[aninhumer]

>You know "campaign contributions" are an euphemism for bribes, don't you?

Sure, US democracy is badly implemented, but that doesn't mean the idea is inherently flawed. If you want to argue that it is, feel free. But until you do, please stop pretending there is no alternative to your false dichotomy.

>Do you sincerely think the main reason why people don't steal from others is that they'd be punished for it?

No, but most people following the rules of their own volition is not sufficient for the system to work. If you make it truly "voluntary", then anyone who doesn't agree can just take whatever they want.

> if you actually have a problem with "coercion in the distribution of resources"

I don't, as I said it's inevitable. I just object to libertarians pretending they can avoid it.

[sukulaku]

> Sure, US democracy is badly implemented, but that doesn't mean the idea is inherently flawed.

If you believe the act of dropping a piece of paper into a box actually affects what a politician can do, I've got a bridge to sell you. That's what it would take for voting to actually affect something, otherwise you're just engaging in a pointless ritual.

Of course it's only pointless on the voter's part. People believing in the idea that subjects have a say in how they're ruled sure as hell benefits the rulers!

> I just object to libertarians pretending they can avoid it

In fact, I've avoided all non-governmental forms of coercion all my life!

[aninhumer]

>If you believe the act of dropping a piece of paper into a box actually affects what a politician can do, I've got a bridge to sell you.

The power of democracy is that it becomes completely socially unacceptable to ignore what those pieces of paper say.

And indeed the people you're complaining about don't ignore them. They find ways to get what they want despite the system, but they never outright defy it. No one installs themself in office without winning an election (EDIT: In the US), and if anyone ever did there would be rioting in the streets.

>> I just object to libertarians pretending they can avoid it

>In fact, I've avoided all non-governmental forms of coercion all my life!

I mean that you're pretending your ideology can avoid all coercion, while ignoring the coercion involved in enforcing property rights.