So, today we've got an awful lot of noise about the inefficiencies, injustices and unworkable facets of democracy, including statements that once established, democracy has "always ended" in tyranny, totalitarianism and "mob rule." Even if true, and it's not, CAN ANYBODY HERE POSIT A BETTER, MORE JUST FORM OF GOVERNANCE? I thought not. Otherwise you'd post it. Judging from the grasp of history that's usually on display here, today being no exception, one might perceive of Theocracy as a political ideal. Why not? It's easier to pray to an unknowable quantity/quality for relief than to relieve yourself - or to keep your elected leaders honest. It's easier to moan about PERCEIVED political reality than learn, thoroughly, how it got to be that way. That said, my hat is off to some of you people in thanks. You're among my greatest instructors - when it comes to determining an overall average of U.S. intellectual perspicacity. You're the ones who publish here daily, completely enamored by the absolute "truth" dictated by your personal convictions. Judging strictly from what you write it's no surprise, at all, that the U.S. is in rapid decline and may take down all of civilization with us. Americans, (myself included, inevitably) are among the angriest, least informed, least educated, culturally undernourished "developed" people existing on earth. At the same time we're simultaneously convinced of our own "American exceptionalism." Hah! The exact opposite is proven by the comments in these spaces every single day. If you only knew how silly you, and by extension ALL Americans look. I suggest you shut off the TV - voicebox of the Father of Lies, controller of our thoughts and greatest perverter of truth and reality history.

The merest idea of what modern TV has become in terms of mind control would have given Goebbels multiple orgasms. That much is obvious, given the resounding ignorance consistently on display in these spaces - from astroturfers and dogmatic ideologues alike. What I routinely read here can't be anything but demonstrable failure of "public education." Yet xenophobia appears to be the only heralded remedy. How many of you people actually attended a school board meeting in the past year? How many have read your child's textbooks from cover to cover or been a silent observer in a classroom, as my district once allowed? Godammit! Those are NOT "government schools." They're YOUR schools and that is PRECISELY where the blame lies. We're a great bunch of whiners, but you know what? Here we find a great many parrots - but very, very few truly independent thinkers. It's our national 'statist' of mind.

Portraying genocide and tyranny as being Communist-specific instead of existing as ORDINARY, across-the-political spectrum, age-old HUMAN BEHAVIOR, is an exercise replete with deceit and false self-congratulations. This Harvard book review's "accuracy" rates right up there with the gridiron accomplishments of their football team. It sucks, and if you're persuaded "capitalism" is superior in its "humanity", I suggest you audit 20th Century history surrounding US. Armed Forces, starting with Smedley Butler's writings. Don't forget Aaron Swartz's misery and sacrifice either.

... big sigh.

There are people of high principle in both major US parties - though one man's "principle" often results in another man's undeserved cage - or worse. Having principle does not, for a single second, render an individual immune to corruption. Newport's DVK nails exactly why highly principled people cannot survive unstained in D.C. Those who wonder how corruption of sincere, dedicated public servants is accomplished should ask themselves: are YOU, is ANYONE completely immune to corrupting influences of EVERY kind? I submit only if they're Christ or non-human, a Spock, bereft of all desire and every appetite.

"It is a process." Yup, a process at its highest levels that's much like a rigged gaming wheel - a wheel that can only be bested by circumvention, by engaging in direct, person-to-person barter conducted exclusively in cash (preferably coin minted of noble metal) or like trade. That way the crooked house and its corrupted 'regulators' are both left high and dry. Ever notice how such practices are, uh, discouraged? If one is tempted to think the market truly IS NOT guided by "a collective entity", a thorough investigation of the unfolding LIBOR scandal might be enough to change a person's mind. In any event, it seems certain the LIBOR crimes are fated to be swept under the carpet, disguised and hidden much like HSBC's crimes of historic-proportion were ... and the $2.3 TRILLION Donald Rumsfeld announced the Pentagon couldn't account for - stated in a Pentagon press conference, Sept 10, 2001. Guess which records were 'destroyed by terrorists' at the Pentagon, the very next day.

In the first place, it's highly questionable testimony to the often-bankrupt 'information' echo chamber (and this site's careless editors), that the above quote belongs to a DINSMORE, not a "Dismore", as it is near-universally attributed. Next, whatever Mr. Dinsmore's motivations were in articulating the idea, any 'great' newspaper that intentionally keeps massive NSA warrantless searches of private citizens secret, because the felons responsible for the lawless intrusions required them to, is anything but "liberal" in composition. This also applies to the absence of any substantial NY Times coverage, at all, of the "Chillcot Inquiry" or The Downing St. Memo or any number of other extremely vital things Americans need to know in order to cast an intelligent vote. Enduring baseless patter about "liberal media" is increasingly difficult, when its greatest domestic successes lie in keeping Americans needlessly fearful - and painting "Pax Americana" as something noble instead of something Hitlerian - SELLING a great country on the idea that "national security" requires projecting offensive warfare globally. I despair when the NY Times ignores the fact that 200 banksters were JAILED in tiny Iceland, for fraud in conjunction with the still not-concluded "banking crisis." Such things wouldn't be possible in a truly FREE press. Nor can media et-al be accurately characterized as "liberal" - however much some try. The great truth is this: journalists as a whole may indeed be liberally-oriented. Ooh, big deal. In fact, in every significant case the people they work for - the ones who decide what is and isn't emphasized for public consumption - demonstrably aren't.

Rough men everywhere might benefit from something Frederick the Great once admitted: "If my soldiers were to begin to think, not one of them would remain in the army." Two-time Medal of Honor honoree Smedley Darlington Butler went on to explain the exact 'why' behind Frederick's quote in the 1930s, and was rewarded by being written OUT of history. Many thanks to George, from East Bridgewater, for one of the most honest, insightful (in-CITEful!) comments this auditor has ever encountered here. The tidal wave of subtextual, "Wah! What's the use of being tough if you can't act that way" following in its wake, was perversely delightful. Thanks as well to Anonymous, Salisbury, England, for enlightening Jeremy, Tacoma. Ouch!

I hope 'Ron', the broadcaster from Denver reads and responds to this: Sir, what do "RESPONSIBLE" journalists have to say about gargantuan lies of omission? Out of the many such lies I'm aware of, one in particular dogs my memory in the manner of a particularly pungent, lingering beer fart: U.S. mainstream media's refusal to cover "the Downing St. memo", as the story was breaking in Europe. Nor, in the years since, have the deadly serious revelations of the story been emphasized domestically. Adequate, substantial media coverage of the completely vital fact that the Bush Administration was MANUFACTURING "intelligence" to make citizens believe Saddam had WMDs, to scare them into demanding war, may very well have stopped one instead. But no. Media played, continues to play, the role of stenographer, "presstitute" as Paul Craig Roberts has named it, reporting government propaganda as 'fact' and leaving absolutely vital truth, genuine news, to rot on the vine. Swinton may very well have had extremely personal motives for saying what he did. Regardless, a look at what's missing from media-acknowledged history paints his words with a modern brushstroke of wisdom.

The reality of citizen Power revealed by Jay's quote should be the subject of mandatory study in secondary schools everywhere in the US - then practiced by jurors daily in every courthouse in the land. For Laytown's Bob: The "proof" behind the quote is its source - a majority opinion published by the Supreme Court in 1794, authored by John Jay. Check:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_v._Brailsford_%281794%29

Sorry, Elvis. Truth is so easy to pollute/destroy in this world, that even a brief search for wisdom secreted in your words is pie-in-the-sky moon-beaming. Maybe you found "Truth" in Eternity. If so, you also discovered that terrestrial existence is not for knowing. It's for demonstrating what we're existentially/spiritually made of, via our Earthly acts. Human existence is experienced mostly from within layered veils of mystery, followed by an immutable death sentence.

Perhaps Calgary, the 2nd springs to mind because you feel Shakespeare is suggesting one is 'free' to fire when they're offended enough - though I'd caution that when one does opt to shoot, he's also turned himself into a free-fire TARGET. Shakespeare knew physical-mental-moral bondage well. The "captivity" he proposes canceling is spiritual in nature. After all, one doesn't have to be a contented slave. However common it remains among men and leadership, shouldn't murder remain a last resort? Isaac Asimov: "Violence is the last resort of the incompetent." Boy, no kidding Isaac.

