Reply #14: Unlike other forms of total state

[nadinbrzezinski]

and closed societies, this one does not rely that heavily on police powers.

Why you will not see that many thugs in the streets.

It is more like what I grew up with. You knew it was there, but for the most part, as long as you did not become a real threat, you were free to do whatever you wanted. Now you did something dangerous to the order, people did go poof. We are close to that... and yes, elections are just window dressing in this kind of a system.