How much does it take...?

**fryke** · #1 October 18th, 2006, 04:34 PM

I know that the document I'm linking to is a bit on the harsh side - http://go.theregister.com/feed/http:...missions_a_go/ - but the question remains... How _far_ can the current US administration take the country before anyone _really_ stands up? Sometimes I truly fear that the USA _will_ become (or _has_ become) the Fourth Reich with their people standing by, smiling at comedians who're trying to put the finger on things. Everyone's laughing at how stupid Mr. Bush often looks, but that seems to be nothing more than good tactic: As long as no-one really takes him seriously, he's got fool's freedom.

What _can_ the American people do? Will you simply "wait it out", since it's only two more years? I think the past years have shown that two years can be more than enough to make a *lot* of mistakes. Can't he be impeached for some or other reason?

Qion · #2 October 18th, 2006, 04:45 PM

I'm embarrased at my country. We are no longer united, and we will not stand united until something disasterous happens... maybe flying a plane or two into the Sears Tower. Hay Dios mio, what do we do when our society is on the verge of immorality and our president is a couple feet from jumping into the pool of martial law? It's scary. I feel like our roots are decaying and our very grasp on that which creates democracy is failing under our infinite sects taking religion and morals out of our schooling systems and our idiot president taking charge under quasi-legal conditions.

We need reform.

dlloyd · #3 October 18th, 2006, 08:46 PM

The entire society needs reform, from the government to the corporations to the healthcare to the food we eat. Everything is a mess, and almost all of it is driven by greed. But everything has always been driven by greed, so why should it suddenly change now?

EDIT: Can you tell I'm a little cynical now? haha

Qion · #4 October 18th, 2006, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlloyd

The entire society needs reform, from the government to the corporations to the healthcare to the food we eat. Everything is a mess, and almost all of it is driven by greed. But everything has always been driven by greed, so why should it suddenly change now?

EDIT: Can you tell I'm a little cynical now? haha

Heh, maybe your cynicism is absafreakinglutely justified. We're in a downwards spiral with each generation getting stupider, fatter, and less believing in morality and altruism.

dlloyd · #5 October 18th, 2006, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qion

Heh, maybe your cynicism is absafreakinglutely justified. We're in a downwards spiral with each generation getting stupider, fatter, and less believing in morality and altruism.

Pretty much.
I'm leaving the country at the end of next year, and I don't intend to come back. That's always assuming that there's even something to come back TO; at the rate things are going right now there very well may not be.
Of course, if 'we' declare war on Iran before the end of the month, as I almost half expect 'we' might, I'll be leaving ASAP; probably in the spring as soon as the school year finishes. Because if 'we' do start a new war, there will be a draft. And I'm not sticking around for that.

bbloke · #6 October 19th, 2006, 08:00 AM

Two good quotes, in my view:

Quote:

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety

Benjamin Franklin, 1759

Quote:

Why, of course, the people don't want war... That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship... voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.

Hermann Goering, from a Nuremberg jail in 1946

**fryke** · #7 October 19th, 2006, 08:18 AM

Yes, but if you compare Bush to the Nazis, that _can't_ really be patriotic, right? :P

bbloke · #8 October 19th, 2006, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fryke

Yes, but if you compare Bush to the Nazis, that _can't_ really be patriotic, right? :P

lol

I wasn't directly comparing Bush to the Nazis, in that overall sense, I was pointing out that "an expert in these matters" (i.e. manipulating the public) seemed to almost be describing more recent handlings of events. Erm, yes, I can see that as a fine line, though!