A'Villan

If that's your take on things, that's enough for me to reconsider my understanding. I was seeking to clarify. Obviously poorly. You said earlier I am repeating myself in a slightly different form, that's my attempt to clarify. Apologies that you didn't gain anything from it. I wanted to address the comment on it being madness to argue that the ancient Greek was a pure version, and the impression you got that I was arguing direct democracy to be the only true democracy. When all I wanted to convey was that neither statement is entirely accurate and not reflective of my thought process. A banal statement? Fair enough. I'm glad you understood part of my post at least. You went from saying that I was calling direct democracy the only true democracy to saying that I was in denial about it being a benchmark for what qualifies as democratic. I was trying to use that banal statement to show that ancient Greece is one benchmark for what qualifies as democratic, and despite any flaws it is fairly true to it's description. I'll take that last line in my stride, but I'm not sure how accurate it is.

No, I didn't misunderstand. At least I don't think I did. My local MP has his office just down the street. I have been approached by political movements as well as other organisations to hold discussions with him regarding a variety of topics. That's why I couldn't understand why a PR system would have a detrimental influence on local government.

I agree wholeheartedly.

Yes, I am aware. You forgot Socrates. Some of their input on the discussion resonates with me and has merit. Socrates gave the apt analogy of a ship undertaking a journey by sea and asking who should take charge of the vessel, any random person, or someone who knows the sea. He did not oppose democracy in itself, just that uneducated people should not be eligible to vote as those with the skills and knowledge of running a functional society. As for Plato, his friend and mentor was put to death by a trial of 500 jurors, on what was apparently trumped up charges. This might have influenced perspectives. I'm not familiar with the preference of a representative democracy by these men, just that they took issue with the level of understanding of the average man in political matters.

We have proportional representation here in Australia. @bickster While I don't understand why local government has to suffer you seem to have a grasp of what happens here. Am I? Is it? Obviously my attempts to clarify are futile. I am comfortable using etymology as it is an indicator of the history that has come before us and can offer context and explanation to the behavior of both past and present. it's no coincidence that the origin of both the culture and the word to describe it come from the same place, both defining and giving meaning to what it means to be. That's all. If you can't understand why that holds significance in the discussion, then I don't know what to say. That culture is the very reason behind the terminology you use today. Hopefully you can appreciate what I mean, when I acknowledge that democracy by virtue is fundamentally about social equality and engagement. Everyone having a voice. If Athens had the population of the U.S, then over 6.5 million people would be elected for the responsibility of voting on decrees, voting on law proposals and electing magistrates. Now, in our representative 'democracy', we have right-wing governments in power, who are inherently adverse to social equality. I can't see how this translates to democracy myself. We have a handful of political organisations who represent a different set of policies and ideologies, that are based on the judgements and decisions of a select few who lead them. This is hardly a means of opening up the discussion and allowing a diverse representation of different ideology and policy to be scrutinised and voted on by the public. Lastly, the idea of democracy in a capitalist society being led by conservatives is farcical. Just look at the history. Few profiting from war, slavery and financial engineering. Multi-billion dollar corporations are taxed less than 1% and people living below the poverty line are still taxed 20%. That's not social equality. It's not natural either. When a people hand over responsibility of governance and decision making to political representatives, those employed should operate with integrity and with the interests of all. I miss Fred Hampton, his deeds and initiatives were what community leadership is all about, the reason behind the FBI assassinating him. Democracy, hey.

If there is a place for progression, there is also one for regression. No one likes to see themselves at fault. In regards to my argument, I think it's fair to say, I am not suggesting that direct democracy be the only true democracy. Simply that it is synonymous with the meaning of the word. My argument is more intended to reflect the contradictory nature of the representative democracies that we champion as the most civilised and advanced in the world. It is also only meant to highlight that they bear little resemblance to the origins of that form of governance to convey how poorly it represents what it means to be democratic. It's ironic that it's called representative democracy, because it doesn't represent democracy and neither do it's representatives. That's not to say that it can't or won't in future. Hopefully that makes my standing a bit more clear. You're right, it's not exactly in theme with the posting of current U.S events. I don't want to derail the thread.

The U.S is responsible for slavery and genocide. The U.S has spent over 90% of her history at war. The U.S security agencies are responsible for cointelpro, mk-ultra, Program Northwood and the like. Committing terrorist acts on their own people. The U.S is responsible for the eugenics movement which inspired Nazi beliefs and politics. It also took on Nazi officials post war and employed them. That's what you get with representative democracy. It isn't representative of the original meaning of democracy in any way.

