Bob Hunt wrote:
On Jan 15, 9:54 pm, Tom Sherman
wrote:
Mr. Robert Hunt wrote:
On Jan 12, 8:33 am, Tom Sherman
wrote:
Stephen Harding wrote:
Tom Sherman wrote:
donquijote1954 ??? wrote:
...
Observing evolution of human mind, one can notice humanity traveling
from MONOLOG into DIALOGUE. Human beings are traveling from the
tyranny of the command, out of the slavery to the word, out of the
authoritarian, hierarchic order of ancient times, into a democratic,
non-authoritarian, non-violent, horizontal, classless society with
social and ecological awareness.
However, we have not arrived yet, although the end is already shinning
out of the darkness....
Bah. We have arrived at a point where a fascist government can come
into being, while the citizens still believe that they are living in a
democracy.
With the Patriot Act and such, aren't you afraid
of a knock on the door at midnight for speaking so
openly in public?
You're obviously a very brave person.
Yep, advocating a political/economic system such as is used in
Scandinavia could well earn one a trip to the detention camps
Halliburton is building that Blackwater will guard.
I believe you missed the sarcasm in SH's comment.
No, I ignored it.
Heck, even advocating the system used in countries such as England,
Canada and New Zealand makes one an Anti-American Communist by the
standards of Faux News, the Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise
Institute and the shouting heads of talk radio.
Are you implying that those you name shouldn't have the same freedom
of speech you exercise to to hurl insults at them to throw names back
at you?
I was, of course, implying nothing of the sort. I was, of course, not
even addressing the issue Mr. Hunt brings up.
It is questionable if the remaining freedom of speech, travel, etc. in
the US could withstand another Reichstag Fire, er 9/11/2001 incident.
Such an incident would be easy to arrange with the "assets" on the
payroll of the CIA, not to mention the covert services of several
countries friendly to the neocon agenda.
Unfortunately for your implication of a government-sponsored
conspiracy responsible for the 9/11 WTC attack, there isn't a shred of
evidence of any such conspiracy.

Note that the Reichstag Fire was likely NOT set by the Nazis, but they
took full advantage of its occurrence politically.

Note how the Cheney/Bush administration took political advantage of
9/11/2001, irregardless of who the perpetrators actually worked for.

I was not making the implication Mr. Hunt claims, and for him to say so
indicates either poor comprehension or the even poorer debating tactic
of introducing a "strawman".
Let me guess- the conspiracy was *so*
good that it left no evidence, right?

Guess what you want about the strawman.
BTW, why not stop hiding behind
the not-so-subtle hints and mere intimations in your posts ("...a
fascist government *can* come..." and "...*could* well earn one a trip
to the detention camps..." [emphasis added], and say exactly what you
mean?
Read it again. For all practical purposes a fascist (merging or
corporate power with political power) government has come into power,
with only the candidates pre-selected by the ruling elite to be
overseers of the people having a chance at being "elected". The
"representatives" of the people only represent those who stuff their
campaign coffers with money. Meanwhile, the general population still
thinks they live in a democracy that offers real choices in elections.

Hey, you've finally stated a position positively without weaselling!
Congratulations. It's a shame that your definition of fascism isn't
the widely accepted definition ("any movement, ideology, or attitude
that favors dictatorial government, centralized control of private
enterprise, repression of all opposition, and extreme nationalism" or
"a political system based on a very powerful leader, state control and
extreme pride in country and race, and in which political opposition
is not allowed") or you might even have a point. The last I looked
there were no death squads roaming the streets. Based on your
definition, you seem to be alleging that we're living in an oligarchy,
not a fascist state. I disagree but I'll give you credit for at least
stating a position even if you did define your terms (fascism vs
oligarchy, "can" and "could" vs *do*) incorrectly.

That is the cleverness of the current system. Maintain the appearance of
a democracy, which fools enough of the people that the brutal
repression is not necessary. Since violent repression breeds resistance,
they US system is more beneficial to the ruling class, as it means they
are more likely to stay in power.

The token opposition of a few members of Congress helps the illusion of
democracy; but the numbers of such true representatives of the people
are kept too small to have any real influence.

The only real danger to the system would be if enough people figured
things out to vote real representatives from third parties into office;
but the population is kept ignorant and stupefied with entertainment
posing as news, sitcoms and "reality" televisions shows.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth