[WikiEN-l] Study finds that Wikipedia has evolved from an oligarchy to a ...

[Bartning at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/6/2007 4:19:22 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
andrew.cady at gmail.com writes:

Please  remember that (if we are to believe the dialogue) Socrates
could have fled,  but chose to drink the hemlock out of respect for
the authority of Athenian  government.  Even where the state murders
to censor critics, its  dictates are not to be resisted.  That is the
mentality of  Plato.



I was citing political science.  Machiavelli, viewed in Italy as their  
George Washington for his republican values, also said the people decide  better 
about their rulers than princes when they're properly informed in _The  
Discourses_.  Moreover, what about my citation of the _Federalist Papers_,  which also 
criticizes pure democracy?
 
The United States still does not directly elect its president, though I  
believe there's been improvement with the Electoral College since the Y2K  
election.  However, we didn't even directly elect our senators till  the 20th 
century.  Democracy and freedom are essentially one and the same,  but as Madison 
also said, we must control the effects of liberty, or freedom, on  factions, 
essentially "what air is to fire" in _Federalist 10_.  Otherwise,  the minority 
get discriminated against, even down to the individual.   Moreover, on 
Wikipedia, a majority may be of those who are unwilling or unable  to verify 
themselves.  They could be not only the figments of our  imagination but the felons in 
society, recently released from prison.
 
One simple solution, probably more on the accountability topic, would be to  
give some sort of notification of verified status.  Other checks and  balances 
also appear in order because of the awkwardness of arguments I've seen,  
besides the invasion of privacy.  If Wikipedia editing is a community, then  its 
community values hit you in the face rather than provide fairness.  Of  course 
regional bias also exists.
 
Vincent
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