In regard to Paul's arguments below, I would like to point out that he
hasn't yet answered my arguments about the contingency of his own position,
as opposed to his belief that he comes from somewhere outside of time and
space. Until he does so, how does he expect me to take him seriously?
Graham Gardner
>1. Argument for emancipation is not a substitute for emancipation.
>
>2. The freedom to organise for emancipation is not a substitute for
emancipation.
>
>3. A discourse of equality is not a substitute for equality.
>
>4. Forming organisations can not substitute for justice or the Good.
>
>5. The freedom of the starving, to voice their own request for food, is
not a
>substitute for food. The beggar's right to speak can never compensate for the
>necessity to beg.
>
>6. 'Tools of struggle' are never a substitute for political change.
>
>7. The right to challenge the powerful is not power itself.
>
>8. If I could 'block the powerful' then by definition I would be the
political
>power-holder: but democracy confers no such power on me.
>
>
>The political liberties of democracy do not legitimise it: that would be a
>simple error of logic. What you are saying, ultimately, is that democracy is
>democratic, that democracies have democratic processes. That is of course
>true: but it is no reason to accept democracy, let alone be thankful for it.
>
>What has monarchy done for you? Given you a legitimate descent of the
monarch,
>at least the present one in England. Is that sufficient to justify monarchy
>against alternative political systems? For centuries people believed it was.
>
>You believe in democracy, that is obvious. But you should not rationally
>expect me to share your belief, if you can quote nothing in defence of
>democracy, other than to say it is democratic.
>
>
>
>--
>Paul Treanor
>http://web.inter.nl.net/users/Paul.Treanor/dem.wrong.html
>
>
Graham Gardner
Institute of Geography & Earth Sciences
University of Wales
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
SY23 3DB
Wales
UK
Tel: 0044 (0)1970 622606
Fax: 0044 (0)1970 622659
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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