Why do people always use the word "we" when discussing things the government does? For example when people say "We bombed Iraq". Why do they say "we"? Did YOU actually partiocipate in that activity? If not, why use the word "we"?
2006-12-25 18:31:36 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
So basically you people are saying that because the government extorts money from me in the form of taxes, and then uses that money to murder people, i am an accessory to that murder?
If someone breaks into my house, and points a gun at me and demands I give them a knife, then they use that knife to kill someone else, am I guilty of that murder too?
I can understand your answers if someone wants to pay taxes and does so voluntarily, but what about people that only pay them because of the threeat of force from the government? Are they also guilty of the murders comitted by the government?
2006-12-25 18:45:36 · update #1
Good point I normally say the government did this or that. However most people identify with their country of origion, thus they use the term we. Goes back to we the people
2006-12-25 20:12:24 · answer #1 · answered by paulisfree2004 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure "we" participated. If we pay taxes then we are funding the anti-muslim terrorism in Iraq and elsewhere. I may not have raped the 9 yr old myself, but I bought the guys gun so he could scare her into submission.
Well I'm glad to see that you understood my point thoroughly. Yes, you made a choice to pay taxes in order to kill innocent civilians in Iraq so that GwB could retire well off the petro industry. Not making that choice would indeed have left you at the hands of the IRS and eventually the prison system, but its not like there aren't other options.
You've got my e-mail if you need want to talk about it.
2006-12-25 18:34:49 · answer #2 · answered by Meatball ;) 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By paying taxes or voting for a politician, We all participate in the acts of our government. When we disapprove of those acts We can change the politicians or protest the actions.
"United We Stand, Divided We Fall"---an old saying really popular with old people.
2006-12-25 18:35:03 · answer #3 · answered by San Diego Art Nut 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually "we" stand for responsibility.
Goverments use this we to protect themselfve.
One Goverment officer say we bombed iraq its means that dont put blame on my goverment the people who are dieing in iraq, is the not only the fault of america or britan its the fault of "we" all the collation forces... so not only one government its responsible its "we" all the collation is responsible.
In any Government this "we" save them all.
2006-12-25 19:10:39 · answer #4 · answered by Mr. A 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The term 'we' identifies the country as a whole. It's another way of saying 'The United States,' but it's much more convenient and appropriate to say it in the first person, rather than the third person.
It would be impossible to say everyone's name who specifically participated in the bombing of Iraq. 'We' is a shortcut.
2006-12-25 18:33:02 · answer #5 · answered by Sid B 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A collective "we" does not imply unanimity. This is as silly a linguistic argument as that of those who insist on that horrid "he or she" construction that denies the difference between grammatic and biologic gender.
2006-12-25 20:07:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We the people, read the document, you might find out why its we, this is a government of the people, by the people and for the people, so anything this country does, it is we.
2006-12-25 18:34:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is considered as an entity or a naming noun and therefore referred to as such.
2006-12-25 18:33:45 · answer #8 · answered by Psionic2006 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Relax. "We" is an inclusive concept that includes you.
It would be best to worry about "Them," and who "They" are. Because "They" want "You" to be dead.
Of course, this stuff is old hat to Hitler and Stalin. Totalitarianism is just plain bad news for "Us."
2006-12-25 18:46:04 · answer #9 · answered by Boomer Wisdom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"WE" acknowledges that we live in a democracy and whether we like it or not our country voted in a government that voted to go to war.
2006-12-25 18:36:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