goebbels. (Not that I am comparing Rove to him though)

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Isn't it "Power tends to corrupt......"

I quite like "Power corrupts, absolute power would be kinda neat"

Questioning a leader undermines his power and authority. It weakens the nation. The little people who make up the nation should always bow down to the great ones who lead. Questioning power is like a hand that refuses to obey the will of the person it's attatched to. It leads to weakness and paralysis.

you are being sarcastic right? cause if not u r crazy. :gundge:

Actually, Yanks has been a foreign (sp?) term for all americans since well before the Civil War.

And in some/most spanish speaking countries we're known as "Yanquis"

HA! A Q! Aren't they adorable???

But seriously, gotta love spanish.

Oh, and yeah, the leader following thing.... theres no right or wrong here. Trust your leaders to make the right decisions then give em hell if they don't. Don't automatically object to every call, and don't forgive mistakes. If we don't hold them accountable, nobody can.

Let's face it. The people in government have access to information that can't be shared with us because of it's sensitive nature. We must trust that they are acting wisely. They didn't get to be leaders by making bad decisions after all.

good descisions and popular ones are diffrent. Tax cuts are popular, but not necessarily good for the economy. (i'm not saying they are wrong, just bringing up a point) :gundge:

All part of his master plan. Could an ordinary alcoholic/drunk driver/inept businessman gotten that far?

a rich one could ;) and he is that.

Ever wonder why it says "and to the Republic" in the Pledge?

because the us doesn't have a king. being a republic doesn't actually tell you much of anything about the governmental structure - china, iran, and the democratic republic of the congo all call themselves republics too.

because the us doesn't have a king. being a republic doesn't actually tell you much of anything about the governmental structure - china, iran, and the democratic republic of the congo all call themselves republics too.

Good point. Zimbabwe calls itself one, too, and it sure as hell isn't a republic. Lol, neither is North Korea, and neither are Vietnam, Iraq, etc.

because the us doesn't have a king. being a republic doesn't actually tell you much of anything about the governmental structure - china, iran, and the democratic republic of the congo all call themselves republics too.
Ok, fine representative democracy. A republic is actually a government with a chief-of-state that isn't a monarch. Misusage of terms, I apologise.

because the us doesn't have a king. being a republic doesn't actually tell you much of anything about the governmental structure - china, iran, and the democratic republic of the congo all call themselves republics too.
I think the technical term for the US government system (One used for Almanacs and the like) is "Democratic Republic"

You people are on Nationstates! You should know these things!

http://www.chrononhotonthologos.com/lawnotes/repvsdem.htm
http://www.thecapitol.net/Recommended/twocows.htm

Aside from those two to point out the obvious in this thread, there are tons of other webpages right there for you on matters like these. The Google DEFINE feature works well also, so I suggest using that too. If the vast expanse of the Internet cannot aide you in research, books still exist.

I'm going to say that normally, questioning the government is bad. Should you question the government if the trashmen don't get your garbage? Is it the presidents fault Ernie backed into a ravine killing him and seven other passengers? No.

But when the president orders to send ten million troops into the nation of Krapinmypantsstan, then by all means, do so.

The tiny things make up the big things, but don't sweat about too many of them. When you do, you truly DO begin to break down the government and it is vital to maintaining a stable world, until the day we can all hug eachother and live in peace and harmony. The end.

Always question the people who tell you to question other people... usually they're telling you to do so so that you can't be bothered to question THEM.

Good point. Zimbabwe calls itself one, too, and it sure as hell isn't a republic. Lol, neither is North Korea, and neither are Vietnam, Iraq, etc.
Zimbabwe has a fine government with a proud, strong, wise leader. I'm sure he will win the love and respect he deserves from the people who remain after he has eliminated that traitorous fifth column who work for the imperialist whites.

Zimbabwe has a fine government with a proud, strong, wise leader. I'm sure he will win the love and respect he deserves from the people who remain after he has eliminated that traitorous fifth column who work for the imperialist whites.

yeah, respect my pants are scared off of dying cause he's insane, close enough. Somehow i don't hink lots of deaths will win respect, but who cares they don't have oil so they're safe from us. ;)