Windows XP Deadline Missed by IRS

[dibl]

Not be argumentative or anything ....

Oligarchy refers to the distribution of governing power over the governed. Corruption is a different dimension of the human condition. Of course they often are found together -- I didn't intend to imply otherwise. Hypothetically an oligarchy could rule without any more corruption than an uncorrupt democracy. But kubicle's note about the state of modern "news" reporting is quite correct, unfortunately. The lead sentence is often "corrupted", twisting or inventing definitions of terms in order to set up some shaky argument or unsubstantiated assertion. I just find it very offputting to see an alleged piece of news start off that way.

[whatthefunk]

Not be argumentative or anything ....

Oligarchy refers to the distribution of governing power over the governed. Corruption is a different dimension of the human condition. Of course they often are found together -- I didn't intend to imply otherwise. Hypothetically an oligarchy could rule without any more corruption than an uncorrupt democracy. But kubicle's note about the state of modern "news" reporting is quite correct, unfortunately. The lead sentence is often "corrupted", twisting or inventing definitions of terms in order to set up some shaky argument or unsubstantiated assertion. I just find it very offputting to see an alleged piece of news start off that way.

But if your democracy is actually an oligarchy and is actively fighting to keep the status quo, is there not corruption?

[dibl]

Last I checked, USA election system is still 1 citizen = 1 vote. NOT $1M = 1 vote. So I view all these allegations of a "purchased" government with a jaundiced eye. IHMO, it is a UBA*.

A review of a few facts might be useful to understand the reality, versus the noise.

Do candidates for our Congress need funds to advertise their qualifications? YES, they do.

Do elected representatives and Senators owe a debt of gratitude to those who contributed to their campaigns? Of course they do.

Are the citizens so stupid that they are willing to vote for whichever candidate whose advertisement was most compelling? I'm not convinced on that one -- many candidates have crashed and burned under that theory.

*Unsubstantiated Bold Assertion

[whatthefunk]

Last I checked, USA election system is still 1 citizen = 1 vote. NOT $1M = 1 vote. So I view all these allegations of a "purchased" government with a jaundiced eye. IHMO, it is a UBA*.

A review of a few facts might be useful to understand the reality, versus the noise.

Do candidates for our Congress need funds to advertise their qualifications? YES, they do.

Do elected representatives and Senators owe a debt of gratitude to those who contributed to their campaigns? Of course they do.

Are the citizens so stupid that they are willing to vote for whichever candidate whose advertisement was most compelling? I'm not convinced on that one -- many candidates have crashed and burned under that theory.

*Unsubstantiated Bold Assertion

The problem is that if you look at amount of money donated to various political parties, a huge chunk of it comes from a small percent of the American population. This same group also has lobbyists to further their political ambitions. I think this has a lot less to do with advertising and a lot more to do with what happens after they get elected.