these reactions to a thoughtcrime, as Orwell pointed out, can be almost preconscious, or instinctual. Merely being in the presence of the unthinkable causes the mind to flick past it, without considering, veracity, applicability, or relevance.

Currently, for example, there is the studious avoidance of any admission on the part of the broadcast ‘news’ networks that their role as a propaganda funnel in the runup to the unprovoked agression against Iraq has been revealed for the world to see by the New York Times.

The truth in this case is clearly also a taboo, and the rules of the tribe say that the perpetuation of their central myths, their master narrative, takes precedence over the truth. Easy call, there is lots at stake, money, power, and self esteem. The latter is important for sustaining a feeling of superiority over Soviet or Baathist propagandists, with their absurd devotion to Party Line over self-evident realities.
Turns out however that the paragons of the corporate media in the USA are not that different than their Soviet colleagues.

This may still be an un-assimilated concept for many, but if you put this and a few other insights together into a perspective that is skeptical of concentrated power, you can make some predictions and compare them with observed reality.

This is something Arthur Silbur has been doing over at powerofnarrative.blogspot.com for many years.

for example, in October 2006, he predicted:

1) The Democrats will do nothing to speed up our exit from this immoral and illegitimate invasion and occupation.

TRUE! see for example
House Democrats work on huge Iraq money bill
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/…..=printable

2)Assuming they have majorities in both houses, will the Democrats repeal this vomitous legislation? (The Military Commisions Act) No, they will not.

TRUE! Supposedly, Obama has some campaign rhetoric about the restoration of Habeas Corpus, but prior to the passage of this abomination, his staff steadfastly maintained, via email and phone, that the Senator had no position on the bill, had not yet read it, and other such slippery evasions and equivocations. So his conversion to support for the centuries old writ of Habeas Corpus is a little too recent to be presumptively sincere.

3) Point Three: the Democrats do nothing but ensure the inevitability of an attack on Iran.

sigh, TRUE.

Warhawk H. Clinton promises “obliteration”, while Obama voices the right-wing-talking-point of Dick Cheney that “all options are on the table”. And of course on July 11, 2007 the Senate passed the “Lieberman Amendment to Confront Iran” by 97 to zero.

So this guy Silbur has the ability to make predictions that can be tested and confirmed. Also, he is likely in profound agreement that it is vitally important that we

“Imagine restoration of the rule of law. Imagine extending a hand to the downtrodden and the despairing that they, too, might have hope in a time of despair and fear. Imagine working toward solutions — together. Imagine it…and then work to make it possible.”

But, alas, Mr Silbur seems to have his priorities all wrong – since he cannot seem to place allegiance to the Democratic Party over and above his opposition to war and torture, and thus he is always uttering thoughtcrimes that make him beyond the pale in the (D) captured ‘progressive blogoshpere.’

For example:

The only fact that matters is that Republicans and Democrats — two or three honorable exceptions aside — all act to destroy liberty and to further criminal war abroad. But in a psychological sense, I probably would have to say the Democrats (and certain of their apologists) are worse: to say you recognize evil to any extent at all, yet to fail to oppose it or, which is still more reprehensible, to act for its furtherance, consigns one to the lowest rung of Hell.

from http://powerofnarrative.blogsp…..w-our.html

Now to wend back to the beginning of this over-elaborate post …

Hypothesis Part 1:

This is where we’ve come: two criminal gangs run the United States from Washington. Neither of them understands the supreme and sacred value of an individual human life. Neither understands any matter of principle relating to liberty or peace. Both of them are intent upon power, no matter how many innocent people must die, and regardless of how many countries must be destroyed, including our own.

This is your government today. Two murdering, thieving, plundering, power-mad gangs, both of which deserve the worst fate that can be imagined. These are the people who will rule you for years to come.

This is our national life now — and this is your future.

Part 2 – Part 1 is an unutterable, unthinkable taboo to those who think (D) electoral politics will lead to “restoration of the rule of law… extending a hand to the downtrodden …” etc. Research and evidence to the contrary, no matter how voluminous, is irrelevant, for we are in the realm of Faith.

Like the yearning for a Sky Daddy to give direction to the Universe, people of a certain faith in the USA have to beleive that someone from up high is gonna come and make things all better, and that the vehicle that will deliver this saviour is the apparatus of the (D) Party.

but if your Faith sometimes wavers, though, read some links from beyond the pale, see if they can be easily refuted, or if they deserve fair consideration…

…none of the other firepups have to know….

mods, too

;~P

and mods, if you get a chance, please make my #40 go *poof*

don’t want the whole world knowing my email addy, i get enough spam as it is.

*off to combat the evils of “conservatism”*

bbl

Been there

Mukei — I’m going to enjoy that link. Thanks so much for posting it!

No wonder the guy hates Obama!