In his essay Morals & the servile mind, published in the New Criterion, Kenneth Minogue suggests that the current state of democracy in the west is different than that of a hundred years ago in important ways. Our inherited moral values, he notes, are increasingly challenged by “politico-moral” public policies that are “both morally obligatory and politically imperative.”
…while democracy means a government accountable to the electorate, our rulers now make us accountable to them. Most Western governments hate me smoking, or eating the wrong kind of food, or hunting foxes, or drinking too much, and these are merely the surface disapprovals, the ones that provoke legislation or public campaigns….many of us have unsound views about people of other races, cultures, or religions, and the distribution of our friends does not always correspond, as governments think that it ought, to the cultural diversity of our society. We must face up to the grim fact that the rulers we elect are losing patience with us.
“Rulers are losing patience with us” – in Canada we see this whenever an out-of-power Liberal leader lectures Conservative politicians, and by extension conservative voters, about who we are as Canadians, and, especially, on what the Canadian view is on various “issues” dear to the brand – whether it be “our” view on global warming, or “our” view on aboriginal issues. This sort of royal ‘We’ attitude is, Minogue suggests, a misapprehension on the part of politicians:
Our rulers are theoretically ‘our’ representatives, but they are busy turning us into the instruments of the projects they keep dreaming up. The business of governments, one might think, is to supply the framework of law within which we may pursue happiness on our own account. Instead, we are constantly being summoned to reform ourselves.
In any democracy these politicians who summon us to reform ourselves are, of course, elected. When Minogue describes people who “forgive these intrusions because they are so well intentioned” he is describing of virtually every Liberal/NDP voter in the country. Even though he’s from London England, his own view is a reasonably accurate description of the essential views of the Tea Party movement, and of most Canadian conservatives:
The point…is that our rulers have no business telling us how to live. They are tiresome enough in their exercise of authority—they are intolerable when they mount the pulpit.
BTJ – are you serious?
Are you actually stating that IF one has ‘ legitimate and real concerns/grievances”..that one is “therefore susceptible to propaganda/idealism…leading to ‘group-think'”.
How do you make the connection between having ‘legitimate and real concerns’…with ‘being susceptible to propaganda’. Does having real concerns mean that one has moved out of the capacity to think???
Furthermore, Obama’s policies and programs are socialist – which means – the public ownership of the means of production. Such as GM, such as health care, such as student loans – and Obama’s constant attacks against private business and private wealth, both as corporations and small businesses…who are all defined as ‘greedy’ and refusing to ‘spread the wealth’.
Obama, by the way, plays the Blame Game constantly, and operates almost completely within the emptiness of rhetoric and propaganda. He’s the one to accuse people of racism, political bias, ignorance..and has deeply divided the American people.
It is somewhat ironic that the onlu incident of violence was when very large, SEIU goons, near Kansas City, beat the crap out of Kenneth Gladney—-a tiny, little black guy.
The incident prompted some TEA PARTY folk to legally open carry…..which terrified the SEIU goons, with the result of no more violence.
Perhaps not really fair—the SEIU goons can’t pass a background check……….as they shouldn’t….
Waterhouse: your reading comprehension skills are lacking.
Nah. Intentionally or not, you compared the Democrats in the US in 2010 to the Jews in Germany in the 1930s.
Here’s the drivel you typed:
The German gov’t used the frustrations of the people to turn the Jewish people into scapegoats. Now the Tea Party has directed the frustrations of millions of Americans against the Democrats with similar propagandist rhetoric
German government directing frustrations against Jews. Evil Tea Parties directing frustrations against Democrats.
You were trying to make an analogy, and I’m pointing out how fundamentally stupid, ignorant and wrong your analogy is by pointing out how the other side of the equation would have to be true in order for your analogy to be apt.
Let me spell it out for you, because I doubt you’ll understand otherwise: The Tea Partiers’ anger at the Democrats is legitimate, because they are the government in power, they are accountable to the citizenry for their actions, and their actions and planned actions are contrary to what the Tea Party believes should be done.
