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tarav 
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 Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 1:47 pm Post subject: political life on Earth
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In chapter 22, Sagan discusses the idea that, "...political life on Earth is about to settle into some rock-stable liberal democratic world government...". Do you believe that all countries will eventually adopt a liberal democratic government? Do you think that this would be a desirable state of affairs?
Edited by: tarav at: 9/2/04 9:49 pm
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MichaelangeloGlossolalia
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| Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 2:39 pm Post subject: Re: political life on Earth
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Depends on the consequences of countries NOT developing a democratic process. A lot of people believe the USSR collapsed because its system of government and economy was unnatural and couldn't compete with the "fitter" democratic capitalist countries.
I do think decentralization of power will be a major movement in this century, because of the clumsiness of bureaucracies and the spread of information. Centralized authority maintains its mystique through secrecy and hoarding of connections, but distribution of information renders much of that mystique impossible to maintain. Once "the masses" get it into their heads that they can be as smart as those in power, centralized authority has trouble keeping outsiders out and insiders in.
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ZachSylvanus
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| Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 11:01 pm Post subject: Governance
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| I think if anything proves that Sagan's statement is coming true, it's the presence of the EU. Not only has the EU united what has historically been a hotbed of political border-change and extremely nationalistic sovereign countries, but it's also rapidly expanding, to the benefit of a stronger European economy. |
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RickU
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| Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 1:26 am Post subject: Re: Governance
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Quote:
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In addition to this, I think the speed of it has to do with how successful the EU is in expanding and in competition with the US and the burgeoning China. It will take MUCH longer IMO if France and Germany or, for that matter, any of the founding EU members decide that they will be the "head" state or states for the EU... |
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