US foreign press correspondent William L. Shirer's memoir, 'The Nightmare Years, 1930 - 1940, brings an important light to today's predominating discussion, I think. In the early 30s the Nazis needed working-class support for their march toward absolute supremacy. Hitler struck a bargain with Labor, exactly as he'd done with the Socialists, Catholics, Protestants and every other social force of note. As Labor found out, to their surprise and complete dismay, the Nazis never honored a bargain beyond securing their own immediate needs. In 1933, Hitler threw a huge May Day propaganda celebration, one where he personally received union leaders and worker delegations from all over Germany, It was a great show, and a successful one. Regardless, what happened next was fully accomplished before the Nazi lie became apparent to rank and file Germans. Shirer writes: "The next morning, May2, the trade-union offices throughout the country were occupied by the police, the S.S. and the S.A. (Brownshirts). All union funds were confiscated, the unions dissolved and the leaders arrested, beaten and carted off to a concentration camp." Within the next three weeks Hitler decreed an end to collective bargaining and outlawed strikes without exception. It bears repeating: Totalitarian tyranny doesn't give a flying 'eff' which end of the political spectrum it emanates from, right or left. It uses whatever means necessary to gain absolute Power - then it SILENCES the ordinary individual's voice. Whatever her reasoning, Rand intentionally warps the perceptions of her auditors' understanding of Communism in a burgeoning Nazi Germany. Then she instead finds favor in a ruling Capitalist standard. Her method is dishonest; her conclusion inescapably flawed.

Two stars for being pithy, otherwise what's the point? Cultural and individual definitions of what's 'right' or 'wrong' are so fluid in this world, that Asimov's thought is rendered moot in the end. Balance is the key - a key that cannot be located without the searcher bearing tolerance as his/her closest companion during the hunt.

Great quote, but it tends to direct one's attention away from several parallel, salient points, leaving the bulk of the 'blame' for our economic travails on Congress. First, it's not Capitol Hill needing psychiatric attention. Those crud are merely responding to the elemental requirements of their REAL constituency - the relatively few people found under one title: Big Money. The 100+ millions of ordinary citizens who keep returning these same feather-bedding bums to Washington are the ones needing psychiatric evaluation. Next, D.C. profligacy reflects precisely the personal economic habits of ordinary citizens, to the nth degree. They mirror us. In spite of the awful conditions, non-mortgage related personal debt just reached an all-time high. Citizens also fail to understand and engage the realities and terrible expense of an ever-expanding, U.S. global military imperative - strategy that has nothing to do with genuine national security. Self-named by the PNAC as "Pax Americana", it's active, monetarily ruinous pursuit of hegemony. The same lack of public understanding is encountered when it comes to exponentially expanding, domestic prison/police/surveillance state realities. It's a truly crazy, wtf situation constantly trivialized by media, king pimp of "election" tragedies ... sigh.

Jeeze, get a clue, people! Classifying all bureaucrats (cops are bureaucrats) as closet socialists is one of the most ignorant statements of supposed "reason" I've ever encountered. It's only useful purpose, as is sadly evidenced here, seems to be in providing an excuse for people lacking in adequate critical perspective, to make themselves look like politically one-sided, sycophantic fools. Good 'choice', editors. Sheesh!

Hmmm. I wonder where the "moral justification of capitalism" exists for those who provide labor, THE ACTUAL CREATORS OF CAPITAL, fits in this hypothesis - "every" man my aching ...

The problem lies not in the non-existence of truth; surely truth exists. The problem lies in the near-universal human insistence that MY/OUR perceptions of truth and reality are supreme and correct in the face of all others - hence MY/OUR overwhelming imperative to impose this vision of 'truth' on everybody else. PERSONAL 'truth', even if group-oriented (family, religious, political etc.) in nature, doesn't suffer competition well. Nor does it seem to matter whether the 'true believer' is an Evangelical Dominionist, a practitioner of fundamental Islam or a powerful purveyor of Pax Americana. All are SELF-empowered to kill others for daring to believe their own views of things are as valid as "mine." Tolerance and balance are the two keys - and seemingly absent.

Whose moral absolutes? Pat Robertson's? Shouldn't the the moral absolutes of Moses and Mohammad be honored? How about letting the Vatican run everything - again? Remember? "Believe what I say, do as I say, especially the part re. providing my PAY" - or be burned at the stake, then spend Eternity in everlasting torment. Oh, ye are also Commanded: Never Forget: 'God Loves you.' Zero stars, five belly laughs. Interesting take, Norwalk, though I think it fails in the end, for whatever that may be worth. Your description appears to have the differing, however much conjoined characteristics of one's PERCEPTION and AWARENESS, arising as a result of matter - instead of being independent of matter in their origins. Before firing back, be aware that I know your opinions regarding these kinds of things are just as valid as mine - and just as unverifiable in this here-and-now.

