The State Of Control

[bhunter]

I found this at Salon. Perhaps, there is still hope that the left will realize that state control is not a good thing. Frankly, It's ridiculous that law enforcement has increasingly become a paramilitary force in both armament and attitude. If you've watched a police drama lately, you'll see numerous examples of the abridgement of rights and the characters bounding over any notion of due process. It may only be from the imagination of a screenwriter; however, I argue that it desensitizes people to authoritarian control and places too much emphasis on solutions offered by the so-called authorities.

If you don’t live in Denver but this nonetheless all sounds familiar, that’s not surprising. As the recession has caused more social foment across the country, and as media has consolidated into the hands of fewer and fewer status-quo-loving plutocrats, the collective response from the power establishment has been authoritarian in nature. We see it in New York City, where surveillance and stop-and-frisk tactics are running rampant – and yet where billionaire media mogul Michael Bloomberg is regularly portrayed in the media as a great “freedom mayor,” thanks, in part, to the fact that reporters fear he will be their boss one day. And we see it in other cities where police are trying to prevent citizens from even documenting acts of police brutality.

Taken together, whether in Denver or anywhere else, the trend is clear. “Police state” is no longer a hyperbolic term, nor should it imply some fictional fantasy world. It is already here, and it operates in an insipid way whereby its worst atrocities are deftly normalized by power-crazed politicians and power-worshiping media outlets. In that, it is less “1984″ than “Brave New World” – less blatantly horrific than subtly pernicious. Either way, though, the result is the same – a police state that turns the word “liberty” into a meaningless political slogan, and not much more.
http://www.salon.com/2013/02/12/what...rce=newsletter

[finnbow]

Though I understand the concern, the citation is a bit hyperbolic and paranoid. Interesting, the "law & order party" is also the "liberty" party.

[icenine]

Are you a defense contractor?

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by icenine

Are you a defense contractor?

Finn? He's one of those retired takers sucking on the gubmint teat. GS 86'd, IIRC.
BH? He won't tell us nuthin', I'm guessing General Atomics!

[icenine]

Originally Posted by bobabode

Finn? He's one of those retired takers sucking on the gubmint teat. GS 86'd, IIRC.
BH? He won't tell us nuthin', I'm guessing General Atomics!

I am talking about BH...I know Finny and Me are government workers lol....

[piece-itpete]

There was a term I heard lefties use during Shrubs' tenure - 'cognitive dissonance'.

The government should fix everything - but not enforce it??

The cops are out of control, but don't smash the unions (that we pay for) that cover them?

There's a BIG difference between law and order and a police state.

Pete

[icenine]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

There was a term I heard lefties use during Shrubs' tenure - 'cognitive dissonance'.

The government should fix everything - but not enforce it??

The cops are out of control, but don't smash the unions (that we pay for) that cover them?

There's a BIG difference between law and order and a police state.

Pete

It is the cops when they give you a ticket, it is the police when you call them when you lose your wallet.

[merrylander]

It is not the unions that cover their misdeeds, it is the righties that do that. Look at how fast they get them decked out in riot gear whenever the left tries a protest.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by merrylander

It is not the unions that cover their misdeeds, it is the righties that do that. Look at hoow fast they get them decked out in riot gear whenever the left tries a protest.

Thank you! Well, I guess when your defending a "job creators" "right" to be a tyrant.......................

Regards,
Dave

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by bhunter

I found this at Salon. Perhaps, there is still hope that the left will realize that state control is not a good thing. Frankly, It's ridiculous that law enforcement has increasingly become a paramilitary force in both armament and attitude. If you've watched a police drama lately, you'll see numerous examples of the abridgement of rights and the characters bounding over any notion of due process. It may only be from the imagination of a screenwriter; however, I argue that it desensitizes people to authoritarian control and places too much emphasis on solutions offered by the so-called authorities.

Perhaps we should start making teevee programs that emphasize the rights of criminals instead? We''ll start with a show called "Rape Dads" and let Paul Ryan and Todd Akin write the script.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/08/2...of-conception/

Interesting how things have changed. Now all of the sudden Republicans want to run to the defense of despicable behaviour.

The only thing worse than big government is anarchy, my friend.

Regards,
Dave