Switzerland.

I tell you what is madness. The notion that past and foreign people alike are lesser than us. What else is madness? The United States, United Kingdom and Australia are represented largely by the right-wing. By definition they are conservative, and therefore averse to change, they want the social and economic power to stay where it is. With the few. The belief that social inequality is a 'natural' phenomena and therefore something to go unchallenged by governance is inherent in everything they do. That is a total contradiction to the meaning of the word democracy. And the consequence is it creates a system where no one wants to oppose the few. No one can afford to. At least the Greeks had a setup whereby those who were male citizens could implement but also challenge any law or policy. Simply being in the interests of the many was enough. I imagine there might be more interest in politics in our current culture should we be afforded such power. People might actually begin to think differently about it all. As it is, we vote in war-mongers who tell us we're free because we're not living as rough as others have or do. These are the people representing the people in 'democracy' as we know it in the western world. We vote them in to make decisions for us. That's madness.

I never said democracy simply means direct democracy. I said people give meaning to words, and that our current understanding of democracy is different to the original. I said it means 'power of the people' or 'rule of the people', if you trace the etymology. I imply that the contrasting culture of direct and representative democracy are not synonymous. In discussing where the word derives from and the meaning, I insinuate that it's no coincidence that the etymology of the word takes us to a Greek origin and a direct democracy. The power was not there for all by any means in ancient Greece you say. That would be correct in the earliest days. Women, slaves and foreigners were not included. I'm saying that the political process and the title that comes with, 'democracy', is more true to it's meaning in a system where it relies upon citizens to govern and not representatives.

Are we living in a democracy? I don't believe we are. We have strayed from what it means to be democratic and given it a new identity. Democracy derives from Greek, and means 'power of the people'. The ancient Greek democratic system was not like ours. Calling something a democracy implies that it is true to it's meaning. That power, including freedom and equality, is there for all. In ancient Greece, the system was a direct democracy, and so you can understand the meaning behind the word, 'power of the people', if you understand the direct democracy concept. In that system the people vote on policy and legislation rather than voting for the election of a representative who will then vote on policy and legislation for them. In a direct democracy people have the power to propose changes to the constitution and call upon a referendum of any law introduced by a federal or municipal body. We live in a representative democracy, where officials are elected and given power over decisions. They can and do make their own judgements on what the interests of the people are. In this type of government, elected officials are not required to fulfill promises made before their election and are able to promote their own self-interests once elected. No wonder campaigns and dialogue with the public often turn into personality contests and who can tarnish the reputation of someone else to their own personal benefit. We have lost sight of what it means to be democratic, and yet we mistakenly believe that our version of it embodies the values and meaning of the old. it doesn't We go to war on the notion that democracy may be threatened, and we are duped into believing that the threat to democracy is a physical one, from foreign people and ideologies. The greatest threat to democracy is when it loses the meaning that belongs to it. It ceases to exist the moment it disappears from the minds of those that give life to idea. People.

Speeding fine for going 20km/h over the limit on the freeway. I drive a Honda Jazz so wasn't going to Ayrton Senna it out of there. Now I'm stuck with a $500 fine, the demerit points loss is extremely kind, apparently losing money is more of a deterrent to illegal driving than not having a license to begin with! Loved the copper though, straight to business, very pleasant and wished me a great day afterward. The last time I got done speeding the officer pulled his gun on me for reaching for my glove box just after he'd asked me to produce my license.. Up until that point, and even beyond it, I had addressed him as sir (sincerely) and was honest and well-mannered. And in writing this I realise that fine is due to be paid today. Ha!

Looks like a skateboarding teenager from the 80's socks and some ancient Roman's/Greco's sandals threw a shindig together in 2019. If they'd of been sports slides this is my footwear anytime I can get away with it.

"So if the solution has never been to look in yourself, how is it that you expect to find it anywhere else." Some of the most profound literature and speeches I have encountered have been produced by religious folk. I was a bit feral growing up until my twenties. Never killed anyone but it's pretty fortunate I don't have any convictions to my name. I love most messages given by religious leaders but I look at the choir boys in their suits for Sunday mass and think to myself I can get acquainted with God elsewhere.

Sounds like a hard-knock life for Morrison. "My music goes harder than my willy, I swear, but all you want is to see me bare, you don't dare to care for my poet laureate songs of hot air"

Just some random unsolicited advice for anyone who has constipation. We're meant to squat, not sit, when we poo. So if you elevate your feet, perhaps on your tip toes or with a small stool, you might find pooing a little easier.

