Who Is Accountable?

skywalker · 06-09-2002, 06:08 PM

Are the people who live in any given nation responsible or accountable for their governments actions?

Your thoughts requested.

Mark

SomeGuy · 06-09-2002, 06:12 PM

No.They can't control their government.It is'nt fair for them to be hated for what their government is doing.(personally I like all nationalities!

) Sometimes I wish that the government should let the people decide,but that would take way to long for all the people that can cote to send in there decision.

06-09-2002, 06:14 PM

of course not - accountability goes UP The chain of command, not down

apart from your vote you have no control

johnny · 06-09-2002, 06:16 PM

simple, ofcourse not.

Aelia Jusa · 06-09-2002, 06:17 PM

That's an interesting question when you consider it in terms of terrorism - acts of terror are classified thus because they are against innocent people - but if said people can be held responsible for their government's actions then are they still innocent? For example, one could say that the Americans in the WTC voted for their government, which bin Laden's organisation was 'protesting' against, so therefore they were legitimate targets of attack because they espoused what their government was doing, as opposed to innocent civilians (I don't say this, mind, just making a comment

).

But I think unless you have a true democracy, where every action the government takes is voted on by all the people, then you can't say that the citizens of that nation are responsible for what their government does.

SomeGuy · 06-09-2002, 06:18 PM

I hope this topic does'nt go off topic........ [img]graemlins/idontagreeatall.gif[/img]

skywalker · 06-09-2002, 06:19 PM

But, don't governments often say what they do is the will of the people?

Mark

skywalker · 06-09-2002, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SomeGuy:
I hope this topic does'nt go off topic........ [img]graemlins/idontagreeatall.gif[/img]

Hey..don't they all?

Mark

Ar-Cunin · 06-09-2002, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by skywalker:
But, don't governments often say what they do is the will of the people?

Mark

That is because they have been elected by the people and therefore can say that they have a mandate from a majority of the voters to act the way they do

Aelia Jusa · 06-09-2002, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by skywalker:
But, don't governments often say what they do is the will of the people?

Well then is it only those who voted for the government accountable? If you voted for the opposition who didn't get in (or not at all), are you not responsible then?

[ 06-09-2002, 06:27 PM: Message edited by: Aelia Jusa ]

06-09-2002, 06:12 PM	#2
SomeGuy Unicorn Join Date: May 14, 2002 Location: Oklahoma, USA Age: 34 Posts: 4,238	No.They can't control their government.It is'nt fair for them to be hated for what their government is doing.(personally I like all nationalities! ) Sometimes I wish that the government should let the people decide,but that would take way to long for all the people that can cote to send in there decision. __________________ \"I firmly believe that any man\'s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.\"<br />-Vince Lombardi

06-09-2002, 06:16 PM	#4
johnny 40th Level Warrior Join Date: April 15, 2002 Location: Utrecht The Netherlands Age: 59 Posts: 16,981	simple, ofcourse not. __________________

06-09-2002, 06:17 PM	#5
Aelia Jusa Iron Throne Cult Join Date: August 23, 2001 Location: Brisbane, Australia Age: 44 Posts: 4,867	That's an interesting question when you consider it in terms of terrorism - acts of terror are classified thus because they are against innocent people - but if said people can be held responsible for their government's actions then are they still innocent? For example, one could say that the Americans in the WTC voted for their government, which bin Laden's organisation was 'protesting' against, so therefore they were legitimate targets of attack because they espoused what their government was doing, as opposed to innocent civilians (I don't say this, mind, just making a comment ). But I think unless you have a true democracy, where every action the government takes is voted on by all the people, then you can't say that the citizens of that nation are responsible for what their government does. __________________

06-09-2002, 06:18 PM	#6
SomeGuy Unicorn Join Date: May 14, 2002 Location: Oklahoma, USA Age: 34 Posts: 4,238	I hope this topic does'nt go off topic........ [img]graemlins/idontagreeatall.gif[/img] __________________ \"I firmly believe that any man\'s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.\"<br />-Vince Lombardi

06-09-2002, 06:08 PM	#1
skywalker Banned User Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: VT, USA Age: 64 Posts: 3,097	Are the people who live in any given nation responsible or accountable for their governments actions? Your thoughts requested. Mark

06-09-2002, 06:14 PM	#3
Lord Shield Guest Posts: n/a	of course not - accountability goes UP The chain of command, not down apart from your vote you have no control

06-09-2002, 06:19 PM	#7
skywalker Banned User Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: VT, USA Age: 64 Posts: 3,097	But, don't governments often say what they do is the will of the people? Mark

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