We are literally living Atlas Shrugged

[flacaltenn]

That's a good point. So, what's the difference? At what point does a situation become tyranny? What is the correct way to describe the conditions that occur in the lead up before actual tyranny can be said to begin?

Americans won't notice the onset of tyranny because we're on slow frog boil in losing our rights and privileges for the past 50 years. The Fed Govt is being allowed to exceed their Constitution and general powers bounds. The fact that now most everyone in Congress LOVES having the world's most awesome spy agency doing Domestic Surveillance is a primary example of how far we're already into tyranny.

There's also the tyranny of the 2 Brand Name parties. Each of which is WRECKING the confidence and efficacy of the American political system in a way that Putin could never DREAM of accomplishing. They got to go. There are 535 members of Congress and only FOUR of those control every debate, vote, debate and the SPEECH of their members. They run the place, the others are irrelevant.

Why is Ayn Rand (or other foreigners) who came here to escape tyranny important? Because they can recognize the "slow boil" that we under cooking out our Civil Liberties and Freedom in a way those IN the pot cannot.

Trump is just a symptom of the failures to guard freedom/liberty. Words you hardly ever hear on the campaign trail anymore -- and CERTAINLY --- not from the Democrats/Progressives/Socialists.

When the 2 parties offered you two MASSIVELY flawed meglomaniacal power whores as a choice, it's time to jump out of the pot and start thinking about voting for INDEPENDENT and 3rd party choices. You're NOT WINNING by "voting for winners" -- you're losing most times you do that. So does about 60% of America LOSE at every election -- if you count the Big Middle and all the folks self-exiled from the party madness and those don't vote, but whine incessantly about politics..

 

[flacaltenn]

I agree that we Americans sometimes overstate our woes. But I think that it is an error to adopt an end point model for these questions. Instead, I propose a motion based model. Maybe tyranny, democracy, corruption, and all these other terms aren't specific points to be plotted. Perhaps they are vectors. Maybe tyranny is about the direction and speed of our movement.

Or MAYBE -- instead of being a nice straight line vector -- the precursors to tyranny are the violent swings and oscillations that cause a system to go unstable.

And maybe a lot of the energy in those perturbations are exaggerated or faked. Like you (your avie) for example usurping the public discussion that SHOULD be happening with events engineered to disrupt and blockade fixing.

When you slice/dice the electorate into 2 polarized constituencies and pit them against each with a lot of smoke, mirrors and phony outrage based on MASSIVE hypocrisy --- you're creating that unstable system that will runaway beyond the control of those who set it in motion. These are not just MY observations. The original FOUNDERS of this nation recognized the dangers of 2 party tyranny...

There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.
JOHN ADAMS, letter to Jonathan Jackson, October 2, 1789

However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796

Party leads to vicious, corrupt and unprofitable legislation, for the sole purpose of defeating party.
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER, The American Democrat

The bosses of the Democratic party and the bosses of the Republican party alike have a closer grip than ever before on the party machines in the States and in the Nation. This crooked control of both the old parties by the beneficiaries of political and business privilege renders it hopeless to expect any far-reaching and fundamental service from either.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT, The Outlook, July 27, 1912

Much indeed to be regretted, party disputes are now carried to such a length, and truth is so enveloped in mist and false representation, that it is extremely difficult to know through what channel to seek it. This difficulty to one, who is of no party, and whose sole wish is to pursue with undeviating steps a path which would lead this country to respectability, wealth, and happiness, is exceedingly to be lamented. But such, for wise purposes, it is presumed, is the turbulence of human passions in party disputes, when victory more than truth is the palm contended for.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to Timothy Pickering, July 27, 1795

Saying we should keep the two-party system simply because it is working is like saying the Titanic voyage was a success because a few people survived on life rafts.
EUGENE J. MCCARTHY, Chicago Tribune, September 10, 1978

 

[flacaltenn]

Ever notice that everything for the "public good" always ends with more power for the government and more capability for their intrusion into the lives of citizens? Ayn Rand saw it coming.

Unbreakable encryption poses a threat to public safety that only legislation may be able to address, according to Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Strong encryption on smartphones that can't be cracked may call for laws restricting its use, Rosenstein said at a security conference in Utah.

No. Not it doesn't. At all. It doesn't even remotely pose a "threat" to public safety. Quite the contrary, it protects the public.

