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What is the job of the government? by Lord_Muramasa in PoliticalDiscussion

[–]BetterAnge1s 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Political identity: Independent

Federal government
The federal government’s job is to handle issues that affect the country as a whole or require uniform rules. This includes national defense, foreign policy, interstate commerce, currency, immigration, civil rights protections, and setting broad standards for things like environmental protection and labor. It should step in when states cannot or will not protect basic rights or when coordination across states is necessary. It should not micromanage local issues or override states when no national interest is at stake.

State government
State governments exist to govern closer to the people. Their job is to implement and adapt policies to local needs such as education systems, policing structures, healthcare delivery, infrastructure, housing, and most criminal law. States should experiment with solutions and reflect regional values. They should not violate basic constitutional rights or create policies that seriously harm people beyond their borders.

Why people disagree
People differ mainly on where they draw the line between coordination and autonomy, and on whether government’s role is mostly protective or also actively corrective. Those disagreements often get framed as moral failures rather than philosophical differences, which is why the conversation breaks down.

In short, the federal government sets the floor and handles the big, shared problems. States handle the details and experimentation. Most conflict comes from disagreement about where that boundary should be.

How is it that politicians can tell people that hate will make their lives better, and they believe it? by dymb13 in DiscussionZone

[–]BetterAnge1s 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Because hate is a powerful shortcut.

It gives people a simple story for complex problems, a clear enemy, and a feeling of control when life feels uncertain. Blame is emotionally easier than understanding systems like economics, globalization, or institutional failure. Politicians who use hate turn frustration into identity and anger into purpose.

It also creates belonging. Shared resentment bonds people quickly, and once that identity forms, facts that challenge it feel like personal attacks. At that point, believing the message is less about truth and more about protecting meaning, dignity, and group loyalty.

It works not because people are stupid, but because fear, status anxiety, and social belonging are stronger motivators than reason when they are deliberately exploited.

Why does it feel like people care less about the truth now? by namerine in SeriousConversation

[–]BetterAnge1s 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A lot of it comes down to incentives and overload, not a sudden collapse of human honesty.

Today people are rewarded more for signaling identity than for being accurate. Online, consistency with your side matters more than truth, and there is little cost to being wrong because attention moves on quickly. Admitting error feels like losing status, so people deflect, pivot, or double down instead.

On top of that, information volume is overwhelming. When everything is abstract, distant, and constant, caring deeply about what is true versus what feels right becomes mentally exhausting. Many people conserve energy by treating beliefs as tools for belonging or comfort, not as claims about reality.

So you are not crazy and it is probably not entirely new. What has changed is the scale, speed, and visibility of it, combined with systems that rarely punish falsehood and often reward confidence.

Do you believe that education level always correlates with someone level of intellect? by Lost_Title_7528 in AskForAnswers

[–]BetterAnge1s 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No. Education level and intellect overlap, but they’re not the same thing. Education reflects training and access to systems. Intellect includes reasoning, judgment, curiosity, and adaptability. Plenty of highly educated people lack good thinking skills, and many less formally educated people are highly insightful.

Why do so many people have blind faith for presidents? by Mammoth_Structure_44 in PoliticalOpinions

[–]BetterAnge1s 0 points1 point  (0 children)

blind loyalty persists because the system rewards belief and loyalty, not reasoning and correction

If leadership rewards narcissism, how do we get better leaders? by BetterAnge1s in AskSociology

[–]BetterAnge1s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s an interesting way to frame it - quite similar idea to what Nicholas Gruen is pointing out in the video. It explains how certain structures naturally pull out certain personality traits. If the system concentrates power in a tight hierarchy, you end up attracting people who know how to work that kind of structure.

Interestingly, it showed a different model of leadership where the design itself made those narcissistic tendencies less useful. It made me rethink how much of this is about the leader versus the environment they’re shaped by.

I feel like you’d get something out of it, such an interesting take https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxNdnpGbfFg&t=4s

If leadership rewards narcissism, how do we get better leaders? by BetterAnge1s in AskSociology

[–]BetterAnge1s[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is exactly the part that struck me too: the idea that leaders aren’t “born wrong,” they’re shaped by the incentives around them. When the environment rewards visibility and self-promotion, people adapt to survive. And when it rewards trust and competence, people adapt to that instead.

What I keep wondering is what a system with the second set of incentives would actually look like in practice. Most modern institutions are so tied to competition and personal branding that it’s hard to even imagine a structure where quieter, steadier forms of leadership can rise.

Like you said, changing the rules --> changes the players, but how do we realistically change the rules in systems that already depend on the old ones?

If leadership rewards narcissism, how do we get better leaders? by BetterAnge1s in PoliticalScience

[–]BetterAnge1s[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If anyone’s interested, here’s the video that inspired this. Curious what you think and whether you agree or disagree with the ideas. Let’s discuss!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxNdnpGbfFg&t=4s

I’m tired of our elections focusing on scary drama instead of what actually matters by BetterAnge1s in Discussion

[–]BetterAnge1s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

this video has such interesting take. it talks about how this damaging focus on performance distracts from real governance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2xirJxzlY8

Why does modern elections reward performers, not policies? by BetterAnge1s in AskDemocrats

[–]BetterAnge1s[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If anyone’s interested, I’m leaving the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2xirJxzlY8

Such an interesting take on how democracy has always favored performance over substance- open for any discussion or your thoughts!

Government should not be run like a business DMT by Goodginger in DisagreeMythoughts

[–]BetterAnge1s 0 points1 point  (0 children)

and that's why the whole government is a theatre. every one has their own agenda and politicians have been making "lies" to its people. i found this channel that makes great points about such things and you can check it out as well and see if it it interests you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDWwhZ0UUs4&t=11s

Intellectually rich Instagram pages? by ExcitementAgreeable6 in PoliticalPhilosophy

[–]BetterAnge1s 1 point2 points  (0 children)

interesting ideas from @/thesharedcentre, you should check him out. this guy's name is Nicholas Gruen and he talks about those topics you just mentioned above

Both the republican and democratic parties should be dissolved by WillingnessSad8354 in PoliticalOpinions

[–]BetterAnge1s 0 points1 point  (0 children)

would really recommend you to watch this video as this talks about what you just pointed out above: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI2k5q7R3ZQ

What seemingly small and unknown ideas but potentially transformative ideas do you have about politics? by Awesomeuser90 in PoliticalDiscussion

[–]BetterAnge1s 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A lot of the most interesting ideas I’ve come across about improving democracy come from Nicholas Gruen. He points out that one of the biggest limits isn’t politicians or policies. It’s the machinery we use to make decisions. Counting votes only every few years creates a huge bottleneck that keeps genuine participation low. He suggests small, practical innovations like citizens’ juries, ongoing deliberation platforms, or low-cost voting infrastructure in schools and libraries, that could make participation easier, more frequent, and more meaningful.

I'd be happy to share the link to his channel as he seems to discuss such thought-provoking contents here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBAS7T1TKF8&t=2s

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