In the 1930s, the anger at Jews was completely baseless. Jews were not in control, Jews were not in power, and conspiracy theories had to be built up in order to make it seem so.
Your analogy is irreparably broken and hence, quite lame.
ET: “Are you actually stating that IF one has ‘ legitimate and real concerns/grievances”..that one is “therefore susceptible to propaganda/idealism…leading to ‘group-think'”.”
Let me expand on that…people with real concerns and grievances who do not have an understanding of the their cause, who can’t really explain their situation, many of whom may be prone (as many of us are from time to time) to pointing at others as the root of their own troubles…they tend to be more open/prone to propaganda that gives them some outlet/source to point fingers at.
“Such as GM, such as health care, such as student loans”
You think he bailed out GM because it’s the socialist thing to do? Or maybe was it because it’s a large piece of the US economy?
Are you against any form of gov’t run health care? Really?
Student loans? Are you serious? You’re attacking the only important parts of government!
Waterhouse: Your logic is faulty…you’re making assumptions (which is why you added ‘intentionally or not’)…you’re trying to extrapolate from my statement. The point is that people who are looking for answers to their problems are being fed half-truths, lies, and propaganda.
I didn’t say ‘german gov’t directing frustrations vs jews’..I said german gov’t directing its citizens frustrations vs Jews (through propaganda).
The frustrations of the people are not the result of the current gov’t…it’s taken more than a couple years for those frustrations to build. The last few decades of US politics combined with shit education has built those frustrations.
There was 8 years of Bush before the last few of Obama…or have you forgot about him already?
you’re making assumptions
No, I’m articulating what your inept analogy actually implies; I’m thinking through the entirety of your analogy, something you clearly haven’t done. That you don’t like the result is your own fault, for being dumb enough to create a spurious analogy in vain hopes of tainting a present-day small-government citizen movement with allusions to a totalitarian fascist government from the 1930s.
The frustrations of the people are not the result of the current gov’t.
Yes, they are; they’re the result of years of increasing inept and unnecessary government intrusion, policies which the Democrat government currently in power is not slowing but accelerating. The Democrats are NOW at fault for not proposing solutions which don’t involve yet more government, but ever-increasing and unsustainable levels of governmental bureaucracy and failed socialist policies. That is what the Tea Parties are reacting to. The reaction by the small-government Tea Parties is thus entirely legitimate, and entirely contrary to your nonsensical analogy.
“No, I’m articulating what your inept analogy actually implies;”
You’re trying to ignore the analogy by falsely implying that I’ve spoken the unspeakable..comparing something to the Jewish victims of the holocaust.
“spurious analogy in vain hopes of tainting a present-day small-government citizen movement with allusions to a totalitarian fascist government from the 1930s.”
No, again, you’re not reading, you’re assuming. I compared the persons in the Tea Party citizen movement to the citizens of Germany…not their government. Once again…both groups have legitimate concerns and frustrations, and are being fed scapegoat delusions.
“Yes, they are; they’re the result of years of increasing inept and unnecessary government intrusion”
So this only started since Obama? You’re trying to tell me that it only took about a year of Obama being elected and he’s done so much that he’s responsible for the years and years of concern and frustration?
Are you implying that government was small before Obama? Are you implying that Bush bears no responsibility for the current situation of the US?
What failed socialist policies? The Tea Party started up before he had a chance to do anything!
You’re trying to ignore the analogy by falsely implying that I’ve spoken the unspeakable
That you are incapable of creating an apt analogy is hardly my fault. It’s your analogy; accept the consequences or admit it’s a completely false one.
and are being fed scapegoat delusions.
The Democratic government is not in charge, and is not implementing policies of rapid governmental expansion? Are you serious?
Are you implying that government was small before Obama?
No. Are you suffering from the reading comprehension issues you accused me of? I explicitly stated that government expanded under Bush. I’m ALSO saying that far from cutting it, Obama is expanding it at an accelerated rate. The Democrats (the party currently in control; would you please acknowledge this FACT and recognize their policies are legitimate areas of concern for citizens to argue against) are not addressing the problems in the way the Tea Parties think is correct, i.e. their call is for less government, not more.
That you think it’s grossly unfair that they weren’t protesting Bush’s governmental expansion is immaterial, considering the vastly expanded scale of governmental intrusion planned under the Democrats vs that implemented under the Republican Congresses.
The Tea Party started up before he had a chance to do anything!
The Tea Party started up as a reaction to Obama’s vision of ever-expanding government and socialist policies: “stimulus”, bailouts, government-run health care, cap-and-trade etc. Why shouldn’t they argue against what they consider fundamentally-flawed policy, based on evidence from elsewhere around the world? Why should they wait until the policies are implemented and the damage has been done?
The Tea Party horrifies and terrifies the Democrats. Liberal commentators, such as James Carville and Maureen O’Dowd, are already criticizing Obama, who makes Trudeau look competent, honest and upright. Will Obama be a worse president than Carter? Yes! Will he be a worse president than Buchanan? Perhaps. Will he be re-elected? Not likely.
Y’all should listen to me more often. I’ve suggested before that T is a fake just looking for attention. Now he’s admitted as much @9:18. I wouldn’t be surprised if he trolled lefty blogs, going on about how cool Sarah Palin and George Bush are. Can’t you just ignore him?
“That you are incapable of creating an apt analogy is hardly my fault. It’s your analogy; accept the consequences or admit it’s a completely false one.”
What are you spewing? Quite with the BS, you’re not even speaking to my point, just repeating the same lie over and over…you didn’t negate the analogy whatsoever, you simply tried to vilify me for approaching the topic of the holocaust.
“is not implementing policies of rapid governmental expansion? Are you serious?”
Yes I’m serious…show me all this ‘rapid gov’t expansion’…please. The bailouts are not an example, and were supported by both parties.
“I explicitly stated that government expanded under Bush”
Must have missed that…probably because it doesn’t exist..you didn’t say that anywhere…again..lies.
The point is that these people are saying irrational things like Obama = Hitler…their grievances are being distorted, they are being led to believe that all their concerns are a direct result of ‘fascist Obama’..which is complete horse doo doo.
“The Tea Party started up as a reaction to Obama’s vision of ever-expanding government and socialist policies: “stimulus”, bailouts, government-run health care, cap-and-trade etc. Why shouldn’t they argue against what they consider fundamentally-flawed policy, based on evidence from elsewhere around the world? Why should they wait until the policies are implemented and the damage has been done?”
Have you ever heard some of those Tea Party goers speak about their concerns? Most don’t even know what they disagree with other than the single sentence statements they’ve been fed. They don’t have an understanding of the individual policies and issues..they make ridiculous statements to the effect that Obama is a socialist, fascist unAmerican dictator. That somehow all the nations problems are a result of Obama. It’s BS…the elitist run, fascist aspects of America have been long brewing..and a Republican at the helm isn’t going to and hasn’t changed that.
Vίtruvius @9:56 – it’s not too late to start.
BTJ – ahh, now you are saying that people who do NOT understand the causes of the problems…do not understand the causes of the problems. And thus, ‘may’ be prone to believing in the wrong causes. So? Prove that the Tea Party people (1) don’t understand the causes and (2) as such, are prone to propaganda. Prove it.
…”people with real concerns and grievances who do not have an understanding of the their cause, who can’t really explain their situation, many of whom may be prone (as many of us are from time to time) to pointing at others as the root of their own troubles…they tend to be more open/prone to propaganda that gives them some outlet/source to point fingers at.”
Your other comments are equally unsubstantiated and ungrounded opinions. You also tend to merge the particular with the universal (try basic logic).
