Bush Address Tuesday
Out of context: Reply #83
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Our country was founded on dislike and distrust of politicians.
uberdesigner
(Jun 29 05, 07:32)
--------------You know Uber, I think the US and in fact the whole enlightenment was about suspicion of authority and concentrations of power.
That was a main connective thread in US hostory and cultural make up.
Prior to 9/11 I thought the biggest threat facing the long term viability of the American experiment was the congealing of economic power in corporations that were largely above the law in the US - their influence as a degrading influence on ideals of personal liberty,
9/11 happened, and as much as a threat that terrorism is to the US, this other threat hasn't gone away - in fact it has only increased and is hidden now behind patriotic motifs.
The recent supreme court ruling about emeniant domain, the bankruptcy "reform" act, the attack on "trial lawyers", the gutting of many federal standards for various industries, the patriot act, the "national ID" card, possibly the invasion of Iraq itself ...
Power is being concentrated beyond te scope of the American electorate and the propaganda machine is well greased. Bush and his cohorts are part of this machine. I mean all politicians (well most) are - they have to be to operate in that world. But the hso be a balance, and there is no balance with this admin - it's about concentrating power in places that are above transparency and reach - and that is fundamentally un-american to me at it's core..
The US certainly dealt with this before in the age of the robber barons - and the press and rhetoris than was as partisan as it is now - but then the little guy won. I am not so sure this time around...
Rant over.