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[embersandashes]

I have never voted in or donated to a political election, and I never plan to-- democracy is ridiculous, and I refuse to take part in it. But for some reason, American political parties keep sending me fundraising emails.

Is this how you get your votes? By harassing people into giving them?

Comments

[masked_god]

Elections? How...quaint.

[embersandashes]

I think "irresponsible" is a better word.

[masked_god]

There are far worse systems of government. Though it mostly depends on the people, not the system. Still, one would think the homeworld would have advanced a bit beyond outdated ideas of republics.

[embersandashes]

In the case of systems like this, the people play a large part in creating the system. They never do a good job; there's too many of them to.

[masked_god]

Indeed. And they have little incentive to vote well. "Bread and Circuses" after all.

[embersandashes]

I haven't heard that phrase before. What does it mean?

[masked_god]

It means that the populus is easily distracted from politics if you give them entertainment and food. Which means they are remarkably easy to sway. A far off war, a promise of grain...provide that, and you'll have them begging out of your hand.

[embersandashes]

That's true. Most people don't want to think about politics.

[masked_god]

Indeed. Better to save them from the hassle, correct?

[embersandashes]

You might as well. Even in this "democracy", a significant part of the population doesn't vote, even if they can.

[masked_god]

...really? I thought it was a law that everyone must vote?

Or - Damn, which country are you in, again? You're still in that Earth World that hasn't unified yet, right?

[embersandashes]

Not here it isn't.

It's America-- the United States.

[masked_god]

I thought most lived in...Japan, was it?

[embersandashes]

A lot of the people here do, but I don't.

[masked_god]

To be honest, all the countriest seem the same to me.

[embersandashes]

I don't blame you. Did you know there are almost two hundred of them?

[masked_god]

Presumably it all runs off of a central government, though.

[embersandashes]

Not at all. If you count countries that are only semi-independent, there are even more of them.

I can show you an internet link.

[masked_god]

That is ludicrous. How do they get anything done?

[embersandashes]

They don't try to work together. They all govern separately.