(I actually know/have known people who have swam with sharks, by the way, including Ron and Valerie Taylor . . .) — Terrapin Station
A demagogue /ˈdɛməɡɒɡ/ (from Greek δημαγωγός, a popular leader, a leader of a mob, from δῆμος, people, populace, the commons + ἀγωγός leading, leader)[1] or rabble-rouser is a leader in a democracy who gains popularity by exploiting prejudice and ignorance among the common people, whipping up the passions of the crowd and shutting down reasoned deliberation.[1][2][3][4] Demagogues have usually advocated immediate, violent action to address a national crisis while accusing moderate and thoughtful opponents of weakness or disloyalty. Demagogues violate established rules of political conduct; most who were elected to high office changed their democracy into some form of dictatorship.
Demagogues have appeared in democracies since ancient Athens. They exploit a fundamental weakness in democracy: because ultimate power is held by the people, nothing stops the people from giving that power to someone who appeals to the lowest common denominator of a large segment of the population.
Sure, so how are you attempting to separate preferences and best interests, outcome assessments, etc.? What's the distinction you attempt? — Terrapin Station
Well, for starters, they each have distinct and inequivalent meanings. — Sapientia
Moreover, if it is possible for one's best interests to not always correspond to one's preferences, — Sapientia
Can you support how that would be possible? That would be a step in suggesting a coherent distinction. — Terrapin Station
Right on the mark. Note the observation about 'changing democracy into dictatorship'. — Wayfarer
I am not enthusiastic about a Trump win but I don't see it as a sign of the apocalypse. I hope that above all else, every pollster, media station, and complacent liberal who is 'surprised' right now takes a long hard look at themselves, and realizes 'I am completely out of touch with reality, with my country, and the desires of the people, and have little conception of the way that people think or what they value.' — The Great Whatever
I am not enthusiastic about a Trump win but I don't see it as a sign of the apocalypse. I hope that above all else, every pollster, media station, and complacent liberal who is 'surprised' right now takes a long hard look at themselves, and realizes 'I am completely out of touch with reality, with my country, and the desires of the people, and have little conception of the way that people think or what they value.'
That's the lesson to be learned from this. There are a lot of people who need to let sink in just how wrong they were. The media stations are all reporting that nobody saw it coming.' Yes, they did. You didn't see it coming. Because you are deeply, deeply deluded and incompetent.
It doesn't make any sense that something being "in the best interest" of someone isn't (a) a subjective judgment of an individual, and (b) about their preferences.
I'm challening you to make sense of it not being (a) or (b). — Terrapin Station
Saying "it clearly makes sense" isn't any sort of philosophical support. — Terrapin Station
Most identify as hard-working, enterprising individuals who, like any large, diverse population harbor resentments toward many within that population, those they see as giving the whole groups a bad name. — csalisbury
it is in the interests of large corporations and the fattest of fat cats — Sapientia
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