Damn lies and statistics Wrecker. 70% of people who buy papers (and that is a declining percentage of the population) may buy a Murdoch tabloid paper operating in a monopoly market. Murdoch's tabloids play to the least educated part of the market to maximise sales and political influence. He feeds them his view of the world and some of them may believe it and you declare that as power to the people!! Give me a break.

we all know that the people never have power earl. would be quite unseemly as someone of your standing surely understands.

sometimes the people are given the illusion of power as a pacifier or aphrodisiac

we all know that the people never have power earl. would be quite unseemly as someone of your standing surely understands.

sometimes the people are given the illusion of power as a pacifier or aphrodisiac

so democracy is an illusion after all?

so democracy is an illusion after all?

I would have thought democracy ends with the vote (which in itself being compulsory makes that debatable)... after that it is the mandate that rules; demandocracy?.

so democracy is an illusion after all?

i just knew you'd work that out d-l

sometimes the people are given the illusion of power as a pacifier or aphrodisiac

Too true daisy.

I don't even barrack for Melbourne - I'm only here for the 'moderators' job and the chance to be superior to the rest of you.

Too true daisy.

I don't even barrack for Melbourne - I'm only here for the 'moderators' job and the chance to be superior to the rest of you.

If you don't barrack for Melbourne you are already superior to all of us.

I would have thought democracy ends with the vote (which in itself being compulsory makes that debatable)... after that it is the mandate that rules; demandocracy?.

only because people are apathetic, & don't act on their wishes, except at the ballots.

... enter Organizations like https://www.change.org/.... & we are up & about.

because when the people can be informed of whats happening under our noses, we can unite with the help of the internet & our little keyboard helpers.

I would have thought democracy ends with the vote (which in itself being compulsory makes that debatable)... after that it is the mandate that rules; demandocracy?.

the only beautpolitician that i believe has a mandate is Pyne,, he has a mandate, to go any time he wants to.

i just knew you'd work that out d-l

I had to look up the old ill-usion dc, cause I thought we had a democracy, but apparently it just

where are the right-winged shock-jockies when you need one ?

so democracy is an illusion after all?

Yes it is an illusion but to quote Churchill - "democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others". The powerful still rule but at least in a functioning democracy they have to work hard to fool the majority that what the powerful want is in everyone else's interests. Thus the need for the likes of Rupert Murdoch who plays an important role in maintaining this masquerade.

Damn lies and statistics Wrecker. 70% of people who buy papers (and that is a declining percentage of the population) may buy a Murdoch tabloid paper operating in a monopoly market. Murdoch's tabloids play to the least educated part of the market to maximise sales and political influence. He feeds them his view of the world and some of them may believe it and you declare that as power to the people!! Give me a break.

Let's talk about Victoria.

1) It is not a monopoly market

2) If it were a monopoly the great benefit of capitalism and free markets is a competitor could set up shop and compete. If they provide good content they will succeed if they provide Stalinist rubbish like The Age they will likely die

3) The Australian is by far and away the most sophisticated print journalism in the country. If you think that is playing to the lowest common denominator you probably don't understand it.

Tabloids doesn't mean the OZ wrecker! Don't you understand? Ever read the Herald Sun or the Telegraph?

Tabloids doesn't mean the OZ wrecker! Don't you understand? Ever read the Herald Sun or the Telegraph?

I'll pay that. I try to avoid reading them but the HS has the footy stats so I get it after the dees play.

so democracy is an illusion after all?

Socialism is. But you have argued with me you are not from the far left. Where do you stand on socialism?

Democracy only works when citizens are informed. In totalitarian countries the government tries to censor information, in democratic countries we are bombarded with useless information and kept distracted with bread and circuses. What new laws got passed today? What's in the TPP? Who cares! Who won the footy, what happened on The Voice - that's what's important.

In totalitarian countries state propAGANDA tells you what to think.

In capitalist countries corporate propAGENDA tells you what to think about.

As you can see by my username, for over a decade I have posted on demonland as Wrecker, which as everyone knows is (was) Whelan who came from aboriginal heritage. What you don't know is I was born in 1980 and have seen greats like Flower, Lyon, THEOX, Tingay and Neitz, however, I hold the wiz, Jeff Farmer as the greatest and most dear to me player I have seen.

I am passionate at the footy and boo where I see fit:

the umpires when we are being dealt an unfair hand

the goal umpires when they get it wrong (don't care if male or female)

Milne for his off field discretions

Eddie for always wearing the wrong hat (If I wasn't already I would boo him for his racist comments to Goodes)

Michael Long after the 2000 GF incident

Anyone who stands between Melbourne and a premiership

When I boo Adam Goodes make no mistake it is for his attack on a 13 year old girl. 17 year old boy goes to juvenile detention for rape or murder and his name is rightly surpresed. 13 year old girl, clearly from a lower socio-economic family says the wrong thing and is branded the face of racism on national tv with a follow up interview. Goodes is not completely to blame the television networks should be ashamed as well but I don't know who too boo there..

I have been thinking of this issue as i read all the associated reports on this site, in other press reports and heard the remarks on Radio and TV.

What is a boo?

exclamation

1.

said suddenly to surprise someone who is unaware of one's presence.

2.

said to show disapproval or contempt.

It is a gutteral exhalation which indicates an inability to express oneself in an articulate fashion.

I may be unusual but I do not boo as it does little to express the reason for my disapproval or contempt

I have the same issue with swearing which I use frequently. I acknowledge that I swear because I often do not have the ability in times of frustration to express myself in a rational and articulate fashion.

I always try and express my frustration or disapproval with a steam of descriptive reasoning which often includes an offensive word.

However I prefer this both from an internal purging perspective and as targeting the reason for my outburst.

I can then apologise and often do if I find that the cause of my frustration was wrong (I dislike replays sometimes)

I always say it is the intent and context of the word that is important when I am often chastised for using the F word and I remind poeple that B ugger and Ba stard were once treated with greater concern than they now are. Both are often in fact used as terms of endearment. But it is the intent which provides the meaning.

I think Goodes was genuinely upset with the continued commentary, not booing that was directed at him when he turned on the girl. He also sees his role to educate and I support him in that it is all our role to educate. I think he did meet the girl and in many interviews apologised that he had to take the action he did.

He may be a ducker. a slider , a pusher in the backer, an umpires favourite but please dont boo him for that. Dont boo the umpires dont boo anyone.

Tell them what you think they did and what you think of them. It may take longer and you may even learn something through the debate that arises, but believe me you will feel better about it and you wont be lumped in with the illiterate inarticulate and uneducated.

I'll pay that. I try to avoid reading them but the HS has the footy stats so I get it after the dees play.

don't bother wrecka, get them on the internet.

wasting resources, that should be used for Fish & Chips..

Socialism is. But you have argued with me you are not from the far left. Where do you stand on socialism?

wrong again wrecka. I've pointed out I'm not a communist ; nor Stalinistic, I've read some about him, since your kind retort, & I have an old Hungarian neighbor who tells me some things.

no I'm about as socialist as a Kevin Rudd, or a Rob Menzies.

so wrecka, what makes you turn a sentence about our nice Democracy, into an argument of your choosing & direction ?