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In reply to the discussion: Authoritarian State Yet? [View all]geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)34. Certainly our system is flawed, as has been every system in every place on earth
for all of human history.
The rich have always been more powerful than the poor, etc etc. But, to call our system authoritarian is to admit defeat and foreswear any attempts to defeat poweful interests.
If we believed that the system is authoritarian, why did the Koch brothers have such a bad night last November?
The term "authoritarianism" when applied so broadly, begins to lose any meaning.
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It's been tried and failed, so it's better to allow this as long as it doesn't interfere
Egalitarian Thug
Aug 2013
#50
I guess I'll be the crazy guy who points out we still have elections and that virtually every
geek tragedy
Aug 2013
#3
"authoritarian" has been so overused and abused as a matter of hyperbole around here
geek tragedy
Aug 2013
#8
Hard to argue that the US is an authoritarian regime when there are intensely
geek tragedy
Aug 2013
#14
Seems like theater, a pretense of democracy to keep people busy and distracted.
limpyhobbler
Aug 2013
#28
Certainly our system is flawed, as has been every system in every place on earth
geek tragedy
Aug 2013
#34
Whether Democrats or Republicans win, every day is a good day for the Koch bros.
limpyhobbler
Aug 2013
#76
Long before they funded the teahaddists, they were also among the who's who of
Egalitarian Thug
Aug 2013
#80
They all have given up the power. Peaceful, orderly transition of one head of state to another
geek tragedy
Aug 2013
#24
They didn't, they own nearly all the winning candidates on both sides. Learn your history.
Egalitarian Thug
Aug 2013
#91
You're as wrong and as gullible as ever. I'd hope your masters would show you
Egalitarian Thug
Aug 2013
#98
I never said either or those things, you like to argue against points you wish were made.
Egalitarian Thug
Aug 2013
#101
There's no truly free society. It's always a matter of striking the appropriate balance
geek tragedy
Aug 2013
#11
The NSA thing has pushed too far in one direction, and it's time to reel it back
sarisataka
Aug 2013
#18
there will never be consensus for full scale repeal-only chipping away. nt
geek tragedy
Aug 2013
#30
You have confused illusions with reality for as long as I've been reading your writing here.
Egalitarian Thug
Aug 2013
#23
You've just defined authoritarianism down as "functioning government" or "absence of anarchy"
geek tragedy
Aug 2013
#29
There ya go. What confuses you about the idea of consent of the governed? Government without the
Egalitarian Thug
Aug 2013
#41
No answers as usual. This nation was founded on exactly the principles outlined above.
Egalitarian Thug
Aug 2013
#54
You're arguing that people who owned slaves didn't believe in coersion. nt
geek tragedy
Aug 2013
#73
No. I'm arguing that coercion is not necessary and leads to bad results.
Egalitarian Thug
Aug 2013
#75
So you think the SCOTUS gutting of the Voting Rights Act is no big deal then, right? nt
geek tragedy
Aug 2013
#36
Ok, go run for office. Let us know how many "Patrons" you become beholden to, in order to afford to
Katashi_itto
Aug 2013
#90
Let me know how much people complaining on the Internet have accomplished. nt
geek tragedy
Aug 2013
#92
That's the truth. People who participate in our political system are the only
geek tragedy
Aug 2013
#96
I love "not as bad" arguments. A little aresenic is not as bad as lot of arsenic.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Aug 2013
#39
It isn't a "not as bad" argument" Its a "entirely fucking inaccurate" argument.
phleshdef
Aug 2013
#43
When the people are given a choice between 2 candidates that support the programs..
Tierra_y_Libertad
Aug 2013
#45
I'd say a state with the highest incarceration rate in the world is, in fact, a police state.
Warren Stupidity
Aug 2013
#88
Let's see: Secret government, secret courts, secret prisons, secret wars, secret kill lists.....
Tierra_y_Libertad
Aug 2013
#37
DU is not a representative sample of opinion, but wow, 80% think the USA is not a democracy.
limpyhobbler
Aug 2013
#77
We have become more authoritarian. We are on the leading edge of what may become an authoritarian
DisgustipatedinCA
Aug 2013
#83
well, that's a nice bullshit poll. You have visually demonstrated a false choice fallacy
Pretzel_Warrior
Aug 2013
#84
I'd have to interpret that response as "wow I didn't realize the authoritarian booster league
Warren Stupidity
Aug 2013
#86
in a non scientific poll with sample size of 130 thus far and people self select to participate?
Pretzel_Warrior
Aug 2013
#87
I am probably one of the most vehement in denouncing the surveillance state but I voted pass
Douglas Carpenter
Aug 2013
#100
Closer to yes than to no. Power does not flow from the people, power is used to herd the people
TheKentuckian
Aug 2013
#102