Re: Collective Salvation

Tim Williams wrote:

On Sep 9, 10:10 am, Jim Thompson <To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-I...@My-
Web-Site.com> wrote:
You have to see...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuaDC8SGxAM

and read...

http://www.elburton.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry080909-064140....
Opium of the Masses
<snip>

So? And what's wrong with communism? I mean, really, what's wrong?
The ONLY thing that "communism" has meant for the last sixty years is
"irrational fear and hatred". No one sees it for what it's supposed
to be. That fear is supported by Soviet, Chinese and others'
atrocities in the name of communism, and drilled into us by just as
many years of Soviet-fearing propaganda. But Marx would hardly agree
with their implementation of it.

Granted, the most frightening aspect of Soviet and Chinese communism is
actually their totalitarian leaning. There isn't much to fear from a
communist government run democratically, i.e. based on the desires of
the people.

But therein lies the problem. If all decisions are delegated to the
collective wishes of the people, then this collective becomes all
powerful. And since a pure democracy is impractical, the bureaucracy
that actually implements the governing system becomes all powerful as
well.

The power of our system (in the USA, Britain and others) is that the
power of the government is restricted. Some decisions are made
democratically, some by representatives. But the Constitution (or
similar documents in other countries) restrict the government's power.

It's disingenuous for the right wing to pick on Obama, or any other
Democrat, for referring to 'the collective'. The GOP (particularly under
Bush) has made significant inroads into the rights of individuals. And
he has done so by executive order, much as the Soviet Union did when it
existed. Fortunately, Democrats, and the few remaining true Republicans
have challenged him on some of his activities. There's really nothing
wrong with the citizens of a country, as a collective, deciding to do
something, as long as it is subjected to suitable restrictions. Those
that fear 'the collective' are most likely up to something that 'the
collective' wouldn't approve of, or the law wouldn't allow.

Back in the days of McCarthy, we feared Communism (capital 'C') because
it was an organization directed by a foreign power intent on exerting
its influence over us. And it attempted to do so by recruiting key
opinion makers and government officials to do its bidding out of the
public's view, rather than appealing openly to the masses. But today,
the current administration takes its marching orders from other foreign
powers, like sovereign wealth funds, the Mossad and Irgun. Where is the
reincarnation of Joe McCarthy when we really need him?


--
Paul Hovnanian mailto:Paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------------------------------------
The blinking cursor writes; and having writ, blinks on.
.

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