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Death of Michael Ledeen, maker of the phony case for the invasion of Iraq

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93 points nabla9 | 1 comments | 25 May 25 07:08 UTC | HN request time: 0.003s | source
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jaybrendansmith ◴[25 May 25 16:47 UTC] No.44089027[source]▶
This is the last time I felt the power of the propaganda machine. (The most recent time was the 2024 election) It was so obvious to myself and my friends that this was completely cooked up intelligence. And yet the truth was not getting out, and had fooled many people with this strange groupthink, almost like a dumb, braying herd animal, where the collective intelligence was utterly ambushed and tied up in a sack. I don't like feeling powerless, yet I have this feeling that our voices have been smothered of late, destroyed by ridiculous talking points.
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CoastalCoder ◴[25 May 25 22:18 UTC] No.44091728[source]▶
It certainly is making me wonder about the supposed benefits of democracy.

If our votes, even those of our elected representatives, are so easily manipulated, then what's the point?

My question isn't entirely rhetorical. I'm hoping someone can talk me out of that conclusion.

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1. AndrewKemendo ◴[26 May 25 01:06 UTC] No.44092903[source]▶
I’m afraid your conclusion is correct

There has never been a representative democracy. Not in the US, not anywhere. So it’s impossible to say whether it’s a goal that’s with pursuit.

The idea that one ever existed is also a fairy tale to be clear. This is the most globally “representative” system ever, if for no other reason than for the existence of global mobility. Despite global border protection, if you’re determined enough you can get anywhere. Truly.

People will argue in a mealymouth way about whether any form of democracy is functional and “best of all bad systems” is typically the masters level refrain.

It’s worth thinking beyond 20th century concepts like states