Who You Calling an Idiot?

“Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.” – Mark Twain

Idiot was actually created to refer to someone who declined to take part in public life, such as the democratic government of the polis (city state), such as the Athenian Democracy. Back then, citizen input was recognized by the government, and therefore it was honorable to take part, and dishonorable to ignore your civic duties. “Idiots” were seen as having bad judgment in public and political matters. Over time, the term “idiot” shifted away from its original connotation of selfishness and came to refer to individuals with overall bad judgment – individuals who are “stupid.”

The band Green Day wrote a song titled “American Idiot,” in which they sing of propaganda, paranoia and “the red neck agenda,” they also berate the media extensively.The word “idiot” has a few different definitions, but it usually describes a person of subnormal intelligence.

The term belongs to a classification system (of retarded people) no longer in use and is now considered offensive.

In the last presidential election (2004) 64% of eligible Americans cast a ballot. From 1960 to 1995 an average of 54% of eligible voters made it to the polls.

Does that mean from 1960 to 1995 46% of Americans were idiots? And on November 2nd of 2004 36% of Americans were idiots? Most definitely not.

I always think heavily on this, but in the current system… democracy is an illusion.

There are several reasons why people do not vote, one very prominent one is the belief that voting does not matter.

There are several reasons why voting would not matter, one of which would require idiots to vote.

How can someone vote and still be an idiot? Are they not participating in the Polis? They are performing their civic duty by giving their input.

But how many people that cast a ballot are actually knowledgeable on the issues they are voting on?

Where do we get the information to make our decisions? We get a pamphlet in the mail, we can look up the propositions on the internet, we can talk to other people…

However, it is much easier to vote down party lines or to regurgitate what the pundits on CNN, Fox News, or NBC have said at the polls.

Discourse, Reason, Logic – those are the requirements for a citizenry to have an impact on government (and should be the pillars of every government).

We can not reason with the television, we can only listen.

“The well-informed citizenry is in danger of becoming the well-amused audience.” – The Assault on Reason.

So there is the idiot that declines his public duties. And there is the idiot that votes without knowing what he votes for.

This country is run by smart people who take advantage of the idiots.

Only Officer Charged in Abu Ghraib – Acquitted

A military court cleared lieut. Colonel Steven Jordan, 49, the only officer to go to trial for abuses at Abu Ghraib, of all responsibility for the events, leaving the harshest punishments to low-ranking soldiers. The former director of the prison’s interrogation center and the last of 12 to be tried, Jordan was found guilty on one count of disobeying an order not to discuss the investigation, for which he faces a maximum of five years in prison. “After today,” said Jordan, “I hope the wounds of Abu Ghraib can start to heal.

this came from Time Magazine (September 10, 2007 )

the man allowed the Torture of prisoners, in a fashion that was deemed illegal, but he is not held responsible. the military court says it is not his fault that the people he was commanding did something wrong. what is the definition of Responsibility? does not the military pride itself on respect, honor, and following orders? those soldiers that performed human rights violations were Under Orders from someone… probably not even Col. Jordan, probably from someone higher up, but protecting the people in Power has become commonplace, not just in this current administration, but in American politics.

the worst thing is the one crime he was convicted of was “Discussing the investigation.” the military does Not want a legitimate investigation. and in order to make sure the no future officers participate in justice, they are going to put this officer in prison. Justice will stay blind.

Jordan said he had nothing to do with the torture of prisoners. if he had admitted, he would have been convicted of it…. maybe.

i still can not believe that he was guilty of “discussing the investigation.”

Gross.