"Isms".

[ZenitYerkes]

Nowadays everything is ruled by theories formed 100 years ago or more. A bunch of isms that were brought by people we consider today omniscient gods whom we venerate and die for their thoughts. We're anchored in their books, and depend on them to work. The Greeks and their philosophy, the Romans and their legal code, the Illustration and liberalism, the Founders and their freedom, Smith and capitalism, Marx and socialism, Bakunin and anarchism,...

I don't mean they're wrong, but they were in fact persons like you and me who could make their mistakes; and we have the right to also make our own theories, follow our own ideals and think by ourselves. If your thoughts coincide with other's, then join them; but don't just go with the movements you are told to follow.

I believe some people just vote what their parents voted for, or believe in what a book tells them to believe; instead of questioning what's going around them.

For example, nobody has really tested out if democracy or capitalism are actually the way to go; they just answer that the past systems didn't work either. So why don't we come up with something different instead?

[rapunzel77]

Very interesting post Zenit. We will never be completely "free" from the ideas of the past. In fact, I don't think that would be good at all. We stand on the shoulders of giants, building on what others have thought about before. However, that doesn't give us leave to let all the thinking be done and refuse to grow. We need to take from the past what is good, build it up and let it grow. Let it breathe. The worst we can do is be a "fly in amber" only looking to the past and refusing to grow. It is also wrong to destroy the past, the traditions, etc in the name of being "new" and making "progress."

I definitely agree that there needs to be an evaluation of capitalism. There should be one for communism too. We do need some new ideas or perhaps a variation on old ideas that haven't been extensively studied. Capitalism isn't the only option. Neither is communism. There are other ways.

As for as individuals, we make our beliefs our own even though they may have come from somewhere else. We choose to follow a particular philosophy, religion, political movement, etc. That is fine. It is needed. One must think for oneself instead of regurgitating the ideas/thoughts of one's parents. The key is to make it your own beliefs, etc.

[Human No More]

I certainly don't vote for what my parents vote for. They blindly vote for the same party every time, and if I ask them what their policies actually are, they aren't sure... I have changed my 'I would vote for x if it was tomorrow' 3 or 4 times in the last few months.

Democracy isn't the issue, it's the fact that we've never had democracy, we just get to select one idiot out of a group of idiots, when none of them really represent us.

As for believing things, I'm mostly lucky, my parents don't go for any of that, and I got a chance to make my own decision (despite my primary school attempting to force their beliefs on everyone ) and realised that there's nothing.

If more people considered things for themselves rather than unquestioningly believing what they're told, the world would be a much better place.

[rapunzel77]

Originally Posted by Human No More

I certainly don't vote for what my parents vote for. They blindly vote for the same party every time, and if I ask them what their policies actually are, they aren't sure... I have changed my 'I would vote for x if it was tomorrow' 3 or 4 times in the last few months.

That's basically what I do now. I have realized that I don't really have a choice of candidates.

Democracy isn't the issue, it's the fact that we've never had democracy, we just get to select one idiot out of a group of idiots, when none of them really represent us.

Very well said! This is true in just about every country now it seems. Why are we all voting for idiots? None of them represent us. None of them listen to us. I'm tired of it.

As for believing things, I'm mostly lucky, my parents don't go for any of that, and I got a chance to make my own decision (despite my primary school attempting to force their beliefs on everyone ) and realised that there's nothing.

I didn't take all of my parent's beliefs as my own. I found a system of beliefs and made them my own, in spite of some of the stuff I was taught as a kid.

If more people considered things for themselves rather than unquestioningly believing what they're told, the world would be a much better place.

Exactly! Sadly, as most of us know, most people will just blindly follow the leader, the crowd, etc without thinking for themselves .

[fkeua vrrtep]

The simple answer is , no system works , democracy/capitalism doens't nor does communism and socialism , those are just systems that have or are tested if they are profitable enough to make the rich more rich and poor more poor .

It's actually all the same , giving you the illusion of having a choice , names are the only the that change , not the systems , they basically work all the same way, exploit what there is to exploit.

And we don't come up with something different because that would probably drain power from the powerful and the rich , and I don't think that they would let that happen , ever , before they let power go from them they will pull down everything with them .

No system has apparently ever worked , which lets the question arise what system really works ?

In my oppinion no system does , that's why I'd rather choose Anarchy over any kind of system .

What is an "ism" except an expression of a belief system? We all have them, I follow Shatnerism. I'm sure you all follow your own personal isms, and that if you took the time and effort to put them down in that level of detail they'd make good writings.