Dwayne:
If what you say were true - or, as absolutely true as you seem to believe - only the gods would know what you claim to know.
[WS:] Have you considered the notion of probability and path dependency? In short, the idea is that things may start as random events but they skew the probability of the successive events to be more like the event that started the "path." That is to say, all that is required to fly to the Moon is only a few Einsteins and a whole bunch of followers that tread their path.
Another point - substitute the word "herd" in my post with the word "collective" or "social" and see if you still disagree with what I wrote. And if you do, what is your alternative? The individualistic, self made man populating the US mythology? The bottom line is that we are, by nature, social animals and that has generally been our strength as the species. Sometimes, however, that strength can turn into a detriment.
I suggest that you read what I wrote again, this time trying to concentrate on the argument rather than catchy words and say if you agree or disagree with it. FYI, that argument was that the current system turns political decisions into popularity contests, which may play an important role in maintaining social bounds, but are not the most effective venue for public input to political decision making. Would you say that you agree or disagree with this position?
One more thing. You seemingly dislike my choice of words and metaphors to create a dramatic effect, but you would probably agree that if I did not use such attention grabbing literary devices, what I post would be largely ignored. How is this different from the practices of the popular counterculture that seem to be in high esteem on this list? Can punk rockers or rappers use attention grabbing epithets but I cannot?
To Jerry Monaco:
Me: "Research shows that smoking poses the risk of lung cancer." Jerry: "Most of the people I know smoke and do not have cancer. Therefore, everybody in the philosophy and humanities and social "sciences" department should wash toilets and drive taxis."
Well, Jerry, if that is the logic they teach in those philosophy departments, I agree.
Wojtek