Yes, we respect and admire people of "higher standing". May it be politicians, industrial tycoons, the clergy, royals, movie stars etc etc.

It could make us little people feel somewhat small and not so important. But we can counteract those uncalled for negative feelings that make us feel comperatively small by using our imagination.

Like this: Humans usually need to go to the toilet daily for "big business". Discarding everything that the human organism does not need anymore after having digested the useful stuff. Usually it comes with a smell that would make angels cry. Followed by a procedure to remove the remains of this procedure with the help toilet paper. The peak of civilisation.

So, the next time you are thunderstruck by some VIP, have the above scenario in your mind, it will make you feel better instantly. It helps NOT to follow modern day "pied-pipers".

My favorite: Hitler sitting on the toilet, dreaming of conquering Russia.

2 hours ago, swissie said:

Yes, we respect and admire people of "higher standing". May it be politicians, industrial tycoons, the clergy, royals, movie stars etc etc.

There are not many people in this group whom I admire. I mean close to zero.

Just now, TedG said:

There are not many people in this group whom I admire. I mean close to zero.

Because people don't understand the astronomically monumental complexity of a govt leader trying to feed his population, while having to fend off potential enemies and threats.

People think these leaders do nothing but plot to grease their own pockets all day. That's not the case. They are trying to make their countries survive, which is not as easy as it sounds. Especially if you have a large population with few natural resources. And if your neighboring countries are a threat, that makes matters even more complex.

Imagine being Xi. He has over 1 billion people to feed. That's a monumental task.

Do you think you would do a good job? I wouldn't know where to begin.

Indonesia has 42% of the world's nickel reserves? So that should serve them well in the economy shift to EVs. But if they do well, it's sheer luck and timing, given their natural resources. Or they could still botch it up, I guess. But Middle Eastern countries had a free ride with all their oil. Now they need to start innovating to survive. Which Saudi is doing. They are investing in AI.

Edited May 5May 5 by save the frogs

Just now, save the frogs said:

Because people don't understand the astronomically monumental complexity of a govt leader trying to feed his population, while having to fend off potential enemies and threats.

People think these leaders do nothing but plot to grease their own pockets all day. That's not the case.

Imagine being Xi. He has over 1 billion people to feed. That's a monumental task.

Do you think you would do a good job? I wouldn't know where to begin.

Do you genuinely think that the average elected official is actually that smart? Xi is not running the day-to-day operations.

Just now, TedG said:

Do you genuinely think that the average elected official is actually that smart? Xi is not running the day-to-day operations.

It's not one person. They have people consulting.

Sometimes they make very smart decisions, but not always.

But no matter what they do, many people seem to enjoy taking the default position of criticizing them for everything.

Edited May 5May 5 by save the frogs

Just now, save the frogs said:

But no matter what they do, many people seem to enjoy taking the default position of criticizing them for everything.

They deserve a lot of criticism.

Just now, save the frogs said:

But no matter what they do, many people seem to enjoy taking the default position of criticizing them for everything.

Yep, and that is mostly because they say one thing at election time and do another thing later. Or it might be that rich people in the States can avoid tax by just moving to the right state. That was just 2 examples!

Just now, Gottfrid said:

Yep, and that is mostly because they say one thing at election time and do another thing later. Or it might be that rich people in the States can avoid tax by just moving to the right state. That was just 2 examples!

You can't avoid all taxes.

Normal people should not demonize hard-working people and families who have helped build society over generations.

Society needs people who build, lead, create, take risks, and set examples. We need ideals to aim for and people who inspire us. Not blind worship, but respect where respect is earned.

But capitalism becomes dangerous when profit comes before people.

So no, I do not hate success. I respect achievement. But I do not respect greed dressed up as freedom.

A society needs ambition, builders, and leaders, but it also needs limits, responsibility, fairness, and security.

This is the analogy I was making as a 10 year old. Got anything better?

Just now, GenX said:

This is the analogy I was making as a 10 year old. Got anything better?

Nice try

WLB

Just now, TedG said:

Do you genuinely think that the average elected official is actually that smart? Xi is not running the day-to-day operations.

It takes a leader to build a team, create connections, gather support, and get things moving. Very few people have the full package, the energy, or the nerve to stand out and get the job done.

Edited May 5May 5 by Hummin

Just now, Hummin said:

Nice try

WLB

I was replying to OP

Just now, Gottfrid said:

Yep, and that is mostly because they say one thing at election time and do another thing later. Or it might be that rich people in the States can avoid tax by just moving to the right state. That was just 2 examples!

Ok, we'll let you run the joint.

Let's see if you can do better.

Some low level govt officials resign because they get threats from people. Its a tough job being a politician. A lot of HATE will be coming your way.

Edited May 5May 5 by save the frogs

Just now, GenX said:

This is the analogy I was making as a 10 year old. Got anything better?

You sound like Rockyroad's new brother.

Just now, save the frogs said:

Ok, we'll let you run the joint.

