why is the world run by idiots?
- Thread starter White_Hawk
- Start date
Recommended Videos
The world is not run by idiots. It's run by psychopaths- the people with the fake charisma to get in places of power, and the emotionlessness required to stab anyone in the back who disagrees with them, or to make decisions that benefit only one person- themselves. (And when I say only one person, think a CEO draining his company and the land dry.)
World leaders sure as hell aren't idiots. They make mistakes, but they're well into the smart end of the spectrum (uh, not universally, but as a broad trend). But the usual route to power does require skills not necessarily related to the effective use of that power.
Also, they know a lot more about the decisions they're making than you. We common folk don't have access to the same information.
Also, they know a lot more about the decisions they're making than you. We common folk don't have access to the same information.
Partially because people are dumb, partially because we can't see the future and thus make bad decisions that look good, partially because the general public doesn't have a lot of knowledge about what's actually happening in politics and thus judge based on little information. (Just look at how many people think the president can make laws).
EDIT: also, partially because, at least in the US, the cultural climate is to be very adversarial to the government.
EDIT: also, partially because, at least in the US, the cultural climate is to be very adversarial to the government.
The answer is far more terrifying then you ever imagined: It's not. Leaders of the world are by and large fairly rational, intelligent individuals. All the screwed up stuff in the world? That was done by some of our best and brightest. The world is just so blindly indifferent, and people acting in rational self interest is just so counterproductive to our larger goals that merely "Quite intelligent" leadership has landed us where we are.
Yeah...ponder that. And then join me as I run screaming in terror into the night.
Yeah...ponder that. And then join me as I run screaming in terror into the night.
Why do blackjack dealers keep giving me shitty cards? Why does this coin lands heads up? Why does this magic 8 ball say try again later?White_Hawk said:
In politics, the economy, shit like that, there are billions upon billions of factors that go into each and every result. There is no right course of action. There is never a right course of action.
Just cards, coins, and novelty toys.
More power = more temptation. Lust and greed are two things that are easier and easier to give into. World leaders are not immune to human failings but in fact are more susceptible.
Eventually everyone falls given enough enticement. No man is perfect.
Funny thing, most politicians nowadays have never held a real job or worked for their money. Most of them have had things handed to them, gone to prestigious colleges, done things most ordinary citizens have never had the chance to. Its another version of the noble class.
Hence why they're so out of touch with the common man.
Eventually everyone falls given enough enticement. No man is perfect.
Funny thing, most politicians nowadays have never held a real job or worked for their money. Most of them have had things handed to them, gone to prestigious colleges, done things most ordinary citizens have never had the chance to. Its another version of the noble class.
Hence why they're so out of touch with the common man.
And what exactly are you doing? It's run by the smartest people in the world who want the job. Just not many people want the job, and are prepared to commit their lives to doing it, only to be called idiots by millions of others, most of whom can't even be bothered to vote.
If anyone here thinks they could do a better job, then I guess the only question is... why don't you try to change things? 
I just think it is no use complaining when nothing is being done about it. I bet it is a much harder job than anyone here actually thinks it is anyway.
I just think it is no use complaining when nothing is being done about it. I bet it is a much harder job than anyone here actually thinks it is anyway.
You basically got it in one here, really. I couldn't have put it better myself.floppylobster said:
Because they are not idiots. Quite the opposite in fact. I'm speaking for American leaders since I'm an American though. Mainly it's a huge system that was primarily designed to fail and to give almost full if not full, control to the 5 banking financiers of the world. Voting, democracy and such is just a ruse to make us think that we have some sort of choice.
I feel there is a quote from somwhere which goes a bit like this; ''Those who want to be kings, should not be kings, but those who does not want to be kings, should be kings. ''
I have probably failed at the quote, but it's something along those lines
I have probably failed at the quote, but it's something along those lines
Actually there was a study done that shown people with power have the same brain chemistry as those that are sociopaths. These people literally cannot empathize with people that do not have power and/or money, as they see them as lessers. I wish I could cite the source but I don't remember where I read it.
They aren't stupid, it's just that their incentives are often messed up.
Take the basic question of government efficiency. That is, the amount they accomplish per dollar taxed. You might think this was rather uncontroversial. Everyone wants the government to be efficient right?
Well let's say a politician goes all out on efficiency. What does this mean for civil servants? They have to do more work with less wages. Some might get laid off. Others have their lunch breaks cut from three hours to one. They are not going to like it and they will be sure to vote against the man responsible. And there are a lot of civil servants.
Meanwhile, the rest of us take an extremely skeptical view of the politicians' claims about increased efficiency and probably won't support him with extra votes.
Take the basic question of government efficiency. That is, the amount they accomplish per dollar taxed. You might think this was rather uncontroversial. Everyone wants the government to be efficient right?
Well let's say a politician goes all out on efficiency. What does this mean for civil servants? They have to do more work with less wages. Some might get laid off. Others have their lunch breaks cut from three hours to one. They are not going to like it and they will be sure to vote against the man responsible. And there are a lot of civil servants.
Meanwhile, the rest of us take an extremely skeptical view of the politicians' claims about increased efficiency and probably won't support him with extra votes.