Comments on: It can’t happen here?

By: anti

anti — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:05:19 +0000

“I don’t see our republic as surviving more than a few decades into the 21st century”

Good. The Freemasons set it up anyway so good riddance.

By: Polter

Polter — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:25:34 +0000

it also at times seems to be a gigantic echo chamber/shouting match that makes it even easier to dismiss the humanity of those you hate.

I am aware of that and try very hard to not let that effect me and my political forum… and maintain free speech.

Very hard balancing act

By: David J. Williams

David J. Williams — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 20:11:09 +0000

@ Eric: I agree with you at least in part on the implications of the Internet/proliferation of media channels. It’s interesting to reflect on where we’d be without them: e.g., vote-hacking, for example, continues to be ignored by the major TV stations, yet it’s been discussed in detail online; as a result, there was a lot of awareness going into the 08 election.

But ultimately the Internet is dependent on satellites and phone companies, and there are certainly scenarios where those are commandeered by the govt. As to the possibility of ethnic cleansing in America, I’d have to give that one more thought, as I was talking more about autocracy in general than the specific policies such a regime would carry out. But it’s by no means inconceivable. It all depends on how bad economic conditions get. There’s even a sense here in which the Internet actually accelerates the political polarization that could lay the groundwork for the more dire scenarios–it’s an incredible tool for organizing/communicating, but it also at times seems to be a gigantic echo chamber/shouting match that makes it even easier to dismiss the humanity of those you hate.

By: Eric Garland

Eric Garland — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 19:04:23 +0000

Dave, one contrast between now and 1934 is there was no precedent whatsoever for the use of high-technology in an autocracy. The governments were the sole owners of the means of production and communication in both fascism and communism. Today, the means of production are kinda useless and the means of communication are on Facebook and Twitter.

There’s definitely a possibility – even a strong possibility – for your dystopian scenario du jour, but I’m hoping we have moved along the evolutionary continuum far enough to make Holocaust a relative impossibility.

By: Spartacus

Spartacus — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:42:21 +0000

Hey man. Keep insulting me by saying the average American voter is as smart as me and you’d best not close your eyes when you sleep tonight. And don’t think I don’t know how to turn that knob on your bedroom door. I’ve been saving that trick for your final act.

You’ve been warned.

By: John C

John C — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:45:26 +0000

hmmmm what would our future be like if Dave is even half right. I can understand your logic and course of events that could take place, but what about events man made/ or by nature that may have an impact on our political process? Things likely to take place include the continuing rise of water temperatures on our oceans, sooner or later a dirty bomb going off (god help us when this happens), shortage of food and natural resources. Not to mention nature or manmade super microbes? Shit!
Dave, do you have the schematics and power requirements for Jason’s suit?
John

By: meesh

meesh — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:02:06 +0000

i am so glad i am not average! nice post!