Let's see if you can do better.

Some low level govt officials resign because they get threats from people. Its a tough job being a politician. A lot of HATE will be coming your way.

Never said I could run a country. However, I expect people who get elected to be educated for the job and not to lie to the voters.

Just now, Gottfrid said:

and not to lie to the voters.

maybe issues are too complex, so they don't bother explaining everything to the voters.

there are bloggers who are quite smart and probe deeper into what they're really doing.

mainstream news is mostly noise.

I do have some admiration for some movie stars some musicians and some prominent scientists physicist and people of that nature.

I have absolutely no respect for any politician on this planet at the national level, as everyone who gets there seems to be corrupt and morally degraded. I could cite some very obvious examples but why bother?

I also have very little regard no respect for most billionaires and as Billie Eilish said the fact that they're a billionaire is a personality deficit rather than a quality. She said they're billionaires because they're not giving enough money away. I love that and it really applies to certain incredibly cheap and highly uncharitable billionaire creeps like Trump and Musk in particular. Stewarding a fortune entails tremendous responsibility to society and a lot of these billionaires just don't get it.

Ted Turner is a billionaire that I greatly admire, as what he's done with his conservation efforts with over 2 million acres of land is quite astonishing, and it's a legacy that we will be remembered for many generations.

Warren Buffett, Mackenzie Scott, Michael Bloomberg.

Chuck Feeney

Lifetime Giving: $7.5 billion (all of current net worth)

Feeney decided to give all of the cash he made from Duty Free shops to good causes via his The Atlantic Philanthropies. Now 81 years old, he’s even given his house away and lives in rented accommodation.

Those are the people I truly admire. Holding on to great wealth does not on any level signify being a great person, if anything it's a pathological weakness based on fear and lack of self-esteem.

Just now, spidermike007 said:

I do have some admiration for some movie stars some musicians and some prominent scientists physicist and people of that nature.

I have absolutely no respect for any politician on this planet at the national level, as everyone who gets there seems to be corrupt and morally degraded. I could cite some very obvious examples but why bother?

I also have very little regard no respect for most billionaires and as Billie Eilish said the fact that they're a billionaire is a personality deficit rather than a quality. She said they're billionaires because they're not giving enough money away. I love that and it really applies to certain incredibly cheap and highly uncharitable billionaire creeps like Trump and Musk in particular. Stewarding a fortune entails tremendous responsibility to society and a lot of these billionaires just don't get it.

Ted Turner is a billionaire that I greatly admire, as what he's done with his conservation efforts with over 2 million acres of land is quite astonishing, and it's a legacy that we will be remembered for many generations.

Warren Buffett, Mackenzie Scott, Michael Bloomberg.

Chuck Feeney

Lifetime Giving: $7.5 billion (all of current net worth)

Feeney decided to give all of the cash he made from Duty Free shops to good causes via his The Atlantic Philanthropies. Now 81 years old, he’s even given his house away and lives in rented accommodation.

Those are the people I truly admire. Holding on to great wealth does not on any level signify being a great person, if anything it's a pathological weakness based on fear and lack of self-esteem.

You have respect and admiration for anyone that hates Trump, yes?

Just now, spidermike007 said:

I do have some admiration for some movie stars some musicians and some prominent scientists physicist and people of that nature.

I have absolutely no respect for any politician on this planet at the national level, as everyone who gets there seems to be corrupt and morally degraded. I could cite some very obvious examples but why bother?

I also have very little regard no respect for most billionaires and as Billie Eilish said the fact that they're a billionaire is a personality deficit rather than a quality. She said they're billionaires because they're not giving enough money away. I love that and it really applies to certain incredibly cheap and highly uncharitable billionaire creeps like Trump and Musk in particular. Stewarding a fortune entails tremendous responsibility to society and a lot of these billionaires just don't get it.

Ted Turner is a billionaire that I greatly admire, as what he's done with his conservation efforts with over 2 million acres of land is quite astonishing, and it's a legacy that we will be remembered for many generations.

Warren Buffett, Mackenzie Scott, Michael Bloomberg.

Chuck Feeney

Lifetime Giving: $7.5 billion (all of current net worth)

Feeney decided to give all of the cash he made from Duty Free shops to good causes via his The Atlantic Philanthropies. Now 81 years old, he’s even given his house away and lives in rented accommodation.

Those are the people I truly admire. Holding on to great wealth does not on any level signify being a great person, if anything it's a pathological weakness based on fear and lack of self-esteem.

The only politician I've seen that has appeared true to his word his entire career is Bernie Sanders. I genuinely think he has had the people's interest.

Just now, HappyExpat57 said:

The only politician I've seen that has appeared true to his word his entire career is Bernie Sanders. I genuinely think he has had the people's interest.

What about Pauline Hanson?