So- student loans are an important part of govt? Ah, you must be a student. That partly explains both the weakness and the shallowness of your opinions.
By the way – who is ‘feeding’ the citizens of America in the Tea Parties..’scapegoat delusions’? Americans are angry at the Democrat policies; no-one is feeding them information about the deficit, health care,the jobs lost; the insults to foreign leaders…etc..etc.). These are all facts.
What’s your proof that ‘most’ Tea Partiers don’t know what they are grieving against? I’ve heard them, and they seem clear, articulate and very well informed. Your conspiracy theory against them suggests they are being ‘fed’ opinions. Kindly explain who is doing this.
Kindly explain ‘elitist run, fascist’..I doubt if you know what these terms mean, but explain your use of them.
Frankly, I think that you are, like Obama, trapped in words, and have no understanding of what is really going on in the real world.
you’re not even speaking to my point,
I’m speaking to your analogy. If you don’t want your stupid analogy addressed, don’t use an analogy. I’m explaining why your analogy is ridiculous, how there is NO CONNECTION between Germans in the 1930s falsely blaming Jews for events which Jews cannot be held responsible for, and Tea Parties in 2010 correctly blaming the Democrats for ramming through gigantic big-government socialist policies for which the Democrats, as the government in power, are completely responsible and accountable.
Must have missed that…probably because it doesn’t exist
Right here:
they’re the result of years of increasing inept and unnecessary government intrusion,
Learn to read.
Have you ever heard some of those Tea Party goers speak about their concerns?
Yes. Have you? I’ve heard them clearly articulate concerns with ever-expanding government, and specifically with the Democratic policies on stimulus, government-run health care, cap-and-tax, bailouts, ballooning deficits and unsustainable debt.
There have been numerous post here by people claiming to be me. It is unfortunate, that an email or IP address can not be used as some form of security.
Oh poor T, boo hoo. We feeeeel your pain, T.
Now, apropos of the actual posted article, what the author describes is the movement of moral authority from religion to government.
Christians and all the other great religions believe God is the source of morality and the ultimate arbiter of it.
Liberalism is the religion which believes -government- is the proper source of morality and the ultimate arbiter.
Liberalism is also the religion that believes you can change human nature by passing a law, and that physical reality can be changed by really, really wanting it to.
Currently, Liberalism has extended its horizons to dictating what morals shall be taught by the various religions, which will eventually operate under government license. Beliefs which diverge from this week’s officially decreed set will be illegal.
Hence the Tea Parties.
T – how do we know it’s really you @10:05?
And how do you know there’s more than one of these “people”?
(Yes, now I’m taking my own advice and ignoring him – you know, whichever “him”.)
“blaming the Democrats for ramming through gigantic big-government socialist policies for which the Democrats, as the government in power, are completely responsible and accountable.”
Name them, what are these ‘gigantic big-government socialist policies’ and how they are the outcome of the current government alone.
“Right here:
they’re the result of years of increasing inept and unnecessary government intrusion,”
Wow…you are special. That is quite the clip you produced, unfortunately, when viewed in it’s entirety it is blatantly clear that you did not ‘explicitly state that gov’t expanded under Bush’..
“The frustrations of the people are not the result of the current gov’t.
Yes, they are; they’re the result of years of increasing inept and unnecessary government intrusion”
That is NOT explicitly stating anything about Bush’s gov’t. Nice try.
Fine article that is bang on. If you doubt it. Just mention some time your a free man in a group. watch the shock as people start to really think about how many humiliations are brought into their lives by “Authorities.” I might add its humorists as well.
JMO
“Prove that the Tea Party people (1) don’t understand the causes”
Sure.
youtube.com/watch?v=fevga9jUC48
youtube.com/watch?v=lUPMjC9mq5Y
youtube.com/watch?v=ZmuCOcBatGQ
“(2) as such, are prone to propaganda. Prove it.”
