<html>
<head>
<style>
.hmmessage P
{
margin:0px;
padding:0px
}
body.hmmessage
{
font-size: 10pt;
font-family:Verdana
}
</style>
</head>
<body class='hmmessage'>
The sense in which it's obvious is a bit weak, but I am not sure how to more properly put the case.<br><br>In a sense even under the dictator you have a say, insofar as you obey (or don't obey) the law, you overthrow (or don't overthrow) the dictator who made it, etc. It's hard to be a member of a society without bearing a portion of responsibility for the way that society is. Same applies in democracies; those who don't vote are equally responsible for the state of affairs by tacitly approving whatever is done in their name.<br><br>It is nice, of course, when your part in this process includes some alternative other than violent revolution and risk of your life and limb.<br><br>--
"When small men begin to cast big shadows, it means that the sun is about to set." -- Lin Yutang<br><br><br><br>> Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 11:19:59 -0800<br>> From: walters@doubtfulpalace.com<br>> To: urth@lists.urth.net<br>> Subject: Re: (urth) re silk is caldo<br>> <br>> > Aramini said:<br>> > I do not feel that<br>> > your average trapeze artist or even banker has any right to have input<br>> > into government - but they can certainly show you how the trapeze works or<br>> > how to apply for a loan."<br>> <br>> If I don't like the trapeze artist's performance, I can go see a different<br>> trapeze artist. If I don't like my dictator, I'm out of luck.<br>> <br>> No matter how benevolent the dictator's intentions, he will go wrong with<br>> no accountability. See Karl Popper's THE OPEN SOCIETY AND ITS ENEMIES for<br>> a full treatment of this thesis.<br>> <br>> This is leaving aside the obvious moral point that if one has to obey the<br>> law, one should get a say in it.<br>> <br>> -- <br>> Tim Walters | http://doubtfulpalace.com<br>> <br>> <br>> _______________________________________________<br>> Urth Mailing List<br>> To post, write urth@urth.net<br>> Subscription/information: http://www.urth.net<br><br /><hr />Get 5 GB of storage with Windows Live Hotmail. <a href='http://windowslive.com/Explore/Hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_5gb_112008' target='_new'>Sign up today.</a></body>
</html>