Gerontocracy A gerontocracy is a form of oligarchical rule in which an entity is ruled by leaders who are significantly older than most of the adult population. The ancient Greeks were among the first to believe in this idea of gerontocracies, as famously stated by Plato, "it is for the elder man to rule and for the younger to submit".[1] However, these beliefs are not unique to ancient Greece, as many cultures still subscribe to this way of thinking. Often these political structures are such that political power within the ruling class accumulates with age, making the oldest the holders of the most power. Those holding the most power may not be in formal leadership positions, but often dominate those who are. In a simplified definition, a gerontocracy is a society where leadership is reserved for elders.[2] The best example of this can be seen in the ancient Greek city state of Sparta, which was ruled by a Gerousia. In various political systems[edit] In the USSR[edit] Theocracy[edit] Fiction[edit]
Bernie Sanders: they are "Hell bent on destroying the middle class and creating an Oligarchy" Crossposted at The Progressive Electorate.com More from Bernie Sanders . . . (T)he truth is that working families have been experiencing a decline for decades. During the Bush years alone, from 2000-2008, median family income dropped by nearly $2,200 and millions lost their health insurance. Bold text and italics added by the diarist The average two-wage-earner family has less disposable income than a one-wage-earner family did a generation ago. And, as Bernie Sanders so points out, the richest 400 families in America are richer than ever. Now, I would argue that we already have an Oligarchy now, but certainly Bernie Sanders is already aware of that. So what happens when a few people have more money than medium sized countries? From Forbes.com, where Billionaires are applauded as the Randian heroes they imagine themselves to be. George Lucas? Here is yourTop Ten wealthiest plutocrats in America circa 2009 That is why I have introduced the Responsible Estate Tax Act (S.3533).
Demeny voting Demeny voting is the provision of a political voice for children by allowing parents or guardians to vote on their behalf. The term was coined by Warren C. Sanderson in 2007.[1] Under a Demeny voting system, each parent would cast a proxy vote, worth half a vote, for each of their dependent children, thus allowing for a split vote if the parents' political views differ. History[edit] Demeny voting is named after demographer Paul Demeny, who came up with the idea in 1986. The idea, however, is older than Demeny's idea; it was regularly discussed in France in the 1920s and was almost adopted by the National Assembly.[3][4] In Germany the idea was even first discussed in the 1910s.[5] In the 1970s and the 1980s lawyers and political scientists began a discussion which is still going on. Japan has discussed Demeny voting as a possible answer to its aging population, which gives disproportionate voice to the elderly as a result of their increasing numbers. Advantages[edit] Disadvantages[edit]
Elysium (film) The film takes place on both a ravaged Earth, and a luxurious space habitat called Elysium.[5] It explores political and sociological themes such as immigration, overpopulation, health care, exploitation, the justice system, and class issues.[6] In 2154, a minute number of people reside on a luxurious space habitat called Elysium and the vast majority on an overpopulated and devastated Earth. While those on Earth are policed by ruthless robots, Elysium's citizens live in absolute comfort and regularly use medical devices called Med-Bays to cure any disease and injury. Max Da Costa (Matt Damon), a former car thief, and now a parolee, lives in the ruins of Los Angeles and works at an assembly line for Armadyne Corp, a company which supplies Elysian weaponry as well as the robots which police Earth. Spider agrees to get Max to Elysium if he steals financial information from Carlyle. To assist him, Spider's doctors surgically attach a powered exoskeleton to Max.
tton Candy USB stick turns any flatscreen television into a working computer By Rob Waugh Published: 12:54 GMT, 15 May 2012 | Updated: 13:22 GMT, 15 May 2012 The computer of the future could be a tiny pocket-sized stick that you simply plug into the back of any flatscreen television. The Cotton Candy USB stick turns any television into a fully functioning computer armed with the Android operating system, HD games and word processing via Google Documents. The price for the Cotton Candy hasn't been set yet - but it will be 'well under $200/£125', its makers promise. The tiny computer weighs just 21g and can run Ubuntu - a free operating system similar to Windows - or versions of Android, bringing video, gaming and word processing to any TV All you need is a suitable wireless keyboard and mouse, and it will function much as a desktop PC. ‘We believe that we’ve got a market changer on our hands,’ says Borgar Ljosland, CEO and founder of Norwegian makers FXI. Unlike the similar Raspberry Pi stick-computer, the Cotton Candy won't require advanced programming skills.