Legislation on encryption ‘may be necessary,’ deputy attorney general warns

I'm surprised you have not noticed by now that Donald Trump is a YUGE fan of the surveillance state. Bigly.

Just like the last Republican in the White House.

What I noticed was -- on the eve of the last vote on continuing the Patriotic Act, the Donald came out swinging for reforms and check/balances. After all, he's been a victim of it.

But by noon the next day, he retracted. And gave it his tacit blessing. Does HE intend to use it against citizens the way it was used and abused against him. Did the mysterious "They"" get to him? Is HE and most of the Congress critters ALREADY so compromised by Domestic Spying that none of them can rightfully speak out against it?

Tune in next week for "As Our Nation Crumbles". Sponsored by the Kremlin, the RNC/DNC, and our BFFs in Beijing.

 

[P@triot]

Maybe tyranny is about the direction and speed of our movement.

Uh...it’s not. At all. Tyranny is tyranny (like MaObama shredding the U.S. Constitution and abusing his authority). Words have meaning. Stop trying to redefine them to suit your agenda and propaganda.

 

[bripat9643]

Yes...the topic was “Atlas Shrugged”. Which illustrates how societies collapse under idiotic left-wing (power-hungry) policy.

I believe the solution to this "problem" that Rand invented for her really bad novel...was for Galt to take his ball and go away.

If only you would do the same....and take like minded people with you...

We'd all be so much better off

You actually wouldn't be better off. Who's going to make your computers and electric cars for you?

Where would we go, exactly? Where wouldn't we be subject to all the rules and looting of the parasite class?

 

[Stormy Daniels]

Yes...the topic was “Atlas Shrugged”. Which illustrates how societies collapse under idiotic left-wing (power-hungry) policy.

I believe the solution to this "problem" that Rand invented for her really bad novel...was for Galt to take his ball and go away.

If only you would do the same....and take like minded people with you...

We'd all be so much better off

You actually wouldn't be better off. Who's going to make your computers and electric cars for you?

Where would we go, exactly? Where wouldn't we be subject to all the rules and looting of the parasite class?

You couldn't build a jenga tower, much less a computer.

 

[bripat9643]

Yes...the topic was “Atlas Shrugged”. Which illustrates how societies collapse under idiotic left-wing (power-hungry) policy.

I believe the solution to this "problem" that Rand invented for her really bad novel...was for Galt to take his ball and go away.

If only you would do the same....and take like minded people with you...

We'd all be so much better off

You actually wouldn't be better off. Who's going to make your computers and electric cars for you?

Where would we go, exactly? Where wouldn't we be subject to all the rules and looting of the parasite class?

You couldn't build a jenga tower, much less a computer.

I actually can build computers, and I have built computers, although that isn't my line of work. The point here is that the kind of people who go to Galt's gulch are the kind that can build things and make stuff. They aren't the kind who get degrees in "Women's studies" and produce nothing of value to his/her fellow human beings.

 

[Lesh]

I actually can build computers, and I have built computers, although that isn't my line of work. The point here is that the kind of people who go to Galt's gulch are the kind that can build things and make stuff. They aren't the kind who get degrees in "Women's studies" and produce nothing of value to his/her fellow human beings.

Well off you go then. Why are you still here?

 

[bripat9643]

I actually can build computers, and I have built computers, although that isn't my line of work. The point here is that the kind of people who go to Galt's gulch are the kind that can build things and make stuff. They aren't the kind who get degrees in "Women's studies" and produce nothing of value to his/her fellow human beings.

Well off you go then. Why are you still here?

Where is Galt's Gulch, you fucking moron? Why aren't you on a plane to Venezuela?

 

[Lesh]

Where is Galt's Gulch, you fucking moron? Why aren't you on a plane to Venezuela?

It's a fantasy...that you seem to dearly love. Go find it since you think we're "living it".

As far as Venezuela I have never shown any liking for that country or it's leaders or politics

Huge fail but you had to say something I guess

 

[bripat9643]

Where is Galt's Gulch, you fucking moron? Why aren't you on a plane to Venezuela?

It's a fantasy...that you seem to dearly love. Go find it since you think we're "living it".

