How much more?

I have been observing the US from the outside this past decade.
More specifically, Norway.

Since I almost became an American citizen (being born a bit late), I have always felt a bond to the US. I am also Liberal in nature in the meaning of freedom for the individual to live their lives as they please. As long as they don't harm anyone.

I have a rant incoming, I hope this is the correct forum.


Lets start by listing a few things, only from this part of the millennia.
And we must not forgot the support in the past for both the Taliban against
the Russians and Saddam against Iran.

There have been lies all the way, the most serious one about the WMDs to start
a war against Iraq. This was planed long before 9/11. And Iraq had noting to
do with 9/11.

The war against their former allies in Afghanistan.

The build up of fear in the public against this new invisible enemy.

The fake polarization in politics to divide and conqueror.

The spying on citizens and the rest of the world.

The Patriot Act.

DMCA.

The invasion of privacy.

Guantanamo.

Aubu Garib.

Drones.

"Non-Lethal" civilian drones.

TSA.

Corporations as "persons".

Billions of dollars spent on warfare.

A president with executive war powers since 2001.

The erosion of your constitution.

Being so afraid of a whistle blower that you maneuver so another countries
presidents plane has to land and be searched for him.

Pissing off a lot of other countries so it is easy for corrupt leaders in
those country to stir up hatred for the US.

...

I'm probably missing a lot, but it all adds up to something nasty.



The obvious corruption via campaign contributions, lobbying and expensive dinners.
The donators get subsidies and tax breaks in return for cash.. Pure and simple.

Your lawmakers try to riddle every single law that is passed with lots of nonsense
from special interest groups.

These groups in return own the media and spew the circus to the people.



The system is an obvious failure.


Obama promised transparency and openness.

I actually believed that he could change things.
Boy was I wrong.

It's just a continuation of Bush.





So you from the US.

I love the American people, but I'm worried.


Does anyone in the general public pay attention to this?

How much more can you take?

I think this essay by John Galt explains the answer to your question PERFECTLY...

johngaltfla.com...

A key snippet:

As usual, the American people are totally enamored with their 1000 cable channels, Xbox, iWhatever, and prescription medications to sedate their rage and insulate them from caring. It is within the recent difficult economic and political times of this era that few have taken a moment to realize the dangers of forsaking divine guidance and elevating the celebration of sin.

reply to post by tyfon

You left out police state.

Let me ask you this. Germans and Japanese during WWII were not in a position to take their government over to keep it from conquering the world. Besides, their respective armies were far away from the homeland. They were busy occupying and conquering the world, right?

The only thing that stopped Japan and Germany was the rest of the world.

Sorry for being brief, gotta a go.

Probably better in the rant forum

What do you suggest people do? Don't mean to be crude but basically apart from highlighting problems you are basically having a go at ordinary Joe for having no power against the government and telling to do what? Shout?

Look what efforts in Egypt it took to do something.

For me governments/leaders of today are there for 2 reasons, a power trip and to make sure things dont get worse economically or other. The power trip is an ego thing and stopping things getting worse basically ensures continuation.

I dont doubt they think its for our best interests, like they are staving off the wolves but in doing so they are dumbing us down to much.

Also, if they were not doing such things what would be the consequences?

Well, for one you could get the majority of the voters to vote something completely new in. It would probably not be easy to mobilize them though.

Another option is mass protests. There used to be that kind of stuff during the Vietnam etc. I would have thought that the tipping point was reached long ago.

Does it have to come so far as to having the majority starve?

Hungry, poor people have usually been the back bones of revolutions.

PS: I also forgot to list the entire financial crisis. Not a single one(?) is brought to justice there yet.
Millions of Americans lost their savings, income and home.

reply to post by intrptr


True. but in this modern times it is much easier to spread information among regular people.
We _should_ have a public that was informed and/or cared. But ignorance is bliss.

It's funny, the US editions of CNNs homepage and their counterparts have a completely different content than the rest of the world gets. It's as of they are not even trying to hide it.

You can see how much they fear information by the reaction to Manning and Snowden et. al
I have not seen once the complete and unedited readout of Snowdens statement on TV..

Maybe it can be stopped before it reaches the levels you cite?

reply to post by tyfon


...We have tried all of that. We support alternative candidates, the globalists rig the voting machines and sign up illegals and fraudulent voters. We organize movements and protests, and their media demonize us, brand us "racists" and co-opt our movements. They also plot to kill Occupy leaders, as evidenced by recent FBI document leaks. We try to get laws passed to hold them accountable, but the big money interests buy off the politicians. The next steps would be armed revolt, but even thousands of citizens armed with rifles are no match for the technology, surveillance-state, integrated alphabet agency tactics, we're out-gunned, out-machined and out-muscled. Trying anything like that would be an ant against an elephant - it would be futile.

