I'm starting to wonder when

[JoeChalupa]

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."

-Benjamin Franklin

I knew that quote would be coming.

[BacktoBasics]

Hasnt mattered since Woodrow Wilson and was dealt its final blow in JFK.

Our freedoms will be in dire straits within 5 years. Book it.

Is society too lazy or to stupid to do anything about it?

[DarkReign]

Is society too lazy or to stupid to do anything about it?

I'll assume that was rhetorical.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

So drawing blood without consent is ok. Holding you without the right to an attorney is ok. Phone tapping ok. Chipping your passports or IDs ok. Torturing prisoners of war ok. Income tax ok. Federal reserve interest rates out of control ok.

There is a pretty long list of examples that show a disregard for peoples rights including your own. How can you ignore that?

Indeed. I'd like to add something though - you blame the government, and sure, they are directly responsible for these things, but who actually runs the government? Lobbies run Washington. The climate of fear and denial of many civil rights is being heavily influenced by the big business cabal that tells the government what to do, all in the name of the almighty $$$.

I think a lot of what you are seeing is about turning human beings into economic units, productive and docile. It's a big game of Monopoly, and the average citizen is just a poor sod who landed on Park Avenue with $25 to his name.

Oh, and it's happening all over the world, not just America. Corporations tell governments what to do, governments kow-tow to the almighty dollar and turn citizens into economic units, forgetting that they are actually meant to represent the interests of those citizens and not the corporations. It's a natural outgrowth of putting money before everything else, which is exactly what we've done for a couple of centuries now.

Sad and scary... and we need a revolution of the entire economic system to cure it (and no, I don't mean communism), but I'll leave that for now.

[The Final Countdown]

A simple connection to the internet is all you need to put a site up. I could turn my computer into a server in 2 seconds and host a site.

I take it you don't work for ESPN the Zone.

[CubanMustGo.]

Is society too lazy or to stupid to do anything about it?

Bush lasted 8 years w/o getting impeached you do the math.

[Bigzax]

good post ruff!!!

[CubanMustGo.]

good post ruff!!!

alert!!

[ShoogarBear]

It's been pretty much established: all you have to do is come up with a few sinister catchphrases to scare the population of this country and most will gladly let you take away rights in the name of protecting them.

[BacktoBasics]

Indeed. I'd like to add something though - you blame the government, and sure, they are directly responsible for these things, but who actually runs the government? Lobbies run Washington. The climate of fear and denial of many civil rights is being heavily influenced by the big business cabal that tells the government what to do, all in the name of the almighty $$$.

I think a lot of what you are seeing is about turning human beings into economic units, productive and docile. It's a big game of Monopoly, and the average citizen is just a poor sod who landed on Park Avenue with $25 to his name.

Oh, and it's happening all over the world, not just America. Corporations tell governments what to do, governments kow-tow to the almighty dollar and turn citizens into economic units, forgetting that they are actually meant to represent the interests of those citizens and not the corporations. It's a natural outgrowth of putting money before everything else, which is exactly what we've done for a couple of centuries now.

Sad and scary... and we need a revolution of the entire economic system to cure it (and no, I don't mean communism), but I'll leave that for now.

100% agree. I'm not blaming the government they just happen to be the body of work that actually pulls the trigger. No doubt the elite control the inner workings of the world.

[JoeChalupa]

It's been pretty much established: all you have to do is come up with a few sinister catchphrases to scare the population of this country and most will gladly let you take away rights in the name of protecting them.

I concur.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

alert!!

Maybe your fake-arsed, extra-period-having, prankster self should have a chat with my girlfriend? She'd assure you on no uncertain terms that I am straight, mouse.

BTW, what do you get out of being nasty to people through facades on the internet? Especially people who have defended you and always treated you well like myself? Very strange behaviour.




As for the topic of this thread, governments across the world have completely forgotten their role - ie. representing the PEOPLE, and especially people who do not have much power and cannot stick up for themselves. Instead, they have become lackies for BIG MONEY, and the rest of us be damned. It's a sad and pathetic state of affairs.