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Moving towards despotism?

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by windcatcher, Jun 19, 2009.

  1. windcatcher

    windcatcher New Member

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    http://www.archive.org/details/Despotis1946

    It's an old, educational film, simple and brief and to the point, without getting political.

    Interesting "the mere form of a government cannot of itself safe guard a nation against despotism."

    Depostism measured by 'respect scale' and 'power scale'.

    The spread of respect and power..... determined or measured by conditions like 'economic distribution' and 'information' scale.

    This is so simple it is almost stupid: But I think very little analysis is required to see which way we've been going for awhile.

    While this model leaves a lot of details for us to fill in, do others see the value of this model with me that this formula seems not only clear and direct..... but a method by which one could use in making political decisions or judging the character of those already in office?

    I've just discovered this gem..... and so would like to think about it more but am hoping that others have ideas about it... or would like to propose what is or is not correct or current circumstances which either fit the model or refute it.

    It's only 10 mins of run time. What say ye?

    :type:
     
  2. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    I would say that when some look upon the current president as a god then we are well on the road to despotism.

    Some will say this began with the progressiv philosophy of Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Perhaps so. I think it started with the 16 and perhaps the 17th amendments to the Constitution, was given a major boost by Franklin Roosevelt, put on the slippery slope by Lyndon Johnson, and will possibly be completed by "bo".

    Sadly, depending on your viewpoint about the deity of "bo", this country will be driven to bankruptcy at his hands and be owned by Communist China so perhaps it won't really matter?
     
  3. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    President Obama would not be in the position of having to bail out the banks and many other industries if the just past president had not borrowed billions upon billions from the Chinese to fund a totally unjust and unnecessary war and followed disasterous monitary and tax policies! We were running a surplus when he was elected!

     
  4. TC

    TC Active Member
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    Hogwash. There was no surplus. Clinton and congress did some creative accounting and some Americans swallowed every thing they said - hook, line, and sinker. For example, say you owe a bank 500,000 and you plan to pay 50,000 this year. Instead, you pay 45,000. Now, do you have a 5000 surplus? That is what Clinton and crew claimed. However, the total national debt rose under Clinton just as it has under every recent president.
     
  5. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    note bold, and underlined indicates corrections by Salty
     
  6. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    It is pathetic the extremes to which some will go to defend the despot "bo". The US debt to China is currently less than $600 billion. Under the despotism of "bo" the us debt will increase dramatically, in fact more than has been accumulated in history, as he leads the sheep in the demo party into socialism and people like crabtownboy will cheer him on.

    Incidentally the only reason there was a surplus in the budget during the last years of Clinton was because of the Republican Congress, not Clinton. He had to be dragged kicking and screaming to a balanced budget.
     
  7. Freedom

    Freedom New Member

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    George W. Bush used the 9/11 catastrophe to continually keep us in a state of fear about "terrorist attacks." He also used it to justify invading two nations, maybe three if you count Pakistan. We're very lucky to have finally escaped the despotism of the Neo-Cons.
     
  8. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    You might want to check the historical facts again. The radical Islamists that trained in Afganistan did, in fact, hijack planes and fly them into buildings. That was a "terrorist attack".

    Shortly thereafter, another man attempted to blow up a plane but was stopped (Richard Reed?)

    If I remember correctly, there were bombings in other countries (Spain for instance) where many civilians were killed.

    That might have led some people to believe the radical Islamists really, really, really, didn't like us very much.... and that we really did have a need to fear them.

    But, you, on the other hand, apparantly believe George Bush made it all up to trick us into being afraid of those peaceful, fun-loving jihadists, just so he could invade other countries?

    Is that what you believe?

    peace to you:praying:
     
  9. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    What is funny is you are acting as if you are reasoning with a reasonable person.
     
  10. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

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    Crabby perhaps you should change your handle to "Blame Bush Boy."
     
  11. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    JC for an "inginer" you are not very perceptive or logical. Perhaps your lack of sleep in fear of the terrorist has affected your ability to think rationally.

    You are mistaken about President Bush as usual. Frankly I slept well each night realizing that President Bush's first responsibility was to keep America safe and that he would do so. This he did, being a cowboy from Texas.

    Lets see! Just what are new conservatives or Neo-Cons as you like to say. Are those regenerate or born again ex-democrats? Are you jealous that they came into the light while you and crabtownboy still walk in the darkness of Marxism?
     
  12. Freedom

    Freedom New Member

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    Where do you get your "facts?" Have you ever looked on the FBI web site for the crimes charged against Usama bin Laden? I think you'd find it educational.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/terrorists/terbinladen.htm

    USAMA BIN LADEN

    Aliases: Usama Bin Muhammad Bin Ladin, Shaykh Usama Bin Ladin, The Prince, The Emir, Abu Abdallah, Mujahid Shaykh, Hajj, The Director

    DESCRIPTION

    Date of Birth Used: 1957 Hair: Brown
    Place of Birth: Saudi Arabia Eyes: Brown
    Height: 6'4" to 6'6" Sex: Male
    Weight: Approximately 160 pounds Complexion: Olive
    Build: Thin Citizenship: Saudi Arabian
    Language: Arabic (probably Pashtu)
    Scars and Marks: None known
    Remarks: Bin Laden is left-handed and walks with a cane.

    CAUTION

    Usama Bin Laden is wanted in connection with the August 7, 1998, bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. These attacks killed over 200 people. In addition, Bin Laden is a suspect in other terrorist attacks throughout the world.

    REWARD

    The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $25 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Usama Bin Laden. An additional $2 million is being offered through a program developed and funded by the Airline Pilots Association and the Air Transport Association.

    SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS

    IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS PERSON, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL FBI OFFICE OR THE NEAREST AMERICAN EMBASSY OR CONSULATE.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    When questioned why he's never been charged with anything related to 9/11 a high level FBI official said that we don't yet have enough evidence to do so but there's an ongoing investigation.
     
  13. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    Now listen Rev! You have to count JC some slack since he didn't sleep well for 8 years and had to "inginer" the next day.

    Most "inginers" really are reasonable people. I just went to bed at night, thanked the LORD for his grace and blessings including President Bush and slept like a baby. {Course that don't count the interruptions by an old non elastic bladder!}
     
  14. Freedom

    Freedom New Member

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    Is there anything of value you're trying but failing to communicate here? i can't find anything other than personal attacks. People who know nothing about an issue often resort to personal attacks. In the future when you post similar attacks, you're simply showing your ignorance.
     
  15. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    Gee! I thought you would appreciate me trying to get the Rev "offen" your back. Just goes to show that some folks don't know how to appreciate anything.
     
  16. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    By the standards illustrated on the film, the US is very, very free. This list is a prime example of our freedom in action.
     
  17. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    "bo" is in the process of changing all that. Remember "Change with a Difference". We are seeing what he meant.
     
  18. poncho

    poncho Well-Known Member

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    I think y'all see only what y'all want to see. :smilewinkgrin:
     
  19. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    But you didn't answer the questions and the link you provided supports Bush's assertion the U.S. was in danger from terrorists.

    Let me ask you again.

    Despite the info from the FBI, you apparantly believe George Bush made it all up to trick us into being afraid of moslems just so he could invade other countries?

    Is that what you believe?

    peace to you:praying:
     
  20. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    I think Clinton's surplus meant our budget didn't cause more debt. We still wasn't paying back our deficit but we were not accumulating more debt.

    This is why I laugh when I hear the conservatives talk about generational theft and passing debt to our children. That is how this nation ran from the beginning. Debt is always passed to future generations and we're lucky of we can pay the interest.

    Have we ever paid on the principle?
     
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