“The surrender of Germany and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles left the German population with a great many grievances, desires and fears. Despite this, it was not until the Great Depression of 1929 that these feelings manifested and the people of Germany looked for an answer to their mounting problems. From this depression arose two parties who rivalled the Weimar Republic – the Nazis and the Communists. It was however, the Nazis that succeeded. Their ability to play upon the needs and uncertainties of the German population, secured the success of their regime in the years 1929 to 1936. ”
“So- student loans are an important part of govt?”
Yes, if you think part of the government’s role is to support the advancement of technology and ingenuity.
Why do you think student loans should not be provided by the gov’t? What is your alternative plan?
“By the way – who is ‘feeding’ the citizens of America in the Tea Parties”
MSM..such as FOXNEWS, some of the “leaders” of the Tea Party, and politicians (no brain Palin comes to mind).
“Kindly explain ‘elitist run, fascist’..I doubt if you know what these terms mean, but explain your use of them.”
Haha…right..I’m clueless. America is very much controlled by corporate-political ideals/concerns. Politicians and corporate lobbyists/workers are often the same people or have a revolving door between the two. America has shown a tendency to wage violence and war in order to “keep the country strong”, supported by the citizenry through nationalism. It has also shown a tendency towards expansionist imperialism (which is consistent with fascism).
But maybe you’re right, maybe I just have no idea what I’m talking about :S
BTJ or T – whichever you are..
First, your Ytube anecdotes aren’t proof that the Tea Partiers as a majority, don’t understand the causes.
Second, your outline of Germany doesn’t provide proof that a) they didn’t understand what was going on; and b) they were thus prone to propaganda.
After all, any and all are ‘prone to believe’ – and any and all politicians make all kinds of propaganda.
You haven’t provided any evidence that the Tea Partiers don’t understand the causes of their grievances – ..big govt spending..is caused by big govt spending, after all.. and you haven’t provided any evidence of propaganda.
Student loans do not lead to ‘the advancement of technology and ingenuity’. Kindly provide clear evidence of the link between the two.
Where should student loans come from? The same place as all other loans; the bank.
What is your evidence that Palin has ‘no brain’?
What does ‘corporate-political ideals and concerns’ mean? After all, a corporation is a group of people who have pooled their money to start up and run a business. What is wrong with this?
Kindly give examples of America showing a tendency to ‘wage violence and war’ to keep the country strong. Do you think their role in WWII was such an example?
What is wrong with nationalism?
Oh – and explain how the US engages in ‘expansionist imperialism’! Please give examples.
No – fascism is not about ‘expansionist imperialism’; that’s not the correct definition.
You are obviously a young student, ignorant of history and political theory – and extremely biased and shallow. You slip through words without understanding their meaning; you drip words that you’ve picked up in leftist jargon but have no understanding of their meaning. So, yes, you don’t know what you are talking about.
“BTJ or T – whichever you are..”
You know who it is…its the same BTJ as you started this with.
“Second, your outline of Germany doesn’t provide proof that a) they didn’t understand what was going on; and b) they were thus prone to propaganda.”
Get lost…you’re a special guy, I’ll give you that…somehow your concept of you ‘explicitly stating’ things and proving your point demands much less stringent guidelines as are demanded by you when I’m proving a point. I’ve clearly shown that the state of German citizens leading up to the Nazi regime is similar to that of many fed-up Americans..including the economic troubles.
“You haven’t provided any evidence that the Tea Partiers don’t understand the causes of their grievances – ..big govt spending..is caused by big govt spending, after all.. and you haven’t provided any evidence of propaganda.”
Are you saying that it all comes down to ‘Big Gov’t spending’? Clearly YOU don’t even understand the roots of the American frustration. And labeling Obama as a new age Hitler is NOT clearly identifying the source of frustrations.
“Student loans do not lead to ‘the advancement of technology and ingenuity’. Kindly provide clear evidence of the link between the two.”
