[Barry the Sprout]

Timber - read some rational choice theory, from what I understand of your views I think you'd like it anyway. But basically what it mostly says is that democracy only exists for people to put forward their various strategies for preference satisfaction. Through this equilibrium, as in a market, is found. Therefore the whole point of democracy is that people use it for their personal gain. In fact if you break down the terms in that senetence it becomes almost tautological. Check out Mancur Olson - The Logic of Collective Action. I disagree with it, but I disagree with everything! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Promethius - my point was that you had phrased something as fact when it was opinion. If you agree that was a mistake on your part then we're all fine. I did not put forward my own opinion as I don't have enough time and its quite a contraversial and long winded one. My degree is in Government and Economics, but I'm almost entirely studying political theory at present and I'm doing a Masters degree in Political philosophy next year. Basically that means studying the big texts (Plato to Nato, as we call it...), the big concepts (What is liberty, equality, etc), the application of economic models (game theory, rational choice theory, etc), and various views of the manner in which the public sector functions (public sector economics and models of bureaucracy). Its fun. No... really... hey guys come back! Its not that boring!