In the best interest of the people?

[Deleted]

How do you interpret that phrase? And what do you think of it?

[Revi]

Uhm, like it's stated I suppose. Interest being not what they necessarily want, but to their advantage/benefit, as per the dictionary definition of interest. People of course being the citizens of the country, as I assume this is meant in a political context, where this phrase is usually used.

Are there other ways of interpreting it?

[Deleted]

Uhm, like it's stated I suppose. Interest being not what they necessarily want, but to their advantage/benefit, as per the dictionary definition of interest. People of course being the citizens of the country, as I assume this is meant in a political context, where this phrase is usually used.

Are there other ways of interpreting it?

If I said "In the best interest of x(the people you refer to), we should not allow private actors to handle z(z being a necessary service in society)", what would you say?

Good, neutral or bad?

Are there cases where the best interest of the people would be bad?

[Deleted]

Sometimes the people are stupid and need the government to make the right decision, sometimes the government uses this excuse to feather their own nests.

[-aiko-]

A pretty flexible phrase. It can either be extremely wise or extremely dangerous.

[Mormolyce]

To me it sounds like an invitation to a socialist or nationalistic nightmare.

Who decides what's in the "best interests" of "the people"? Last I checked "the people" are a boat with nobody at the wheel. Since when did we all agree on a course and choose a captain?

[Elegiac]

To me it sounds like an invitation to a socialist or nationalistic nightmare.

Who decides what's in the "best interests" of "the people"? Last I checked "the people" are a boat with nobody at the wheel. Since when did we all agree on a course and choose a captain?

Educated individuals. A primary example of this is vaccination.

[zoomgpally]

Sometimes the people are stupid and need the government to make the right decision, sometimes the government uses this excuse to feather their own nests.

Usually the latter, coward politicians being too chicken to just man up and say "I do this because I want to do it"

[Endus]

To me it sounds like an invitation to a socialist or nationalistic nightmare.

Who decides what's in the "best interests" of "the people"? Last I checked "the people" are a boat with nobody at the wheel. Since when did we all agree on a course and choose a captain?

Are you unfamiliar with how democratically elected political representatives work?

That's exactly what you're doing, in a modern first world nation. You vote to elect your "captain" and "crew", with the expectation that they can better represent your grouped interests than fighting about it as separate individuals would.

[Sunseeker]

People as a group are generally stupid. So sometimes decisions need to be made for them. It's basically how every single functioning developed nation works.

[Souflikar]

Are you unfamiliar with how democratically elected political representatives work?

That's exactly what you're doing, in a modern first world nation. You vote to elect your "captain" and "crew", with the expectation that they can better represent your grouped interests than fighting about it as separate individuals would.

True. But in today's world and more than ever, I believe our "Captains" are more concerned with personal gain than the peoples best interest.

[Endus]

True. But in today's world and more than ever, I believe our "Captains" are more concerned with personal gain than the peoples best interest.

Sure, and I'm not saying it's a flawless system, but to feign ignorance as to how you could pick a captain just seemed ludicrous to me.

[Stonecloak]

Should be switched to the best interest of the government, because most of the time it is. I'm not saying gov isn't necessary, but it shouldn't be trusted imo.

[Souflikar]

Sure, and I'm not saying it's a flawless system, but to feign ignorance as to how you could pick a captain just seemed ludicrous to me.

No argument here. :-)

[Revi]

If I said "In the best interest of x(the people you refer to), we should not allow private actors to handle z(z being a necessary service in society)", what would you say?

Good, neutral or bad?

Are there cases where the best interest of the people would be bad?

Depends entirely on the circumstances, can't give you an informed answer without knowing anything about the situations.

I don't think there are cases where "the best interest of the people" would be bad, but of course there are many cases where people using the phrase are either wrong or lying. Just like a truth can never be untrue, unless mistakenly labeled as such by people, what's best will never be bad, but the phrase is susceptible to misuse.

Then again, "best" is very subjective, what one person views as best is worst-case scenario for someone else. You'd have to view it in context of what values and goals a politician was elected on I suppose.

[ophion1990]

How do you interpret that phrase? And what do you think of it?

I assume that it's a lie when told by an important person (politician, chief of police or w/e) to not lose face after doing something questionable.