America's Various -ism's... a Question for the Forum

[scott]

Granted, I haven't been a very active participant in these forums for the last 18 months or so, but I've noticed an increasing trend from its members (except from T Park, he's been this way since I can remember first encountering him... 2001?).

I see our government often referred to as Nazi-like, Facist, Socialist and any other number of -isms.

So, here are a series of questions.

1) Have you ever been persecuted, detained in a camp, or been threated with mass execution by a group with ethnic cleansing in mind as a result of your religion, etnicity or cultural beliefs?

2) Have you ever lived under the rule of a dictator (the real kind, not the term-about-to-expire kind)?

3) Have you ever waited in line for several hours for your weekly bread ration only to find that they are out of bread and you'll have to come back and wait in line tomorrow, so you dredge through the snow back to your war ravaged apartment with no heat that you share with three other families?

4) Have you ever lived in the US?

If you can answer YES to one of questions 1 through 3 and YES to number 4... how does our country compare?

[Don Quixote]

Yes. To #4 only.

[ElNono]

Yes to #2 and #4.
The US is several times better (compared to the dictatorship years). Justice works most of the time. I might not like the dude in charge right now, but he'll be gone by next year, a healthy reminder that democracy works. It's not all roses, but all places have problems one way or another. The thing with this country is that you also hold it to higher standard, simply because it is the oldest democracy in the world, and Americans are very proud about it (to the point of 'exporting' it anywhere they can).
That's why I was smiling when somebody wrote that Democrats had a fascist ideology.
You don't ever want to be in a fascist country. As a matter of fact, we couldn't be having this conversation in one of those countries.

[Wild Cobra]

Scott, the reason why some of us refer to some people like that in our governemnt is that we fear they will take our government that direction.

I have waited in line for gas. Rationing due to price controls stink. The Demonrats just don't get it, or if they do, they want to destroy America.

If we let the demonrats control and ration aur goods and services, we will be waiting in bread lines in the future!

[clambake]

you should add another option that includes occupation, and a people that force their will on other people.

[Nbadan]

you should add another option that includes occupation, and a people that force their will on other people.

Don't forget to add that 'we're doing it for the 'liberty' of the people'....all while we deplete their natural resources and pay off government cronies that we give power too...

[PixelPusher]

ElNono seems to be the only one of the "respondents" who grasps the criteria laid out by scott.

[clambake]

ElNono seems to be the only one of the "respondents" who grasps the criteria laid out by scott.

N.Ireland doesn't appear in the available options.

and #1, the answers are more complicated.

[boutons_]

"grasps the criteria laid out by scott."

... his criteria are very clear.

Where he is going with these criteria, his "framing", is totally absent.

[Custodial Engineer]

no
no
no
yes

[xrayzebra]

you should add another option that includes occupation, and a people that force their will on other people.

What countries have we occupied? Or or occupying?
Iraq will more than likely be your answer and to that I disagree. They have their own government and it is operating freely.

[clambake]

What countries have we occupied? Or or occupying?
Iraq will more than likely be your answer and to that I disagree. They have their own government and it is operating freely.

i didn't said i was suffering from an occupation in iraq.

why do you derail so much, lately?

[JoeChalupa]

lately?