Amalgamation

[danbrotherston]

The cynicism is in saying that NOBODY (neighbours, friends, colleagues would all be in that group) cares about your interests. You lead a sad anti-social life if you believe every person you meet is against you. But now it seems you try to reposition your statement, saying you aren't assuming that of your "close friends", but you have reason to be wary of "corporations and government".

As for government or big business, I explicitly said to be wary of them. But also to understand their motives and how and when they align with yours. Your implication that I suggested that you should not be wary of governments and corporations is...frankly a lie.

As for social media, I've already explained how it is impossible to opt out of the existence of large corporations. I can do nothing about your unwillingness to face that reality.

As for state power, I fully understand the dangers, which is why I fight for democracy...rather than dismiss it.

You're kinda all over the place, earlier you literally said you absolutely feel the government has your best interest at heart - are you referring to this current federal government or really any that comes to power? In any case I indicated that that is the fundamental difference between you and I, and that I cannot really fathom even meeting such a person, but alas they do exist

Since you mentioned it though and got personal, I have a great family life with lots of friends, and get along well with colleagues, and I still think we are our own individual selves with accountabilites and interests, and should ensure our own interests are met first - that's not cynicism

In the end I think it's pretty clear what your values are and what mine are - there's no need to delve further

Here's what I said about government....

As for the government, they absolutely have my interests at heart...that isn't to say that my interests aren't competing with many MANY other interests, some of which, I feel are prioritized far too much.

It is absolutely in line with everything I've said before, and it is absolutely objectively correct.

And this is true for most governments, most democratic governments anyway. Yes, the liberals (who I did not vote for, I'm sure you'll be shocked to hear), and the provincial PC government. Yes, the Ford government, which I despise...still does have what they feel is my best interests at heart. Ford, in all his infinite corruption, still is angry when homebuilders he gives land too aren't going to build homes and are instead doing a corruption. He is fighting hard to give me more highways (which I don't want, but he thinks I need). Etc. etc.

And yes, my interests are a tiny tiny too small fraction of the motivations that both Ford and Trudeau use which are otherwise largely captured by wealthy interests, but they still exist.

You can see how this works at a local level. Understanding how you can influence politicians to do more of what you want is key to actually getting shit done. You think the ION and the bike network just happened. It took years and years of advocacy from people like me and others here to actually make these things happen. That works because the politicians do respond to our interests.




As for your colleagues and neighbours...you are the one who is all over the place. You said, unequivocally, that you felt they did not have your interests in mind (and presumably you act in kind). Now you say you get along well with them. Do you perhaps mean, you ignore them and don't interact with them unless you want something for yourself? That is a kind of "getting along" but it isn't a social interaction.