This has got to stop. The number of jihadists this kind of thing creates we will never know.

I agree pretty much with all of your points, concerns and speculations, although I suspect we are roughly at the point where Rome was when Augustus had conferred almost all power on himself, much as Bush has done.
The difference is that Augustus did not intend to destroy the fundamental viability of the state, as Bush so clearly intends.

I hope that FDL and its ‘community’may be willing to encourage these broader discussions of what might actually be the beginning of a serious ‘push-back’. That will require discussion of topics which some here shall find both ‘different’ and ‘ground-breakingingly’ that is, different from what might once have been considered easy, ’safe’ and comfortable.

If the internet is to have the salutory affects which so many extoll, then it must serve as the vehicle which moves and distributes the very ideas you’ve touched upon.

I commend your courage and thoughtfulness in daring to raise these ‘questions’ and sincerely hope and encourage you to continue with bringing such heightened and rousing notions to the fore.

Some will, no doubt, take you to task for ‘advocating’ or even broaching such ‘troublesome’ responses to tyranny.

Indeed, we have NO way of easily trusting anyone, not even ourselves, with regard to thoughts about ‘what’ we should ‘do’ beyond cajoling, begging or voting for far ‘less’ than is needful.

While the supremely powerful may stage a successful coup at their whim, the un-powerful must NEVER contemplate ’serious change’ out loud. There is no risk-free place or ’secure’ time for such behavior in a de-mock-racy.
All options are forbidden us until is is ‘too late’.

But, kick ‘it’ around? We should.

How ‘real’ do you think such ‘discussion’ should be? Lives and fortunes-time? Or just for ‘kicks’?

We deserve the loss of reputation because damn few Americans rejected the opportunity to cross to the dark side. Bush isn’t the one shoving a feeding tube down that guy’s throat. It’s some guy who thinks he’s following orders and maybe he is. Maybe he thinks if he doesn’t do it, he’ll join the guy in a cell with a feeding tube threaded down his throat. And here I’m no different. I don’t know what I’d do in that guy’s shoes. Except for some blog posts, I’m not protesting much. Another tax bill comes due and I’ll pay it.

The writer’s strike was an opportunity lost. Think of the powerful message of millions avoiding the movies. We need internet organization where each of us, individually, decide on collective action. I’m not talking hierarchy with a purported leader telling everyone what to do, but a place where individuals pledge they will behave a certain way. Trouble is we don’t trust each other enough to believe, sight unseen, the others will do as they pledge. We fear standing alone. If ten million took a holiday from paying taxes, that might get someone’s attention or there might be a legal means of protest like not going to the movies to demonstrate the people’s muscle. It’s something we should kick around. I’m not even sure how we go about doing that.

-G

-G

Far more journalists have been killed in Iraq thus far than in all the years of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. And more than in World War II.