Iron law of oligarchy History[edit] In 1911 Robert Michels argued that paradoxically the socialist parties of Europe, despite their democratic ideology and provisions for mass participation, seemed to be dominated by their leaders, just like traditional conservative parties. Michels' conclusion was that the problem lay in the very nature of organizations. The more liberal and democratic modern era allowed the formation of organizations with innovative and revolutionary goals, but as such organizations become more complex, they became less and less democratic and revolutionary. Michels formulated the "Iron Law of Oligarchy": "Who says organization, says oligarchy. At the time Michels formulated his Law, he was an anarcho-syndicalist.[3] He later became an important ideologue of Benito Mussolini's fascist regime in Italy, teaching economics at the University of Perugia.[4][5] Reasons[edit] Michels stressed several factors that underlie the Iron Law of Oligarchy. Implications[edit] Examples and exceptions[edit]
Smart tips to make life easier | Xaxor Posted on February 24, 2012 in Humor If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed or follow us on Facebook or Twitter . Thanks for visiting! Rate this Post (16 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading... So...
Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism Background[edit] The term "oligarchical collectivism" refers not only to the Party's ideology of Ingsoc (English Socialism) but also to the ideologies of the other two states (Neo-Bolshevism in Eurasia; in Eastasia, "Death Worship" or "Obliteration of the Self"). Winston reads two long excerpts establishing[2] how the three totalitarian super-states – Oceania, Eastasia, and Eurasia – emerged from a global war, thus connecting the past and the present, and explains the basic political philosophy of the totalitarianism that derived from the authoritarian political tendencies manifested in the first part of the twentieth century. That the three "opposing" ideologies are functionally identical is central to the revelations of The Book.[original research?] Contents[edit] Chapter I[edit] Ian Slater writes that Goldstein goes beyond George Orwell's beliefs in earlier work, such as A Clergyman's Daughter, in which the Middle makes a pretence of believing in equality. Chapter III[edit] Author[edit]
World Map, Online Maps, Satellite Maps - National Geographic Skip to this page's content National Geographic Society P.O. Box 98199 Washington, DC 20090-8199 USA Sign In Join Search National Geographic Search NationalGeographic.com Search Video Connect: Current Issue April 2014 Table of Contents » MapMachine Satellite, street maps and more in our online atlas. Close Email This Map to a Friend Please enter your name and your friend's email Your Name Message (optional) Friend's Email Your email has been sent. 6000 miles © 2014 Microsoft Corporation © 2010 NAVTEQ Road Aerial Bird's eye Labels Bing Maps 3D has finished updating data More From National Geographic America's Best Adventures Browse the 50 best American adventures on a map of the U.S. TOPO! Browse and download topo maps and trails from our new recreation database. My Shot Maps Explore the world through the eyes of our My Shot members. Subscriptions Home Delivery
The Case Against Libertarian Paternalism The Manipulation of Choice: Ethics and Libertarian Paternalism, by Mark D. White, Palgrave Macmillian, 150 pages, $19.98. Selling a big gulp Dr. Pepper can land you in court, but a Diet Coke is just fine? That would have been the law of the Big Apple had Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s now kyboshed attempt to “nudge” New Yorkers away from sugary drinks been successful. Then Justice Milton Tingling struck down the initiative as arbitrary and capricious, and New Yorkers danced in Union Square to celebrate the right to drink what they want. But there is more wrong with Nanny Bloomberg’s nudge than its restrictions on New Yorkers' freedom to hype up on two liters of Peach Snapple. The moral certitude that even the most progressive New Yorkers felt about Bloomberg’s limits on the size and location of “unhealthy drinks” was palpable in the days before the law was set to take effect. Find this and hundreds of other interesting books at the Reason Shop, powered by Amazon.
Angel Moroni The Angel Moroni (/moʊˈroʊnaɪ/[1]) is, in Mormonism, an angel that visited Joseph Smith on numerous occasions, beginning on September 21, 1823. According to Smith, the angel was the guardian of the golden plates, which Latter Day Saints believe were the source material for the Book of Mormon, buried in a hill near Smith's home in western New York. Moroni is an important figure in the theology of the Latter Day Saint movement, and is featured prominently in Mormon architecture and art. Three Witnesses besides Smith also reported that they saw Moroni in visions in 1829, as did several other witnesses who each said they had their own vision. Angel's name and identity[edit] There have been two conflicting accounts as to the name of the angel. "Question 4th. "Answer. Description[edit] Descriptions of the angel Moroni vary. Appearances to Joseph Smith and others[edit] The angel Moroni delivering the plates of the Book of Mormon to Joseph Smith. Mortal life of Moroni the prophet[edit] Torleif S.
Liberal Fascism Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning is a book by conservative Jonah Goldberg on the origins and nature of fascist movements. Published in January 2008, it reached #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list of hardcover non-fiction in its seventh week on the list.[1] Goldberg is a conservative syndicated columnist and the editor-at-large of National Review Online. Summary of contents[edit] In the book, Goldberg argues that fascist movements were and are left-wing. He claims that both modern liberalism and fascism descended from progressivism, and that prior to World War II, "fascism was widely viewed as a progressive social movement with many liberal and left-wing adherents in Europe and the United States".[2] Origin of title and cover[edit] Reception[edit] Positive reviews[edit] A review in the Claremont Review of Books said: Author David Pryce-Jones, a colleague of Goldberg's at National Review, wrote, Mr. Negative reviews[edit]