Idea sells it's mobile service using democracy as a recurring theme in a series of ads being shown on TV in India. It shows people in certain situations not being able to decide what to do and taking an instant sms poll using their cellphones. The final decision is whatever the majority decides.
One advt. has a pretty girl who is bumped by a street hooligan and when she objects, he says he can do whatever because this is a democracy. Then she polls using her cell (I assume her friends) giving commando or Gandhi (show the other cheek) as options and when majority says commando -she gives him a commando style kick.
Now the problem with this is the same as problem with democracy- what if their was a third option- lets say slit his throat. Would she have done it just because the majority decided that it was what the hooligan deserved?
Instead wouldn't it be better to have a system where the mob or the majority does not have the power to decide the fate of the individual (the smallest minority) and instead certain principles governed the interaction between individuals. Situations like the one in the ad and in a democracy where individual rights are crushed by the majority should not be allowed to take place. Such a system to prevent these from happening does exist- it is called a republic.
Read the following definition from Ayn Rand Lexicon- The American system is not a democracy. It is a constitutional republic. A democracy, if you attach meaning to terms, is a system of unlimited majority rule . . . a form of collectivism, which denies individual rights . . . . The American system is a constitutionally limited republic, restricted to the protection of individual rights. In such a system, majority rule is applicable only to lesser details, such as the selection of certain personnel. But the majority has no say over the basic principles governing the government. It has no power to ask for or gain the infringement of individual rights.
Leonard Peikoff, “The Philosophy of Objectivism” lecture series (1976), Lecture 9.
Click here to hear Yaron Brook talk about democracy. (via rationalpassion)
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Delhi government's anti-business ban on plastic bags
Couple of days back I saw a notice posted at our local grocery store saying "please get your own bags" beginning the start of the plastic bag ban. It will make things very difficult for retailers and will have a negative effect on the sales.
The environmentalist win another round in their battle at the local level against progress, business, lively hoods, families, children' pocket money, happiness and mankind in general.
Read the post on a similar ban in a US city. http://sparkasynapse.blogspot.com/2009/02/plastic-bags-illegal.html
The environmentalist win another round in their battle at the local level against progress, business, lively hoods, families, children' pocket money, happiness and mankind in general.
Read the post on a similar ban in a US city. http://sparkasynapse.blogspot.com/2009/02/plastic-bags-illegal.html
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Women in the special forces?
I posted this on http://www.strategypage.com/ Armed Forces of the World Discussion Board on role of women in special forces.
Just tune out the politically correct gene and see who would be the best suited to protect your family, friends and country. In purely physical terms no average women can come close to an average man and even if some exceptional ones do then there are way too many complications and I am not even talking about the mental toughness part yet.
Combat has been and will always be a man's domain and armies who ignore this reality will pay for it dearly at the cost of weakening their armies. Women can be used in other roles which don't require direct physical confrontation like they did during WW-II where without their contributions in manufacturing (making planes and bombs etc.), spotting targets using aerial pics etc. it would have been near impossible to win the war.
People back then understood how to use the resources and allocating them where they were best suited. They were smart people who rescued the world from Nazis- lets not weaken our war with the new Nazis and lets for their and future generations sake and most importantly for our present generation's sake- go give them hell without loosing focus.
I have talked about the Israeli situation on a new post "debunking israeli women-in-combat myth.
Just tune out the politically correct gene and see who would be the best suited to protect your family, friends and country. In purely physical terms no average women can come close to an average man and even if some exceptional ones do then there are way too many complications and I am not even talking about the mental toughness part yet.
Combat has been and will always be a man's domain and armies who ignore this reality will pay for it dearly at the cost of weakening their armies. Women can be used in other roles which don't require direct physical confrontation like they did during WW-II where without their contributions in manufacturing (making planes and bombs etc.), spotting targets using aerial pics etc. it would have been near impossible to win the war.
People back then understood how to use the resources and allocating them where they were best suited. They were smart people who rescued the world from Nazis- lets not weaken our war with the new Nazis and lets for their and future generations sake and most importantly for our present generation's sake- go give them hell without loosing focus.
I have talked about the Israeli situation on a new post "debunking israeli women-in-combat myth.
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