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Police work is part of the government. So is the military. Do you think they all joined the government with the purest of intentions, Aestu?

No, and they don't need to. But then again, that's why we have a tangle of bureaucratic tape to keep them in line, don't we? We don't just say, things will work themselves out, whatever.

Being a cop or a soldier is not comparable to being a politician. For one thing, your career starts with a job. For politicians, it's the other way around.

Aestu of Bleeding Hollow...

Nihilism is a copout.

Haha nice one. Didn't you know I form my philosophical leanings based solely on social media?

Let's just hope Nazism never trends on Twitter!




No, in reality you're just a crazy person and I'm bored enough to engage you from time to time. I actually smile every time I see you reply.


I used to want to prove my intelligence to you, but all I needed was that one thread where I clearly demonstrated I know a lot more about something (internet marketing) than you did. Watching you flail around and argue when you had no concept of what I was talking about gave me a different perspective on how you are and the fact that your arrogance is just sad. Again you speak about all this government influence yet you pay no taxes and contribute literally 0 to society. I guess it's pretty easy for a leech to sit at home with books and tell everyone how things should be run, eh?

You like calling people cowards. What are you doing to disprove that you have real-world cowardice? Did you apply to law school yet? Get a job yet? Still a virgin?


You also do a lot of the same things you chide me for doing when arguing...

Case and point, your whole argument that every politician ever has to work harder and longer than every executive ever is an absolutely ridiculous claim that you haven't been able to backup with anything other than "oh well my mentor was a hard working politician" which is nothing more than flimsy anecdotal evidence.



At least I acknowledge my shortcomings. Yeah I'm not the brightest person ever...probably 80% of what I say is viewed as stupid (possibly more if you're Mayo or Mazeltov)...sometimes I'm definitely a people pleaser, sometimes I'm too passive and easily swayed, I can really suck at debating. But at least I don't need to rationalize everything about my life and put up a reality distortion field just to get out of the bed in the morning and look myself in the mirror.

You guys are each putting words in each others mouths trying to make your points.

Azelma is correct in his assertion that the blame does not fall solely on corporations for unethical lobbying practices. The politicians still accept the kickbacks, perks and flat out bribes. Azelma, at the same time, Aestu is right about politicians not becoming involved for financial reasons.

Politicians sometimes fall into the trap of conflicts of interest, bribes and profiting as a result of their positions of power and the naturally human inclination to become corrupted when money and power intertwine.

The fact is, despite what public opinion may have to say about the matter, politicians are extremely hard workers who have jam packed schedules and miles of legislation to read, analyze and make changes to. They jetset all around the country and the world at all hours, and on top of these facts, it's not simply profits that are at stake such as in private sector.

Human life and the safety of their constituents, issues of principle and morality, economic security, long term environmental concerns, etc are all at stake. They have extremely stressful working conditions for a fraction of the pay of a CEO or CFO of a Fortune 500 company.


Most people who ascend to the national political stage are all the cream of the crop, with impressive credentials from extremely prestigious universities, military experience and private sector leadership. They could be making more or comparable money for doing a lot less than they do in much less stressful conditions.


Think about it.

Brawlsack

Taking an extended hiatus from gaming

Congressional pay is significantly lower than what those guys would be making as lawyers. This is an empirical fact. There's plenty of truth to Aestu's statement that people go into politics for power rather than for money; the two can have a lot in common but are not synonymous.

If destruction exists, we must destroy everything.
Shuruppak Yuratuhl
Slaad Shrpk Breizh

I'm more inclined to trust people motivated by desire for power for its own sake than motivated by desire for material gain.

Aestu of Bleeding Hollow...

Nihilism is a copout.

I'm legitimately curious why you feel that way?

Also, it's true that many people want power, but realize that money often = power, so they go after the money first.

Are you saying that simply wanting to be influential and control stuff is better?

Because the pursuit of material things is inherently petty and small-minded and inevitably puts one at odds with everyone else. People who just want power are less likely to fall prey to conflicts of interest.

Also see: Sheng-ji Yang

Aestu of Bleeding Hollow...

Nihilism is a copout.

Yeah I can see that.

I guess if it's a lesser of two evils, purely wanting power is probably better than wanting money. You'll still have anomalies like Hitler and other crazies...so the power thing can still potentially be quite damaging.

Hitler was only bad for the Germans because he hated Jews and was psychotic.

Hitler was willing to take a swing at the economic problems of the time. If Romney was in the hot seat, he'd not give a damn. People who are motivated by power will inherently be more inclined to use it to affect others than those who just want money.

Those are personal issues quite detached from being motivated by power. A better analogy would be people like Caesar or Napoleon or Alexander or, if you want a more flawed and contemporary example, LBJ. People who just wanted power, but left a better world behind because doing so is part of the entire megalomanical leader mentality.

All things considered, I'd take Hitler over Howard Hughes or Dick Cheney. At least one of them will give me healthcare and bigass public works, just to remind everyone who's the big cheese.

It's also one of the main themes of classical history. The Greeks and Romans did a lot more bad things out of greed than they did out of desire for power for its own sake.

Aestu of Bleeding Hollow...

Nihilism is a copout.

I'm not talking about the paycheck being what makes politicians rich.

I'm more talking about the under the table, underhanded piece of shit type of politicians, and we all know they're out there.

Not really. Bribery is very rare and hard to get away with. If you have proof otherwise...

Campaign donations are the problem, and that's the system, one that corps have fought tooth and nail to hold onto.

Politicians don't profit from the system, and for them, the rules of the game are largely arbitrary.

The proof that politicians aren't responsible for the problem is that the status quo weakens their hands, individually and collectively.

Aestu of Bleeding Hollow...

Nihilism is a copout.

in Canada on the other hand, the paycheck does make them rich


or am I naieve to beleive this is enough to be wealthy?

"The annual salary of each Member of Parliament is, as of 2010, $157,731"

Nah, that's slightly less than American congressmen. And Tuhl's point stands.

Aestu of Bleeding Hollow...

Nihilism is a copout.

Money begets power.
Power begets money.