The Politics of Fear - Page 2 - Political Forum

Scribbler1 · 05-23-2007, 11:17 PM

Need help is right! He needs a LOT of help.

FRYandBENDER · 05-23-2007, 11:27 PM

I feel bad for the guy. I mean, I think it would be cool to know what it is like to be crazy, like my great grandmother, but not that crazy.

Bobcat1 · 05-23-2007, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRYandBENDER

I feel bad for the guy. I mean, I think it would be cool to know what it is like to be crazy, like my great grandmother, but not that crazy.

Well, it's definitely not going on my resume now....

baxter · 05-24-2007, 07:05 AM

Quote:

I don't think freedom of speech will ever be suspended. For one thing, it can't be enforced at the local level. They can't post a speech cop in every office, for example.

It won't be suspended per se but take my example of the hunts for communists during the 1950's: that is taking freedom of speech isn't it?

And you don't actually need a cop on every corner to enforce these restricting things. You make people believe that communists are dangerous (politics of fear) so they tell on their friends, just like what happened with McCarthyism.

Emmanuel Goldstein · 05-24-2007, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baxter

I agree with you. It has already happened in the past with McCarthyism and the hunts against the communists, which is a preposterous violation of a person freedom of speech (and you could even say thought).

That was more of a freedom of association issue, IMO.

But then again, I'm half asleep. What do I know?

perdidochas · 05-24-2007, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baxter

After the Cold War and the fear of nuclear war with the Russians, comes the fear of terrorism and the Middle East. With all these different alert level colors and the Department of Homeland Security, these fears are used as weapons to reduce our civil liberties. Like the fact that there are hundreds of innocent detainees on Guantanamo bay imprisoned without trial for years, or starting a war in the Middle East. The government frightens the people into accepting these reforms.

What liberties infringement do you feel on a regular basis?

What is the next step?

The next fear?

The next reduction of civil liberties?

I don't feel any liberties infringement, except for the limitation of my right to bear arms (my employer doesn't allow it).

perdidochas · 05-24-2007, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Think for myself

I think the next liberty infringed upon will be freedom of speech. Once the government has that, then whoever may be in power will be free to do as they wish. As it stood just a couple of years ago, anyone who was against the war was not a patriot.

Shouldn't people have the right to say somebody's not a patriot, without the accusation that they are infringing on freedom of speech?

The right to freedom of speech only applies to the government. I don't recall the government prohibiting people talking against the war.

perdidochas · 05-24-2007, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baxter

It won't be suspended per se but take my example of the hunts for communists during the 1950's: that is taking freedom of speech isn't it?

And you don't actually need a cop on every corner to enforce these restricting things. You make people believe that communists are dangerous (politics of fear) so they tell on their friends, just like what happened with McCarthyism.

McCarthyism was a temporary abberration. Our system quickly eliminated it.

Think for myself · 05-24-2007, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perdidochas

Shouldn't people have the right to say somebody's not a patriot, without the accusation that they are infringing on freedom of speech?

The right to freedom of speech only applies to the government. I don't recall the government prohibiting people talking against the war.

You have a point, but too often, in my opinion, what people say and what people hear are two distinct things.

presluc · 05-24-2007, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baxter

I agree with you. It has already happened in the past with McCarthyism and the hunts against the communists, which is a preposterous violation of a person freedom of speech (and you could even say thought).

You bring up a very good pointabout McCarthyism.
A lot of people including myself {altough I grew up in that perod} have forgotten about the blacklisting,and other charges that were made by this so called Patroitic commitee.
Is America indeed traviling down the same path with like wiretaps witout warrents ect?