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Konnrade
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Registered: 09/13/05
Posts: 13,833
Loc: LA Suburbs
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Will US government paranoia in this century ever...
#5943181 - 08/08/06 03:13 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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... reach the subjugating perversion that it arrived at at the heat of the red scare?
It's not exactly a rarity for strongly opinionated political dissidents to be viewed in the same light as enemies... and it seems fairly frequent that I hear news of a civilian being detained without having broken any laws, with some sort of terrorism-related excuse.
At this point, this is largely just due to mistakes being made by overzealous or perhaps mentally incompetent enforcers that either don't care or don't realize that they are violating the rights of their victims. However, the general paranoia that some of the populace posesses plays right into the hands of those with a political agenda, in a way that seems disturbingly reminiscent of the red scare.
It's hard to argue against the notion that HUAC was used to intimidate political opposition (in fact, HUAC could easily be defined as an institutionalization of terrorism)... but could a tool of intimidation such as HUAC occur again in the future, veiled as a terrorism countermeasure?
Personally, I feel that it is highly possible. But, what do you think?
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I find your lack of faith disturbing
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kotik
fuckingsuperhero


Registered: 06/29/04
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Re: Will US government paranoia in this century ever... [Re: Konnrade]
#5946669 - 08/09/06 06:30 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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I think the "I'm just doing my job" mentality will be the death of us all.
-------------------- No statements made in any post or message by myself should be construed to mean that I am now, or have ever been, participating in or considering participation in any activities in violation of any local, state, or federal laws. All posts are works of fiction.
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Basilides
Servent ofWisdom


Registered: 02/10/06
Posts: 7,059
Loc: Crown and Heart
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Re: Will US government paranoia in this century ever... [Re: Konnrade]
#5946702 - 08/09/06 06:59 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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HUAC was more of an office of inquisition than state-sponsored terrorism.
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    "Have you found the beginning, then, that you are looking for the end? You see, the end will be where the beginning is. Congratulations to the one who stands at the beginning: that one will know the end and will not taste death."
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RosettaStoned
Stranger

Registered: 05/29/06
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Loc: North America
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Re: Will US government paranoia in this century ever... [Re: Konnrade]
#5947601 - 08/09/06 02:36 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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I fear we are steamrolling in the direction of the "commie" bullshit all over again. Except this time it's going to be "you disagree with killing arabs?? you must be a terrorist!" I hope someone with some reason can turn this ship around, but please forgive me if I don't hold my breath.
Quote:
At this point, this is largely just due to mistakes being made by overzealous or perhaps mentally incompetent enforcers that either don't care or don't realize that they are violating the rights of their victims.
I would like to point out, in a cops eyes you have no rights. You have to assert your rights or they will stomp all over them and in the end it's just your word against theirs. It goes on all the time, in the eyes of our cops almost every single person is a criminal first and a citizen second. Especially young people. I can't stress it enough, if you are detained by a cop for ANYTHING do not engage them in conversation, ask for a lawyer right away. It is the only way to protect oneself.
Some may disagree with my views on this, but I will simply point out those that disagree have a lawyer in their back pocket ready to help them out of anything. If they don't have a lawyer then they have plenty of cash to find a good one. Those of us who don't have that luxury the only thing we can do is refuse to talk until they either charge us and get a public pretender or let us go. But talking to the cop is a great way to ensure you are charged with something.
-------------------- "Government big enough to provide you with all you need is also big enough to take everything you have." ~ Thomas Jefferson "Without stupid, faggy potheads we wouldn't have wars." - Zappa
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Konnrade
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Registered: 09/13/05
Posts: 13,833
Loc: LA Suburbs
Last seen: 1 year, 19 days
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Re: Will US government paranoia in this century ever... [Re: Basilides]
#5949313 - 08/09/06 11:38 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Basilides said: HUAC was more of an office of inquisition than state-sponsored terrorism.
True, but as it became infamous it started becoming a means of intimidation. People knew damn well that HUAC could ruin their careers and lives, and as a result some prominent people were kept in check out of fear of being called a commie in front of HUAC because they didn't agree with the government.
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I find your lack of faith disturbing
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