Simon W. Moon

There have been two extremely frightening and disturbing yet 'smallish' news stories recently.

The 1st is that there is a push to give politicians and the govt more control over the economy. It's a bad sign that people think we are so close to disaster that we need someone to be mucking about w/ it. More alarming than that is the fact that so many so-called conservatives (GWB's 'big-govt conservatives' ) are willing to silently embrace such an antithetical anathema to conservatism. [Did I mention that neo-conservatism has communist and socialist roots?] Most alarming of all though is the the track record of such experiments in govt planning and control of a national economy.

The 2nd is that the DHS is going to involve itself in common, domestic, criminal matters. It's a bad sign that people think we are so close to disaster that we need a police force who needs no warrants to protect us. More alarming than that is the fact that so many so-called conservatives (GWB's 'big-govt conservatives' ) are willing to silently embrace such an antithetical anathema to conservatism. [Did I mention that neo-conservatism has communist and socialist roots?] Most alarming of all though is the the track record of such experiments where the electorate lacks protections against the state.


I s'pose if one is willing to trust politicians, then he has nothing to worry about. however, if one is suspicious of politicians and dubious of their systems to fix things, then he has cause for great concern.

As I've said before, I harbor fleeting concerns that one day a person who is something less than sterling may slip past the voters or be accidentally appointed to a public trust. One day a politician who puts his own interests and the interests of those who ply him with funds and favors above the best interests of the Americans he serves could find his way into a public trust.

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"That is the problem... [we] fell in love with the idea that politicians-- even the slickest and brightest presidential candidates-- were real heroes and truly exciting people. That is wrong on its face. They are mainly dull people with corrupt instincts and criminal children. -H.S.T"

Middleground

You meant that hasn't happened already?

BTW, Simon, this is an excellent thread. I'm afraid I have nothing to add to your original post other than to say it's scary. After watching 60 Minutes on Sunday evening, I'm convinced that those who are willing to give up their freedom for stricter policing, should take into account that they could be the next victim of unfair justice. Ask Maher Arrar and Murat Kurnaz. Those who say that they have "nothing to hide," do not understand that anything they do or say can be easily twisted, or, at the very least, misconstrued.

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RightinNYC

What in particular are you referring to in your second paragraph? I don't doubt you at all, I'm just not familiar with the particular issue you're referring to.

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rhinefire

Not one person on either side of the political influence spectrum wants disissention much less protests and riots. Therefore, little by little they intend to very gradually dilute the power of the citizenry to that of dust in the wind. Then and only then can they govern amongst themselves. Ask yourself, "Am I enjoying more liberties than my parents"? Now ask the same question about your children's privacy compared to yours when you were their age.

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End global whining

John1234

huh?
But isn't that the very definition of a Politician?
Hell, just look at our current President. Do you honestly think he has done 1 single thing for Americans?
Everything our government does is for special interest and big business.

Joe Hill

I agree with those who contend that there is only one political party in the US now. . .the Business Party. Its rise was foreseen from the beginning of the Republic. All the new regulation has been leveled at citizens, while corporations are allowed more and more freedom. Enron, the S&L scandal, the mortgage superscam, repeated salmonella outbreaks, etc., shows the result of less government regulation of business. It is not taxes that have caused the price of gas to rise disastrously, but business greed.

“...free enterprise, [is] a term that refers, in practice, to a system of public subsidy and private profit, with massive government intervention in the economy to maintain a welfare state for the rich.” : Noam Chomsky

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