Fuck the Police State

[trish]

Who is responsible for the War on Crime? The privatization of prison?
The electorate. You ARE the government. We govern ourselves through elected representatives. If you don't want for profit prisons don't elect representatives who support them. If you don't want homeland security arming ordinary city police with state of the art armor and arms, don't vote for the people who put that shit in place to begin with. We are the government. Those who are too lazy, or too distracted, or would just rather not participate in meaningful self government, will be governed by those who do participate.

[johnlinzer]

You have 2 options ....

1) Learn to live with it and keep your head down (you can mitigate a lot of trouble by being more wealthy and influential).

2) Leave the country.


Things aren't going to improve :P

Well, actually there is a third option that is guaranteed by the first and second amendments. I don't like it. I hope it never comes to it, but sooner or later it probably will.

[danthepoetman]

The so-called War on Drugs in particular has dramatic effects. They now bust into homes with tactical units regularly for simple possession. A bag of a few grams of pot is often sufficent to do so! The militaro-industrial complex has penetrated the police forces. Policing is now engaged, because of this "war", in the same kind of vicious circle the military is traped in. And the solution is simple. So simple.

[TempestTS]

Who is responsible for the War on Crime? The privatization of prison?
The electorate. You ARE the government. We govern ourselves through elected representatives. If you don't want for profit prisons don't elect representatives who support them. If you don't want homeland security arming ordinary city police with state of the art armor and arms, don't vote for the people who put that shit in place to begin with. We are the government. Those who are too lazy, or too distracted, or would just rather not participate in meaningful self government, will be governed by those who do participate.

The greatest trick that our government ever pulled off was making you think your vote counted.


The system is hopelessly fucked - Iceland threw out its government and locked up its bankers and is now the first country in the world to run completely off of renewable energy. And they didnt do it with voting - Im more than willing to participate - but its probably not in the way that your thinking.

[johnlinzer]

Exactly. There is one turning point which is absolutely obvious. Once again...

Did you know that according to the FBI the amount of violent crime in this country as decreased by an amazing 50% in the past twenty years? When I look at the graphs you supplied, I can't help seeing the correlation.

[trish]

The greatest trick that our government ever pulled off was making you think your vote counted.

Bullshit! The greatest tricked being pulled on Americans everyday is the promulgation of the lie that their vote doesn't count. Why do you think the GOP is so concerned with voter ID when there is no significant record of voter fraud? It's all about voter suppression. Why do the parties, interest groups and candidates spend billions on ad campaigns? It's because VOTES MEAN EVERYTHING. We elect the government. You don't have to collect an arsenal and take up arms. You just need to read, listen, learn, discuss, participate and vote.

[TempestTS]

I couldnt agree more - Silence means Death - stand on your feet.

- twenty years ago they were talking about china and Brazil - today this scene looks very familiar right here in what's left of America

Originally Posted by Rabbiteyes You have 2 options ....

1) Learn to live with it and keep your head down (you can mitigate a lot of trouble by being more wealthy and influential).

2) Leave the country.


Things aren't going to improve :P
-----
Well, actually there is a third option that is guaranteed by the first and second amendments. I don't like it. I hope it never comes to it, but sooner or later it probably will.

[maxpower]

Did you know that according to the FBI the amount of violent crime in this country as decreased by an amazing 50% in the past twenty years? When I look at the graphs you supplied, I can't help seeing the correlation.

So, you're saying the ends justify the means?

[TempestTS]

Well, actually there is a third option that is guaranteed by the first and second amendments. I don't like it. I hope it never comes to it, but sooner or later it probably will.

Bullshit! The greatest tricked being pulled on Americans everyday is the promulgation of the lie that their vote doesn't count. Why do you think the GOP is so concerned with voter ID when there is no significant record of voter fraud? It's all about voter suppression. Why do the parties, interest groups and candidates spend billions on ad campaigns? It's because VOTES MEAN EVERYTHING. We elect the government. You don't have to collect an arsenal and take arms. You just need to read, listen, learn, discuss, participate and vote.

Bullshit on your bullshit call - you seem to think the billions spent on candidates goes to only one party ??? Seriously ??? - you think that police state spending has decreased under democratic leadership ??? You think the NSA has had powers reduced in any meaningful way under the current leaderhsip ??? our leaders - ALL OF THEM - were bought and paid for long before the election was even held.

Read something besides what the mainstream "B" side media feed you - its much deeper than the two party system or liberal vs conservative

I applaud your faith in the system - I just find it woefully misplaced - it hasnt changed anything substantial in over 50 years, possibly more than 100.

[trish]

you seem to think the billions spent on candidates goes to only one party ???

Did I say that? Let's check. I asked, "Why do parties(notice the plural)...spend billions..." The answer is because we're a democratic-republic with an elected government that is replaced piecemeal on an ongoing basis. VOTES ARE EVERYTHING.

My faith in the system extends only as far as my faith in the electorate, which is depressingly small and all too often willfully ignorant.