What about the 'free enterprise' capitalism insisted on via "Kirtsaeng v. Wiley", a current case before SCOTUS? Regarding certain retail products, plaintiffs are insisting the SELLER retains rights to monetary proceeds, should the original BUYER choose to RE-SELL the purchased article at a later date. "Anything other than free enterprise always means ... ", is Rockwell's first in a series of absolutes that fail miserably in terms of real applied economy, and governance, at any level. Insistence that personal profit, always the driving force behind "free enterprise", outweighs every other consideration in affairs of human advancement, strikes me as being plainly absurd. It renders life's meaning into the single pursuit of money - instead of using money to pursue meaning in life. No thanks, Lew.

It's impossible to determine the level of Fascist inclination driving this very dubious statement without knowing the context it was made under. In any event, I suspect and resent the very questionable positioning of this quote. Its placement between history's biggest bogieman and a ranking adviser to Mussolini is unnecessary and leading, an obviously intentional, politically loaded smear. Why? Mme. Secretary's status as an internationally ranking official of a war-making, invading nation, unequivocally a "war criminal" under Nuremberg Tribunal findings, clearly places her in the "tyrant" class. Still, given the chance I'd demand of her: "Just where does the philosophical reasoning behind this smelly comment come from, Imelda, er, Hilary?"

SURE, Adolph - as long as the "nation's spirit and will" are assessed and DEFINED ABSOLUTELY by the single dictator - by any measure an individual ... Even so, from his personal perspective Hitler was quite correct - at least when it came to the solution of how to forge the greater German public into the likeness of an enraged black mamba.

Individual welfare payments? Or do these numbers reflect AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN? Disraeli: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." Statistics are always used, generally sideways, to shore up weak arguments. The weaker the argument the 'louder' the statistical claims. Regarding the divisive, reactionary Cato BS above, one only needs to perceive the swiftly climbing millions of homeless found everywhere in the US these days Why aren't they drawing "welfare" in the $25 - $35k range, if the 'problem' is so pervasive and costly? Tax receipts should benefit people and provide sound infrastructure instead of being used for foreign invasions, organized murder and empire-building land grabs. I'd much prefer that taxes be used for insuring basic human dignity. I'd much prefer that taxes be used to pay for a superb educational system. Instead, productive citizens are forced to finance global hegemonic adventure pushed by murderous psychopaths, and a geometrically-expanding police/surveillance state too. Thank you, Newport. Well stated. Norwalk: How would you characterize the Fed's QE-3? It's their current "strategy", by which $40 billion PER MONTH is to be printed/handed to the banksters - so they don't run out of cash from servicing the mistakes of their own stinking, deregulated 'business' practices. I call it naked corporate welfare - and judge it as a whole lot more damaging to the nation and basic economy than 'traditional' welfare has ever been.

However many times it's been said before it bears repeating: great tyranny doesn't care in the least which end of the political spectrum it emanates from - the warfare state or the welfare state. Humans of all stripes yearn to RULE, believing they, personally, know what's best. Democracy arose in ancient Greece with the understanding that leadership left to its own devices, without strong public input, would surely devolve to the point of looking after its own interests (POWER) exclusively, everything and everybody else be damned. The ideal, I believe, can be found in simple balance, however impossible achieving balance may seem. Perhaps humanity may stumble upon such an ideal with the dawning idea that failure to balance properly now, in an age of virtually unchecked technological expansion, means, precisely, going the route of Atlantis.

Plus another half star, as my personal hero Jefferson is only half-right in this observation. Consider: if any given newspaper is indeed an intentionally "polluted vehicle", what would the great Jeff say about the cesspool that is modern TV 'news?' If one is deeply interested in the topic at hand, auditing a newspaper account brings an individual's higher cognitive functions into play as they read. While studying the words, a person's entire range of experience and perspective are simultaneous co-players in judging their value. Deeply involved reading is an information-gathering experience occurring on many levels simultaneously. The same is demonstrably NOT true when the auditor is viewing a video signal. Even so, U.S. print media is indeed a propaganda-replete cesspool all of its own. Still, there's great value to be found in reading English-language foreign newspapers online. One can learn more about the truth of America by spending a single day reading the British dailies, despite their own deep flaws and purveyed propaganda, than in a whole year of consuming U.S. media - video, print or otherwise. For instance, if any of the regular commentators here, all of whom I think are well-intentioned, are unaware of either "The Downing St. Memo" or "The Chilcot Inquiry", your perception of the U.S. invasion of Iraq is a virtual prisoner of intentional deception. Even cursory study of those two BIG stories in Europe, especially in the U.K., reveals how our perceptions are subject to continuous maintenance via naked omissions of vital fact, and nauseatingly repetitive propaganda. If you don't know of these two stories your perceptions are hostage still - so that a very few are enabled to practice High Crimes against humanity and Planet Earth.