Monday, February 27. 2006

Thought Provoking Quotes

Some would say these quotes describe the US. Any thoughts.

Ask yourself why totalitarian dictatorships find it necessary to pour money and effort into propaganda for their own helpless, chained, gagged slaves, who have no means of protest or defense. The answer is that even the humblest peasant or the lowest savage would rise in blind rebellion, were he to realize that he is being immolated, not to some incomprehensible noble purpose, but to plain, naked human evil. Ayn Rand

There are four characteristics which brand a country unmistakably as a dictatorship: one-party rule- executions without trial or with a mock trial, for political offenses- the nationalization or expropriation of private property- and censorship. A country guilty of these outrages forfeits any moral prerogatives, any claim to national rights or sovereignty, and becomes an outlaw. Ayn Rand

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If you haven't read Atlas Shrugged, you need to do that.....the best book I have ever read!...takes awhile to get into it, but just excellent. I am a fan of Ayn Rand also...have read everything she ever wrote.

#1 peggy on 2006-02-27 12:50 (Reply)

I'm more inclined to agree with the first quote than the second. I don't think the U.S. Government is taking our liberties and freedoms away from us; rather, they're asking for them, and most of the sheeple are agreeing to it under the illusion of safety, security, and being 'taken care of'.

#2 DMerriman (Homepage) on 2006-02-27 15:25 (Reply)

I think there is very little to disagree with in the first quote, though Orwell might (and to some degree did). It appears to be an excellent description of how totalitarian regimes offer momentary inclusion and brief glimpses of happiness as the better alternative to naked violent hatred, both of the oppressor and from the oppressed. I bring this up only because I see so many in America that willfully attack and devalue the views of those desiring betterment and change, only so that they can feel better; more included, superior. That was probably a whole easier of an effort in a day when a white man could console his misery by saying "at least I'm better than a black man". Today, there's more subtlety to the same phenominon: "Yes, I feel awful that the government I voted for cheats me and abuses my rights, but at least I am better than those filthy "Unhinged" traitorous and hateful Demoleftylibrulcrats" who accept women and gays as equals".

But thankfully, we haven't reached the desperate straights of totalinarianism yet ... yet. If there is a problem with the framing of the question, it is that it asks if the second quote describes a place we have arrived (as a nation). I personally don't think so. But I do think it describes a condition towards which we are running at break-neck speed. Those suffering from the derangement I wrote of in response to the first quote, would now lable me a defeatist, a traitor, unhinged, extreme; and those are just the polite things that I get called. But here's the case in point: they have accepted that the rule of state is lordship over the individual, and I see that as the thing most antithetical to being American. In short, to keep our country from becoming an outlaw, we as individuals must sometimes be outlaws.

I still think, sometimes stupidly, that America will be okay. But the sacrifices made to get us back on track won't have to come from me, but will be forced from those who tell me that the change, the loss and the sacrifice must be all mine.

#3 Wulfgar (Homepage) on 2006-02-27 17:40 (Reply)

Wulfgar,

Brilliant! I've never in my life seen a quote taken from the mother of objectivist libertarianism used as a defense contemporary American liberalism. It makes my head hurt - in the larger context.

#4 Dave Budge (Homepage) on 2006-02-27 18:36 (Reply)

Although the question put by Mr. Sam is intended for a political context, I see most organized religion in the same light, authoritarian, requiring submission. Islam, in particular. It says much about the supression of clear-headed reason.

#5 Bonita (Homepage) on 2006-02-27 18:58 (Reply)

I found both quotes very interesting. The second one really made me sit up and take notice. With the exception of the executions for political offenses, I feel our country has wandered down this road in the last 15 to 20 years. The question becomes when will the executions for political offenses start coming? Pretty scary.

The first quote reminds me of how the Government just throws money at people and hope they don't really look at the underlying problems. It keeps the Government in power and the people dumb and happy. It seems to be working because to few people really care about what is going on.

I might not rant about the problems very often but I feel they are there and need dealt with. I do what I can but more people need to care to change things and I am afraid that isn't going to happen.

#6 Sarpy Sam (Homepage) on 2006-02-27 22:19 (Reply)

<blockquote>The question becomes when will the executions for political offenses start coming?</blockquote>
I know that these are probably tired examples, but Ruby Ridge and Waco come to mind.

#6.1 Craig (Homepage) on 2006-02-27 22:38 (Reply)

I don't know if we're living in a totalitarian state <i>now</i>, but I think the apparatus of a totalitarian state exists. To wit, the executive branch has

--Claimed absolute authority to spy on U.S. citizens.
--Detained U.S. citizens without warrant or trial under "enemy combatant" status
--Drafted the Patriot Act, which defines terrorism in such vague terms that it could apply to any protest of government policy and strips those accused of terrorism of basic civil liberties
--Created a federal, uniformed police force answerable solely to the president
--Built a network of secret prisons across the globe

While it seems the president hasn't abused any of these structures against US citizens (against foreign nationals is another story), the structures are there.

#7 touchstone (Homepage) on 2006-02-28 12:44 (Reply)

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