Wow…well, Universities are where research happens, it’s where all the engineers, and all the biochemists come from, it’s where all the people who invent new drugs come from..many of which are invented AT UNIVERSITIES! Are you dull?
“Where should student loans come from? The same place as all other loans; the bank.”
The same banks that have helped botch the economy? All those loans should go on the bank…do you really think they’re that stable? Do you think they can provide the same level of assistance to students?
“What is your evidence that Palin has ‘no brain’?”
Haha..did I hit a nerve? Palin is CLEARLY not especially bright. What’s your evidence that she has one? She made a complete fool out of herself during the last election, she continues to spew utter nonsense, she relies of faith over reason.
“What does ‘corporate-political ideals and concerns’ mean? After all, a corporation is a group of people who have pooled their money to start up and run a business. What is wrong with this?”
First off, a corporation is not just ‘a group of people to start and run a business’..come one, don’t give me that dumbed down crap. A corporation has the same rights as an individual, the most influential corporations are not ‘a group who’ve pooled their money together’, they are huge socio-political businesses who exert power over entire governments, armies, and laws. What I meant by ‘corporate-political ideals and concerns’ is the associations between large corporations and politics/government with the intent to partner up. Eg. Individuals involved with Oil companies and the Mineral Management Service working for one and then the other, making backroom deals, etc, etc.
“Kindly give examples of America showing a tendency to ‘wage violence and war’ to keep the country strong. Do you think their role in WWII was such an example?”
Haha..typical…bring up ‘the great war’ as your only mode of defense..very telling I must say. Here’s a list.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_sponsored_regime_change
the first Gulf war
1988 – Panama. In mid-March and April 1988, during a period of instability in Panama and as the United States increased pressure on Panamanian head of state General Manuel Noriega to resign, the United States sent 1,000 troops to Panama, to “further safeguard the canal, US lives, property and interests in the area.” The forces supplemented 10,000 US military personnel already in the Panama Canal Zon
The fact that the US has military personnel and bases in over a hundred countries.
“What is wrong with nationalism?”
Clearly you ARE NOT A TRUE CONSERVATIVE, you’re a NEO-CON. I never said it was wrong, I said it is consistent with fascism…what’s wrong with it though is it’s a form of collectivism, it’s the idea that the state is of primary importance, over the individual, it’s group thought.
“Oh – and explain how the US engages in ‘expansionist imperialism’! Please give examples.”
You poor clueless soul…are you kidding me? The US IS IMPERIAL EXPANSIONISM in the flesh! Who owns Puerto Rico? How many countries have a US base?
“No – fascism is not about ‘expansionist imperialism’; that’s not the correct definition.”
Yes it is, go look it up.
“You are obviously a young student, ignorant of history and political theory – and extremely biased and shallow.”
Ah, I was waiting for this..another brutal argument…the ever so pathetic ‘you’re young’ BS…right oh old and wise one, please teach me…HA!
I’m ignorant of political theory? Look in the mirror!
Biased…prove it.
Shallow…are you a psychologist?
“You slip through words without understanding their meaning; you drip words that you’ve picked up in leftist jargon but have no understanding of their meaning.”
Right…because I haven’t explained myself…maybe the problem is YOU’RE not understanding their meaning.
You Neo-Cons are always calling out anybody who doesn’t agree with your BS as ‘leftist’. And you ET, the thinking-impaired, are quick to claim that others don’t know what they are talking about…have you noticed that I’m the one trying to explain something to you while you sit back and pretend like your OPINION is righteous.
I hate to break it to you, but I’m more CONSERVATIVE than you.
BTJ – you need a course in basic logic. You cannot make an argument by stating only your opinions.
The Tea Parties are not about labelling Obama as Hitler. They are about a rejection of big govt, massive govt spending. OK?
To declare that Palin CLEARLY (capitals) is ‘not especially bright’ is not evidence.
Because research is carried out in universities does not mean that student loans lead to technological advancement.
