Thread: The Erosion of Civil Liberty in America

Originally Posted by BLUELINE976

Just out of curiosity, how many of you consider the US to now be a police state?

Me, but I've been saying it since 2008, so nothing new here.

Originally Posted by cmind

Me, but I've been saying it since 2008, so nothing new here.

So what do you consider North Korea?

Originally Posted by BLUELINE976

Just out of curiosity, how many of you consider the US to now be a police state?

Originally Posted by BLUELINE976

So what do you consider North Korea?

Saw that follow-up question coming, right after reading the first.

Do you believe that the term 'police state' is so specific that it cannot be used to define both North Korea and the (emerging?) state of the U.S.?

Police State: A police state is a state in which the government exercises rigid and repressive controls over the social, economic, and political life of the population.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_state

If we are not there yet (which is arguable, at least), then I would say we are on the threshold. I would further say that the intention is there, and that we are just a few short Public Relations hurdles away from full-blown totalitarianism. I honestly do not think there is any real 'moral or ethical code' keeping us from descending into a blatant dictatorship. I think doing so would be a PR nightmare, and might actually lead to revolution, because those people who are so easily quelled by the creature comforts we are fed to keep us docile, wouldn't have that as a deterrent. So, the powers that be must calculate what steps to take toward that end, without rocking the boat too far, along the way.

Originally Posted by Oneironaut Zero

Saw that follow-up question coming, right after reading the first.

Do you believe that the term 'police state' is so specific that it cannot be used to define both North Korea and the (emerging?) state of the U.S.?

Police State: A police state is a state in which the government exercises rigid and repressive controls over the social, economic, and political life of the population.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_state

If we are not there yet (which is arguable, at least), then I would say we are on the threshold. I would further say that the intention is there, and that we are just a few short Public Relations hurdles away from full-blown totalitarianism. I honestly do not think there is any real 'moral or ethical code' keeping us from descending into a blatant dictatorship. I think doing so would be a PR nightmare, and might actually lead to revolution, because those people who are so easily quelled by the creature comforts we are fed to keep us docile, wouldn't have that as a deterrent. So, the powers that be must calculate what steps to take toward that end, without rocking the boat too far, along the way.

I think there's an enormous difference between what I'd consider a real police state (NK) and the United States. So much of a difference, I say, that calling the US a police state is unjustifiable exaggeration. It may look like one in comparison to the American tradition of individual freedom (though even that comparison is questionable), but to reasonably ascertain whether a country is a police state, the country needs to be compared to other states, not just its own historical tradition. None of us would be legally holding this conversation if the US were actually a police state. This forum would probably be blocked as well, for all I know.

Just glancing at the wiki article you linked, you can see Freedom House's survey of world freedom. The US isn't even considered "partly free." Similarly, the Press Freedom Index has the US on the side of "less restraints."

Does the US violate rights? Yes. Are things going in the wrong direction? Yes. Is it a police state? Not even close. Calling it that dilutes the meaning.

Originally Posted by BLUELINE976

So what do you consider North Korea?

A commie police state. The US is more like a corporationy police state. Europe is kinda like a welfarey police state, and China is a cheap plasticy police state. What do I win?

Most modern states today are much more similar to each other and to Nazi Germany than the states of 100 years ago. It's an illusion to think there's much difference between the US and any other McDonald's colony. If you doubt that, watch a movie in the Bourne franchise. No matter where you go in the developed world, you get the same basic SS gestapo fucks running around. They just have different letters.

Originally Posted by cmind

A commie police state. The US is more like a corporationy police state. Europe is kinda like a welfarey police state, and China is a cheap plasticy police state. What do I win?

Most modern states today are much more similar to each other and to Nazi Germany than the states of 100 years ago. It's an illusion to think there's much difference between the US and any other McDonald's colony. If you doubt that, watch a movie in the Bourne franchise. No matter where you go in the developed world, you get the same basic SS gestapo fucks running around. They just have different letters.

People should know this so i put this.... e78.jpg

Big Brother Searches Family For Googling 'Pressure Cooker'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-3V29E-QhY

Originally Posted by hathor28

People should know this so i put this.... e78.jpg

Big Brother Searches Family For Googling 'Pressure Cooker'
YouTube

I just googled it a few weeks ago, and bought an 11 litre/quart version.
By the way, I use it to steralise substrates for mushrooms.
Not for evil plans to take over the world.