By Slanted Light

Discuss.

lol! Right then...

somewhere like Stalinist Russia where everyone had a job, knew their place etc. A far more preferable place,

Yes, this is just it, isn't it. Nice and safe there, as long as you're *good* and don't say anything naughty...

I think you've answered your own questions there.

lol - I have a habit of doing that if you leave me to rabbit long enough! And especially if that comes after a 3am-night's worth of ficcing...

I've seen anarchy and I really don't like it, I think it's the worst form of tyranny

Gosh, where, if you don't mind my asking?

I'm not a supporter of anarchy either, by any means, the only "worse" thing I can imagine is the complete opposite, imprisonment. And having lived over here for a while, and having to deal with the so-called medical system here I am an even bigger supporter of the NHS/welfare state than when I left. No matter what else, the comfort of being unquestioningly looked after when I broke my arm in the UK was worth every little law I ever had to obey over there, and every penny I've paid in tax and NI - especially compared to the worry and uncertainty of the same experience (other arm!) over here, even long after my arm had healed!

I don't have the bravery or energy for anarchy, where the weakest really are left to go to the wall

I certainly don't believe in the "strongest survives" ideal either - its strong only in one sense, and ultimately can't do anyone any good. What's the use in being strong and alive, if that's all you are..?

It really *is* a jungle out there: earthquakes, tsunamis, civil wars, famines, corrupt governments

True. And there seems to have been alot of that going on lately. Nice to be protected from it. But I don't want to be too protected, I suppose - and I can say that only because I am of course.

That's what I love about Alaska actually, the jungle is right here all around me, and perhaps that's nice and easy to see. To know what you're fighting. You really do have to be alert to it all, to the world. And at the same time, I do have my cosy cabin...

Have you seen a series called "Northern Exposure"? There's an ep where one of the characters is finally caught, having been stealing people's radios for weeks. The year before, in springtime, he stole hairdryers, the year before.. etc. When asked why he did it, he says: Wildness, Ed! Wildness. We're running out of it, man. Even up here in Alaska, people need to be reminded that the world is unsafe and unpredictable. And at the drop of a hat, they could lose everything, man. Just like that. You couldn't predict that. I do it to remind them that chaos is out there and he's lurking beyond the horizon. That's why. Well, that and . . . sometimes, Ed, sometimes, you just gotta do something bad just to know you're alive.

But we shouldn't forget that for everything we have, we are only cushioned, not immune...

then we have a revolution and do away with it

ah, revolution *blinks owlishly at pictures of Blair and Bush, and then shakes head*. Its true, I do think that this is the best system we've got at the moment (note the idealistic streak of "at the moment"!). After a little more research, I might throw in proportional representation, and compulsory voting, as "we" have over in Australia. But I will back the British system over many, many others. And its easy to forget sometimes that its taken thousands of people, trialing and testing it - some with their lives - to get it this close to perfect. Its not just someone's whim that we have these specific rules, not as it would be in a different sort of government, our parents parents parents were involved in the making and forging of them. Just as we are involved in the same process now of course.

Um, sorry sir, what was the question?!