That's not entirely true. Are you familiar with Peer Support Therapy? If not, I'd recommend spending some time reading on it, if you are, well then I don't expect you need me to explain myself and can see the flaw in your comment.. I would also strongly recommend getting a therapist, but picking one at random and sticking with it with the expectation that it will make you come good, that's not always true either. Getting a therapist and developing your understanding of how they work is absolutely, as @Ingram85 says, is a route worth walking down. You may even see that drastic change by 2021 that was mentioned in our last chat.

As I've said in DM @kurtsimonw, you're always welcome in my inbox. As long as it suits you to be there. I want to be careful, as I don't want things to be misconstrued when I speak, because while I empathise with what you're going through, I also want to challenge you. Unfortunately, as I've said, some of the time I'm going to get it wrong, like everybody does. I may misinterpret what you've said, or some of my ideals may not resonate with you. I can say unequivocally though, that I want you to do well, and I believe that you can find the wisdom of the owl within you and see through the darkness that surrounds you.

Alone, I'm always in good company. That's not to suggest that I avoid people in any way. Life is all about relationship.

I was thinking booze, food and gate repairs all thrown into one delivery service around the McCormack area..

My units of study for uni at the moment are Psychology, Sociology and Respnse to Critical Incidents and Crisis. Well, we had an incident at work not so long ago which put the understanding of all three to the test, an incident wouldn't give due context, this was a dilemma. Once a fortnight I team up with a not-for-profit organisation that runs youth programs and we put on an afternoon of basketball for the commission flat kids. These flats are not very pleasant. They are downright dangerous if you just happen to misstep. Whilst it's up to the tenant to take care of their own flat, the outer sections are derelict, covered in graffiti, loitered by drug users waiting to score, poo is often found in the corridors.. You get the idea. It's not an affluent, well-to-do part of the neighbourhood. The kids we deal with, their parents are often incarcerated or substance affected, even when it's not that bad, it's pretty challenging as they are generally doing it rough in some way. So another afternoon of basketball seems to be going successfully, everyone's involved and engaged and the pushing of boundaries and what's acceptable kept to a minimum. Until a fight between two of our boys breaks out and it's a proper fist fight, and we're in trouble because not only do the other boys egg them on to go at it.. Only one of the boys involved listens to instruction from us guys "running the show", the other boy is inconsolable and starts making claims that he is going to stab the other. Then the boy who is off chops' mother arrives. What does she do? She put him in a choke hold (I've spent some time in martial arts and she knew what she was doing).. So she's trying to subdue him that way, telling him, "I'll put you to sleep if you don't chill" and he then starts claiming that he's going to stab his mother. I'm completely of the mind that this could of and should have been handled better than it was by the team leaders. I ask my superior what I should do.. I'm told, "nothing, it's his Mum". We simply pack up and call the event off early. I won't bore you much longer, so the incident report comes along and we debrief as a team. I am simply disappointed with the feedback from the team. The kid who lost his cool is thrown under the bus, despite being on the receiving end of the first punch thrown. He's also far less popular than the other kid, for whatever reason, but it was apparent that one kid would be almost appraised despite throwing the first punch. The other, the villain. When the report was being written up by the operations manager and the youth manager, the mother of 'cool' kid was present.. Well, she was sympathetic to the situation of the other kid and his mother trying to stop him, as long as it served to paint her own boy as the lesser of the evils. This women didn't even see what happened and is allowed to chime in and influence the report writing process.. Completely unprofessional. Ultimately resulting in a young man who already goes without being banned from the program, instead of an approach that gets the real gist of what transpired and why. I have a lot of time for community and social work, I do these basketball programs for free. But I was truly disappointed with the standards in dealing with this incident. Should I bring it up with management?

You had me inspired with talk of the aspirations for a buffalo beard that would be the envy of every man! I'm regretting shaving mine. I miss the birds I was nesting and now there's little excuse for food being all over my face.

Seeing as we're in the wonders of the world thread.. How's the beard coming along? After probably half a decade of beard (and rarely trimming) I gave mine the shave a few weeks ago.

Whilst it made it all the more amusing, this applies to your body in general, not just the bum-holeo. If you shampoo and condition everyday, you do the same regarding natural oils with your hair and weaken it as a consequence. I shampoo about once a week, but due to the volume of sport that I play, a whole body scrub down in the shower once a day and regular bed linen changeovers are preferred.