It would be nice if other countries of the world invade the US and overthrow our dictators, but who? Those in power in Europe - they're all the same globalist puppetmasters that control our corrupt government and want their "New World Order". China doesn't give a crap about us, neither do Russians. That leaves a handful of small countries that are no match against the industrial war machine that wants us enslaved.

Unless God himself intervenes in a supernatural way, we're doomed.

reply to post by tyfon

Maybe you already saw this? Heres what we dealt with last night on our "Independence Day". Just a little taste.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

You can see what I meant by a Police State. This is the new norm here. This guy is really lucky to have walked away with just a few scratches on his hood. Really lucky. It can escalate right quick to a hospital stay and a stiff fine with jail time. All for asking a question.

This is the New US.

Originally posted by tyfon
Since I almost became an American citizen (being born a bit late), I have always felt a bond to the US. I am also Liberal in nature in the meaning of freedom for the individual to live their lives as they please. As long as they don't harm anyone.

That's no longer being a liberal, in America. Liberals want you to believe what they believe or, if not, pass laws to make you have to believe.
What it sounds like you're regarding is libertarianism, and I'm all for that.
Right now in America, we are as divided as is humanly possible, liberals and conservatives count on that. They both want the same things.
What most people don't understand is that there is an answer to both questions. Why can't I be a fiscal conservative while at the same time be a social liberal?

reply to post by intrptr


This is actually the thread that made me rage last night.
It's just discussing.

I used to want to move back to the US and live there. Now not so much. I'm actually happy to be born in Europe.


reply to post by rockintitz


Being liberal to me means liberal in all ways. Social, economic and political.

Not sure if libertarian fits, but I never liked labels.

It's quite funny, in Norway the "left" side wants to control everything, fill the government offices with people to keep the employment down using oil money, strangle debate with "PC" type complaints and newspeak. And then call them self liberals.

The biggest party on the "right" is for economic liberty, "freedom under responsibility", and have the most open gays of any party in the country. They are called "conservative".


In the US there is no real choice. Both parties candidates are vetted to make sure they won't try anything stupid. The debates are reduced to sound bites and who can gotcha who, not real issues.

There is no chance in hell for an independent without major funding to even be registered in the polls.

It seems to me that the whole system is broken over there and I'm not sure what could save it except some form of a reboot or major reform.

Originally posted by tyfon
reply to post by intrptr

 

This is actually the thread that made me rage last night.
It's just discussing.

I used to want to move back to the US and live there. Now not so much. I'm actually happy to be born in Europe.


reply to post by rockintitz

 

Being liberal to me means liberal in all ways. Social, economic and political.

Not sure if libertarian fits, but I never liked labels.

It's quite funny, in Norway the "left" side wants to control everything, fill the government offices with people to keep the employment down using oil money, strangle debate with "PC" type complaints and newspeak. And then call them self liberals.

The biggest party on the "right" is for economic liberty, "freedom under responsibility", and have the most open gays of any party in the country. They are called "conservative".


In the US there is no real choice. Both parties candidates are vetted to make sure they won't try anything stupid. The debates are reduced to sound bites and who can gotcha who, not real issues.

There is no chance in hell for an independent without major funding to even be registered in the polls.

It seems to me that the whole system is broken over there and I'm not sure what could save it except some form of a reboot or major reform.

I agree, for an average libertarian candidate chances are slim to nil of getting elected. That should at least say something for our ideals.

Foreign policy: keep to ourselves unless an unequivocal threat occurs
Domestic policy: let people do as they choose as long as they don't harm another person
Social domestic policy: let others choose what they believe in, with no interference from the federal government.

What is wrong with that?

reply to post by tyfon

It's funny, the US editions of CNNs homepage and their counterparts have a completely different content than the rest of the world gets. It's as of they are not even trying to hide it.

Most people here watch that very CNN and are dumbed down to the reality around the world (especially our part in it).

There are four channels of CNN here and right now every single one is carrying full time this stupid trial of a Zimmerman. I kid you not. The only way I can find something out is to come here or Russia Today.

Our media covers useless stupid crap like the weather (look its outside), the Celebrity (KKardashian and Royal Baby), political indoctrination and omit the rest. We are lost as a nation. Please forgive us world.

reply to post by tyfon


A lot of us feel the same way you do, but we can't do anymore about than you can.

You can do something, it might not be monumental or so direct as for example a revolution.
The theory goes these people are slowly manipulating our lives so have patience, spread your concerns, contemplate and act on solutions and challenges.

I feel people want a quick fix to an "alleged" big problem and overlook the alternatives.

Or just complain