Possibly the most dangerous man in the world?

[2ndRateMind]

So, Putin has come clean at the G20 summit. He thinks liberalism is obsolete, and presumably, therefore, liberal democracies. He wants populism and nationalism instead, the kind of forces that drove Hitler into power, with all the grave consequences any student of history knows only too well.

In case of any doubt:

• Liberalism = the individual is significant, and has various rights the state cannot interfere with. Essentially, the individual is free to be, think, say and do as he or she considers right, provided no harm is inflicted, without the permission of the state.
  
  Democracy = the system of government where the people choose their own leaders, and where those leaders are accountable to the people.

One can see Putin's problem with this. The idea of individual rights acts as a counterbalance to his own power, which is anathema to the organised crime system Putin has set up to govern his nation. And it is clear that Putin does not want to be accountable to anyone.

What I am more concerned about is this; do we all see the problem with populism and nationalism, and the advantages of a liberal democracy, which system may not be perfect, but is the optimum political solution we have arrived at, thus far?

Best wishes, 2RM

[2Dbunk]

[Replying to post 1 by 2ndRateMind]

Liberalism = the individual is significant, and has various rights the state cannot interfere with. Essentially, the individual is free to be, think, say and do as he or she considers right, provided no harm is inflicted, without the permission of the state.

Populists have two beefs with liberalism: political correctness and the waning plurality of white numbers. Whites have long held the upper hand in Western civilization, and the populists want to keep it that way -- give no quarter to those of color; they are to be suppressed. Political correctness is just that quarter that is given by fair minded people to those who have been taken advantage of in the past -- some payback for lost compensation, if you will. To liberal minded people, populists are pigs that obviously have no sense of fair play.

Democracy = the system of government where the people choose their own leaders, and where those leaders are accountable to the people.

At present, Democracy is floundering because there seems to be less and less fair play in politics. Today's politics is all about shouting the other side down; running for re-election; a non-stop popularity contest no longer consistent with responsible governance. Someone once said that the life of even a good democracy lasts only a couple hundred years -- there may be truth to that. Putin is counting on that! And Donald Trump is naively playing into his hands.

Putin is a true nationalist bent on restoring the glory of his beloved Soviet Union. Trump has been given cards under the table to follow suit (with his recent unabashed announcement that he is a "nationalist." Nationalism is at best a deterrent to global unification, and is, at worst, akin to Nazi Germany's efforts to control the future!

American Democracy should maybe consider the Democracies of the U.K., Germany, and France. Their Parliamentary systems allow for a dysfunctional government to be terminated and another put in its place, before conditions similar to a train wreck occurs.

[JJ50]

Putin's pal, Trump, is also dangerous, but he doesn't seem as bright as Putin, who is able to manipulate him.