I feel like growing up is realizing that the government is just a big gang. They do what they want and will enforce with menace what they want. They can change the rules, take your stuff and it ain't stealing because they said so. Sigh.

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nisegami 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

I recognized it in the opposite direction, after observing that gangs inevitably end up being quasi-states within their turf. They demonstrate almost everything I associate with statehood except for issuing their own currency. From there, the reverse (that governments are just big gangs) also flows naturally.

	▲	argomo 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		To your point: gangs of various stripes pay blood money to the families of fallen members; they also fund or support community programs to curry good favor. My takeaway though is that human societies abhor a power vacuum: no matter what my libertarian and ultraliberal friends imagine, there must be a strongman. At least with democracy, we have the opportunity to somewhat influence who that is.

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amanaplanacanal 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

On the other hand you get to vote who is in the gang. So choose wisely.

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carodgers 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

You only get two options for each vote, and there is no reason that one or both of the options would need to be aware of or be in favor of an acceptable solution to the given problem. In fact, the chance of that happening is vanishingly small.

	▲	ninkendo 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		I vote in the primaries and the general election. In the former there are a lot more than 2 options. You’re aware primaries exist, right?

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yosito 4 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

You used to get to vote. It doesn't work like that anymore.

	▲	ninkendo 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		Please explain to me how I don’t get to vote any more.

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EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Most of the people on the planet don't get to vote.

	▲	amanaplanacanal 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		Unfortunately. It looks like even 25 years ago over 50% lived in democracies, but the rise of autocracy recently is certainly depressing.