Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai arrested
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Re: Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai arrested
#2From Wikpedia [0]: Lai was born in Guangdong, China in December 1948. At the age of 12, he entered Hong Kong as a stowaway on a boat. Upon his arrival, Lai began work as a child-laborer in a garment factory for a wage of $8 per month. ... Net worth US$1.2 billion (2008)
What an incredible character. Arresting a man like that has to be one of the most straightforward own-goals that a nation can manage.
Re: Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai arrested
#3Re: Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai arrested
#4I understand what they're getting at, I think, but "pro-democracy tycoon" has to be one of the funniest oxymorons I've seen in serious print (at least on its face).
Re: Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai arrested
#5I understand what they're getting at, I think, but "pro-democracy tycoon" has to be one of the funniest oxymorons I've seen in serious print (at least on its face).
Why is it an oxymoron?
Re: Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai arrested
#6I understand what they're getting at, I think, but "pro-democracy tycoon" has to be one of the funniest oxymorons I've seen in serious print (at least on its face).
Why is it an oxymoron?
In the US at least, many (most?) tycoons are involved with lobbying of the sort that destroys the function of democracy, even though they leave the form.
Re: Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai arrested
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why is it an oxymoron?
In the US at least, many (most?) tycoons are involved with lobbying of the sort that destroys the function of democracy, even though they leave the form.
Can you expand more how it destroys the definition of democracy:
> Democracy (Greek: δημοκρατία, dēmokratiā, from dēmos 'people' and kratos 'rule') is a form of government in which the people have the authority to choose their governing legislation. Who people are and how authority is shared among them are core issues for democratic theory, development and constitution. Some cornerstones of these issues are freedom of assembly and speech, inclusiveness and equality, membership, consent, voting, right to life and minority rights.
Democracy is more than just political lobbying.
Re: Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai arrested
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why is it an oxymoron?
In the US at least, many (most?) tycoons are involved with lobbying of the sort that destroys the function of democracy, even though they leave the form.
Being rich and successful isn't inherently evil, nor anti-democratic. Weak and corrupt governments who bend themselves to please evil people who are also rich, however, are very much a threat to democracy.
Re: Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai arrested
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
In the US at least, many (most?) tycoons are involved with lobbying of the sort that destroys the function of democracy, even though they leave the form.
Can you expand more how it destroys the definition of democracy: > Democracy (Greek: δημοκρατία, dēmokratiā, from dēmos 'people' and kratos 'rule') is a form of government in which the people have the authority to choose their governing legislation. Who people are and how authority is shared among them are core issues for democratic theory, development and constitution. Some cornerstones of these issues are freedom o…
Excessive lobbying can lead to where although people are able to vote for representatives, said representatives are likely to do what is best for them only -- taking money from lobbyists to do things that may or may not be unethical.
This leads to a situation where although you voted, you don't actually get a say in government.
Of course, this only applies to representative democracy.
Edit: see also kemonocode's response to my above comment. That's what I was trying (badly) to say.
Re: Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai arrested
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
In the US at least, many (most?) tycoons are involved with lobbying of the sort that destroys the function of democracy, even though they leave the form.
Being rich and successful isn't inherently evil, nor anti-democratic. Weak and corrupt governments who bend themselves to please evil people who are also rich, however, are very much a threat to democracy.
Well said. This is what I was trying to say, but I'm stupid.
Edit 0: I would point out: weak governments bending over backward to rich people requires rich people opposed to good governments.
Edit 1: See dbtc's comment. I removed the word evil from this comment.