The banks did not botch the economy; try the Congress insistence on mortgages-for-all.
A govt must represent not only small business but also corporate business. There is nothing wrong with corporate business; the demographics of the nation and the world require mass production of goods and services and corporate business is the only system capable of providing this. Or do you think that the small business owner should research, engineer and develop new technologies, ie, cars, planes, medical treatments and drugs? Hmmm?
Panama is not an example of US imperialism.
The US military bases are not imperialism; the US does not take over the national govt. This act absolved these nations from providing their own defense.
To be nationalist is not the definition of fascism.
Fascism does not mean ‘expansionist imperialism’. Heh – that’s actually a Marxist definition of it and quite wrong.
To be nationalist is not a collective attribute; one can be individualist in economic and political behaviour and still, a fervent nationalist. National identification does not set up the state as primary.
None of these definitions have a thing to do with ‘being Conservative’. They are based in an understanding of history and political theory.
ET:
“The Tea Parties are not about labelling Obama as Hitler.”
No?
A google images search of ‘Obama Hitler Tea party’ gets 321,000 results. Go take a look.
‘To declare that Palin CLEARLY (capitals) is ‘not especially bright’ is not evidence.’
Ok, go youtube ‘Sarah Palin’…watch a few videos of her speaking, answering questions, being interviewed. She has a poor understanding of the english language, she has a poor understanding of most issues in American politics and other countries, she destroyed the Republican’s chance in the last election, she’s on FOX NEWS!
“Because research is carried out in universities does not mean that student loans lead to technological advancement.”
What? You’ll have to expand on that…especially since it’s just a statement…there is no argument. I’ll break my argument down for you and you can pick it apart line by line.
Many students, except those who’s parents are quite wealthy, require a student loan…especially these days when rent is high and summer wages are not. Many of those students who require a loan go on to do research, many go on to work in the private sector where they make advancements, using the methods they’ve learnt at university. Thus student loans aid in the development of tech., etc.
“The banks did not botch the economy; try the Congress insistence on mortgages-for-all.”
Who does the lending? Who advises people on their mortgages? Who bet against their own loans? The government clearly played a large role, however, their main failure was as a regulatory body.
“There is nothing wrong with corporate business; the demographics of the nation and the world require mass production of goods and services and corporate business is the only system capable of providing this.”
No it’s not, you’ll have to prove that.
And it is not the ‘demographics’ that require mass production…it is the outdated economic system, which requires constant turn-over in order to create jobs, which give people the money they need for goods. This need for constant turn-over means that goods must be made to be replaced. With today’s technology goods could be made to last much longer…and many jobs crappy jobs could be replaced by machine…but people need money…they need something to do.
“Or do you think that the small business owner should research, engineer and develop new technologies, ie, cars, planes, medical treatments and drugs? Hmmm?”
This doesn’t make sense…you said ‘corporate business is required for mass production’…and now you’re onto R&D.
“Panama is not an example of US imperialism.”
Is there an argument behind that statement? Or is it just an unbacked opinion?
“The US military bases are not imperialism”
No? Care to give a reason?
“the US does not take over the national govt.”
No? Do you have any idea how many regime changes and political coups the US has been involved in?
I’ll give you a hint…it’s in the double digits.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covert_U.S._regime_change_actions
“To be nationalist is not the definition of fascism.”
You are putting words into my mouth..I didn’t say it was the definition…I said ‘nationalism is consistent with fascism’..meaning that fascism has a strong element of nationalism…not the other way around.
“Fascism does not mean ‘expansionist imperialism'”
I didn’t say ‘it means’..it’s consistent with fascism…as in fascism very often includes expansionist imperialism.
“To be nationalist is not a collective attribute; one can be individualist in economic and political behaviour and still, a fervent nationalist. ”
Yes it is..what is a nation? A group of people with one identity. One can be an individualist in every way of life, it doesn’t make a difference to nationalism being collectivism.
It tends towards a collectivist interest…period.