I was about 13 when I figured out that the Nazis and the Soviets of the time (or at least Stalin's time, which was what the book I was reading was about) were birds of a feather. The terms 'right" and "left" had little to do with what they WERE, which was power mad propagandists able to sell their positions through fear until fear became…
I was about 13 when I figured out that the Nazis and the Soviets of the time (or at least Stalin's time, which was what the book I was reading was about) were birds of a feather. The terms 'right" and "left" had little to do with what they WERE, which was power mad propagandists able to sell their positions through fear until fear became a way of life for their people.
I refuse to believe that the American People actually want what Davis et al are selling. But I fear that the American people if they don't wake up may GET what is being sold.
There undoubtedly are some who want it, but probably a small percentage of the population. Most want to live pleasant lives, satisfying lives, surrounded by friends and loved ones, and don't want this sort of thing.
Oh, I agree. The problem is that too many want that life but don’t realize that it isn’t just handed to you--you have to work to maintain the structure that allows it. I’m sure the East Germans had plenty of families who enjoyed a quiet life--but they also had the Stasi, the rewards for informing on even a family member, a parent, a child.
It’s been going on 35 years since the Soviet Union and its satellites collapsed (and 78 since the Nazis did). Those of us who came of age post war (with parents involved in it) and Cold War had the dangers of those systems in our face constantly. But many of those who came of age after the Soviet collapse are in their 40s now and haven’t had that daily experience. “Oh yeah. Lots of awful regimes.” But those were in what tRump called “shithole countries, not relevant to US.
But that anti-democratic tendency is growing again all over what we think of a Western Civilization and too many people think we don’t have to worry because we are “exceptional.” Life will go on as it “always” has.
The phrase “doomed to repeat it” keeps echoing for me. Can a country being led into ignorance, even proud of being there (don’t worry, be happy) sustain democracy? Or even deserve to have it?
That must have been a helluv'an experience growing up with the Stasi. Hideous, informing on friends and/or family. It's amazing what some H. sapiens can do.
And part of subscribing to TCinLA, Robert Hubbell, Heather Cox Richardson is about having the info to help us prevent the repetition.
Incidentally, and not connected with your point, it really bothers me when people conflate the former guy's name with the rear end, a body part which performs several valuable functions, and which is a secondary sex characteristic which many of both genders regard as attractive (including me). I'm of the opinion that all body parts should never be used as epithets, but should be regarded as sacred.
I think that's just fine. But the horse doesn't want to be associated with Trump, either! You could write FDRump in the case of the horse. Your comment was genuinely funny--put a smile on my face!
too right. Because why do the Neo-Stasi need your kids when they can check out your FB account? Normally I don't worry a lot about cybersecurity. I take the basic steps, have the basic tools, don't respond to "receipts from the Geek Squad" or click on being told Costco is willing to GIVE me some expensive item. Etc Etc.
But if it were someone like Davis with the power to get around that precaution--THAT is really scary./
Oh, I am too. The scammers just change one letter in the email address and there goes the Junk filter. I spend the morning sending crap to junk. I will say that Malwarebytes does stop malicious websites well.
One of the things that did show up in Junk (I check it daily because some stuff I want ends up there) was a hysterical "ransom-ware" threat. It went on and on about how it could evade junk filters (yep) and how I needed to send a bunch of bitcoin to an undisclosed location or else he would....reveal to all my family and friends my acres of porn sites.
I'm a 79 year old grandma. I have never been on a porn site. If I had, my family and friends would just consider it funny to find out, presuming it involved some kind of irony on my part.
What is scary is how many folks who HAVE been on a porn site--or many--and ashamed of it could be caught by this.
I was about 13 when I figured out that the Nazis and the Soviets of the time (or at least Stalin's time, which was what the book I was reading was about) were birds of a feather. The terms 'right" and "left" had little to do with what they WERE, which was power mad propagandists able to sell their positions through fear until fear became a way of life for their people.
I refuse to believe that the American People actually want what Davis et al are selling. But I fear that the American people if they don't wake up may GET what is being sold.
There undoubtedly are some who want it, but probably a small percentage of the population. Most want to live pleasant lives, satisfying lives, surrounded by friends and loved ones, and don't want this sort of thing.
Oh, I agree. The problem is that too many want that life but don’t realize that it isn’t just handed to you--you have to work to maintain the structure that allows it. I’m sure the East Germans had plenty of families who enjoyed a quiet life--but they also had the Stasi, the rewards for informing on even a family member, a parent, a child.
It’s been going on 35 years since the Soviet Union and its satellites collapsed (and 78 since the Nazis did). Those of us who came of age post war (with parents involved in it) and Cold War had the dangers of those systems in our face constantly. But many of those who came of age after the Soviet collapse are in their 40s now and haven’t had that daily experience. “Oh yeah. Lots of awful regimes.” But those were in what tRump called “shithole countries, not relevant to US.
But that anti-democratic tendency is growing again all over what we think of a Western Civilization and too many people think we don’t have to worry because we are “exceptional.” Life will go on as it “always” has.
The phrase “doomed to repeat it” keeps echoing for me. Can a country being led into ignorance, even proud of being there (don’t worry, be happy) sustain democracy? Or even deserve to have it?
Too many have drunk the Kool Aid and no longer can actually think.
That must have been a helluv'an experience growing up with the Stasi. Hideous, informing on friends and/or family. It's amazing what some H. sapiens can do.
And part of subscribing to TCinLA, Robert Hubbell, Heather Cox Richardson is about having the info to help us prevent the repetition.
Incidentally, and not connected with your point, it really bothers me when people conflate the former guy's name with the rear end, a body part which performs several valuable functions, and which is a secondary sex characteristic which many of both genders regard as attractive (including me). I'm of the opinion that all body parts should never be used as epithets, but should be regarded as sacred.
Heh. Is it ok if the body part is specified as part of a horse?
I think that's just fine. But the horse doesn't want to be associated with Trump, either! You could write FDRump in the case of the horse. Your comment was genuinely funny--put a smile on my face!
If we don’t change direction, we may wind up where we are headed.
too right. Because why do the Neo-Stasi need your kids when they can check out your FB account? Normally I don't worry a lot about cybersecurity. I take the basic steps, have the basic tools, don't respond to "receipts from the Geek Squad" or click on being told Costco is willing to GIVE me some expensive item. Etc Etc.
But if it were someone like Davis with the power to get around that precaution--THAT is really scary./
I do all that but I’m still on the receiving end of a mountain of Schitt. The idiots seem tech savvy these days
Oh, I am too. The scammers just change one letter in the email address and there goes the Junk filter. I spend the morning sending crap to junk. I will say that Malwarebytes does stop malicious websites well.
One of the things that did show up in Junk (I check it daily because some stuff I want ends up there) was a hysterical "ransom-ware" threat. It went on and on about how it could evade junk filters (yep) and how I needed to send a bunch of bitcoin to an undisclosed location or else he would....reveal to all my family and friends my acres of porn sites.
I'm a 79 year old grandma. I have never been on a porn site. If I had, my family and friends would just consider it funny to find out, presuming it involved some kind of irony on my part.
What is scary is how many folks who HAVE been on a porn site--or many--and ashamed of it could be caught by this.