Powerful people eat, sleep, have sex, poop, and they all die just like the rest of us. In many ways many think their own poop smells like roses, but that is a fallacy. These people are not special but little more than capitalizing on being in the right place and the right time under the right circumstances. Too many of them are corrupt and suffer from some form of psychopathy and elitist misanthropy. Luck is fickle and that streak of luck can run out in the snap of your fingers. The only way to command my respect is to earn it, and precious few people on this planet have done so to date.

Edited May 5May 5 by connda

Just now, save the frogs said:

Because people don't understand the astronomically monumental complexity of a govt leader trying to feed his population, while having to fend off potential enemies and threats.

People think these leaders do nothing but plot to grease their own pockets all day. That's not the case. They are trying to make their countries survive, which is not as easy as it sounds. Especially if you have a large population with few natural resources. And if your neighboring countries are a threat, that makes matters even more complex.

Imagine being Xi. He has over 1 billion people to feed. That's a monumental task.

Do you think you would do a good job? I wouldn't know where to begin.

Indonesia has 42% of the world's nickel reserves? So that should serve them well in the economy shift to EVs. But if they do well, it's sheer luck and timing, given their natural resources. Or they could still botch it up, I guess. But Middle Eastern countries had a free ride with all their oil. Now they need to start innovating to survive. Which Saudi is doing. They are investing in AI.

Very little of that is done by politicians. Maybe some king 500 years ago set up good farming system (if you are in rich country, Europe, etc.) and politician at least does not break it too much.

Reality is only some "politicians" are "rulers" as known in most of past, whether "dictator" "elected" or other. So, hard to respect them. Do you respect deputy manager of McDonalds? Does he (personally) "feed the customers" in sense they would starve without him? Well.

But yes Xi is one "real ruler". He controls a major country so he has a difficult job. Not feeding people, which is done by market system (Chinese people did not eat when no market system) but keeping in power and keeping China as a major country. Whether he is good at it, only future historians can say.

Not many famous living people I would walk across the street to meet.

Just now, save the frogs said:

maybe issues are too complex, so they don't bother explaining everything to the voters.

there are bloggers who are quite smart and probe deeper into what they're really doing.

mainstream news is mostly noise.

Nice back pedaling!

Just now, HappyExpat57 said:

The only politician I've seen that has appeared true to his word his entire career is Bernie Sanders. I genuinely think he has had the people's interest.

Sander's has one purpose - draw in the younger vote and then hand them all over to whomever the DNC decides is their own pick for President. Sanders never gets past the DNC conventions as he is commanded to stand down and endorse the candidates that the actual population don't want.

I don't have any respect for him. He should have fought to remain the Democratic candidate for the Presidency, but he capitulated - twice - and essentially urinated on his base of supporters. He is not the real deal. He is a proxy and a stalking horse.

12 hours ago, swissie said:

Yes, we respect and admire people of "higher standing". May it be politicians, industrial tycoons, the clergy, royals, movie stars etc etc.

It could make us little people feel somewhat small and not so important. But we can counteract those uncalled for negative feelings that make us feel comperatively small by using our imagination.

Like this: Humans usually need to go to the toilet daily for "big business". Discarding everything that the human organism does not need anymore after having digested the useful stuff. Usually it comes with a smell that would make angels cry. Followed by a procedure to remove the remains of this procedure with the help toilet paper. The peak of civilisation.

So, the next time you are thunderstruck by some VIP, have the above scenario in your mind, it will make you feel better instantly. It helps NOT to follow modern day "pied-pipers".

My favorite: Hitler sitting on the toilet, dreaming of conquering Russia.

<deleted>ler?

12 hours ago, swissie said:

Yes, we respect and admire people of "higher standing". May it be politicians, industrial tycoons, the clergy, royals, movie stars etc etc.

It could make us little people feel somewhat small and not so important. But we can counteract those uncalled for negative feelings that make us feel comperatively small by using our imagination.

Like this: Humans usually need to go to the toilet daily for "big business". Discarding everything that the human organism does not need anymore after having digested the useful stuff. Usually it comes with a smell that would make angels cry. Followed by a procedure to remove the remains of this procedure with the help toilet paper. The peak of civilisation.

So, the next time you are thunderstruck by some VIP, have the above scenario in your mind, it will make you feel better instantly. It helps NOT to follow modern day "pied-pipers".

My favorite: Hitler sitting on the toilet, dreaming of conquering Russia.

A picture says a thousand words.

In the Christian ethos, showing respect and honor is a big thing, but one can't take it out of context and say that we should respect and honor those in authority when they lord authority over us and function in their positions with questionable character such as the VIP's in Thailand who are mostly corrupt. Those in authority should earn our respect and honor for them, and groveling on the floor and giving a high wai to someone just for the sake of their title is a big no no in my book. I bow to no one but Jesus Christ! Everyone else is a flawed individual just like me.

22 hours ago, TedG said:

They deserve a lot of criticism.

Guess that’s why so few really smart people run for president/prime minister positions. Must be a thankless job. Hence the lack of bright leaders in this world.