As far as Venezuela I have never shown any liking for that country or it's leaders or politics

Huge fail but you had to say something I guess

I know it's a fantasy. Atlas Shrugged is a work of fiction. You're the one who doesn't seem to understand that. What we're living is the effects of a society run by exactly the same kind of sleazy people who were the antagonists in Atlas Shrugged. Those characters are caricatures of the people who admire and support. In fact, you are one of those people.

You have the same ideals as the scumbags who made Venezuela what it is today. Obviously, you don't want to be associated with them. No one wants to be associated with failure. Nevertheless, you support are the same failed policies. None of the antagonists in Atlas Shrugged believed they were responsible for destroying society either.

 

[P@triot]

As far as Venezuela I have never shown any liking for that country or it's leaders or politics

Sweetie...Venezuela is the left-wing paradise. So is Cuba. And yet none of you ever renounce your U.S. citizenship. Instead, all of you just whine 24x7 that we don’t have universal healthcare (because you’re not satisfied mooching off of us for housing, food, transportation, spending money, etc.).

 

[P@triot]

This is literally Atlas Shrugged. The left screaming that everyone should vote and act against their own self-interests - to the point that it causes them to lose their business, their home, etc. It’s fucking insanity.

Psaki claims it is 'unfair and absurd' for businesses to raise prices if Biden administration raises corporate taxes | Blaze Media

Apparently unaware of basic economics, White House press secretary Jen Psaki stated Monday that the White House believes it is "unfair and absurd" if businesses raise prices in response to the Biden administration increasing corporate tax liability.What did Psaki say?For several days now, the...

www.theblaze.com

 

[SavannahMann]

I thought I remembered this thread. It was started when Republicans were busy denying the polling that showed the Democrats would take Congress. Thank God they were right. I mean can you imagine the living hell it would be if Nancy Pelosi became speaker again?

 

[P@triot]

I thought I remembered this thread. It was started when Republicans were busy denying the polling that showed the Democrats would take Congress. Thank God they were right. I mean can you imagine the living hell it would be if Nancy Pelosi became speaker again?

What the fuck does your incoherent rambling have to do with the thread topic?

But to answer your question, we’re seeing the “living hell”. Mass unemployment. Nation-wide shortages on basic products. Record-high gas prices. $30 trillion in debt. In other words, the standard nightmare the US is forced to experience and endure every time the Dumbocrats are in power.

 

[P@triot]

Barack Obama is just now figuring out that “open borders” create crisis.

Obama now calls open-borders immigration policy 'unsustainable' as Biden's 'heartbreaking' migrant crisis worsens

Former President Barack Obama — who routinely pushed for open-borders immigration policies during his time in office — acknowledged recently that such an idea is "unsustainable."Obama made the statement while commenting on the Biden administration's ongoing immigration crisis at the U.S...

www.theblaze.com

 

[SavannahMann]

What the fuck does your incoherent rambling have to do with the thread topic?

But to answer your question, we’re seeing the “living hell”. Mass unemployment. Nation-wide shortages on basic products. Record-high gas prices. $30 trillion in debt. In other words, the standard nightmare the US is forced to experience and endure every time the Dumbocrats are in power.

And none of that happened until Biden was sworn in? Wow. Selective memory.

Who remembers the great toilet paper shortage? Anyone? When was that exactly?

When did the unemployment begin? Anyone?

Did Trump balance the budget?

Jackass.

 

[g5000]

Wish we were still using railroads

Made with Rearden Metal.

 

[gipper]

We can see the deception being played on the American people, but the millions of dupes never catch on. Big Government LOVES a dumbed down populace.

Notice how Trump's administration is doing exactly as W's and Big Ears' administrations did. New boss same as the old boss....and round and round we go...and dupes still can't figure it out.

Wow. Am I not prescient?

Now we have old Joe who will do just like his predecessors.

 

[g5000]

What the fuck does your incoherent rambling have to do with the thread topic?

But to answer your question, we’re seeing the “living hell”. Mass unemployment. Nation-wide shortages on basic products. Record-high gas prices. $30 trillion in debt. In other words, the standard nightmare the US is forced to experience and endure every time the Dumbocrats are in power.

Record high gas prices? What brand of LSD are you on?

And you can thank Trump for adding almost $8 trillion to the debt. I don't recall you starting any topics to bitch about that.

God only knows how much more he would have added if he had another 4 years.