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In reply to the discussion: Rationalizing an authoritarian surveillance state is naive. [View all]JackRiddler
(24,979 posts)32. Realpolitik is usually very naive.
Last edited Wed Jun 12, 2013, 12:07 PM - Edit history (1)
People get off on playing generals and statesmen in their heads, adopting the perspectives of high-level cannibals while completely ignoring their own interests, effectively preparing to serve themselves up for dinner. That's naive. The idea that the dirty "strong" option is somehow automatically the superior one for "our" interest has been successfully ingrained in people through the "Machiavellian" mind set. It's bullshit. (It's also not really Machiavelli, but that's another story.)
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Lol, have you been reading what the Europeans think of our 'legal' spying on them?
sabrina 1
Jun 2013
#67
Thank you for posting. I wholeheartedly agree with your well-written post.
DisgustipatedinCA
Jun 2013
#8
Denial and Defiance. "There isn't a problem/There is a problem but it's not so bad."
Fire Walk With Me
Jun 2013
#13
Then let's turn the conversation to "Why doesn't Obama eliminate these Bush programs now"
Fire Walk With Me
Jun 2013
#15
Could he veto FISA? End the "patriot act"? Unsign his two signings of the NDAA with its section 1021
Fire Walk With Me
Jun 2013
#17
I encourage you to take the post word-for-word and create an OP. I promised myself to stop arguing
Fire Walk With Me
Jun 2013
#19
That this is a "manufactured RW scandal" is discredited by the fact that even Cheney
usGovOwesUs3Trillion
Jun 2013
#81
congratulations-- this is so well-written and persuasive that the swarm cannot answer it
carolinayellowdog
Jun 2013
#24
unless the people doing the rationalizing are actually intelligence operatives
HiPointDem
Jun 2013
#35
Kick, Rec and ... if I can find something that fits... I will fucking FRAME it. n/t
Smarmie Doofus
Jun 2013
#26
When you talk about fighting the secret government, perhaps you could elaborate
Progressive dog
Jun 2013
#33
So what, I would think most of the people in the surveillance apparatus
Progressive dog
Jun 2013
#51
Same bullshit that people who can't deal with not being in charge spout
Progressive dog
Jun 2013
#54
Way closer to cut and dry than all the excuses and catch phrases want to think
TheKentuckian
Jun 2013
#69
Oh, sure. I bet you'd just LET granny smoke that joint, instead of dragging her ass to jail.
Warren DeMontague
Jun 2013
#73