Mike, the number’s not the issue. As long as n > 1, you’re all set. It’s just that two happens to be the smallest, simplest, and hence most likely number.
Robin and Eliezer—I think the argument as to whether or not current politicians are derelict in their duties is not a productive one. I’d even say that ‘duties’ is very much the wrong word. If we relied on politicians to have ‘duties’, we’d all be screwed. Of course policies are going to reflect what the public want—that’s how you attract that 2% swing vote that gets you in. The problem is the degree to which these are then carried out. Equally, I don’t think anybody would argue that for the most part, governments come in and do everything they promised to do. Funnily enough, this degree always seems to hang around the ‘what we can get away with’ mark.… No ‘dereliciton of duties’, just the normal response you’d expect from a large organisation with so many different areas. Even those noble types who genuinely want to Make A Difference end up thwarted by the massive infrastructure they find themselves in. I would even go so far as to say that over there in the States, the perceived primary role of government is to get reelected, and at least half of this revolves around Beating the Other Guy (in case you’re wondering, the other half seems to involve photo ops). Blair’s special talent was dumping on the Conservatives, and damn good at it he was too. I’d say this chimes with Eliezer’s sentiment.
Oh, and Eliezer—if this is as specific as your election posts are going to get, I’d say you have nothing to worry about!
Mike, the number’s not the issue. As long as n > 1, you’re all set. It’s just that two happens to be the smallest, simplest, and hence most likely number.
Robin and Eliezer—I think the argument as to whether or not current politicians are derelict in their duties is not a productive one. I’d even say that ‘duties’ is very much the wrong word. If we relied on politicians to have ‘duties’, we’d all be screwed. Of course policies are going to reflect what the public want—that’s how you attract that 2% swing vote that gets you in. The problem is the degree to which these are then carried out. Equally, I don’t think anybody would argue that for the most part, governments come in and do everything they promised to do. Funnily enough, this degree always seems to hang around the ‘what we can get away with’ mark.… No ‘dereliciton of duties’, just the normal response you’d expect from a large organisation with so many different areas. Even those noble types who genuinely want to Make A Difference end up thwarted by the massive infrastructure they find themselves in. I would even go so far as to say that over there in the States, the perceived primary role of government is to get reelected, and at least half of this revolves around Beating the Other Guy (in case you’re wondering, the other half seems to involve photo ops). Blair’s special talent was dumping on the Conservatives, and damn good at it he was too. I’d say this chimes with Eliezer’s sentiment.
Oh, and Eliezer—if this is as specific as your election posts are going to get, I’d say you have nothing to worry about!