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Hekate

(90,690 posts)
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 03:09 AM Jul 2013

I'm so confused. A new term has entered the fist-fight

"the authoritarian gatekeepers"
"you authoritarians"
etc.

After all the names I've been called recently (although not this, at least not yet ), I'm not sure who exactly the combatants are referring to this time.

If it's specific attributes, can you let me know? If the terms refer to specific people and we're all supposed to know who they mean, well, then I am clueless and someone maybe could PM me to avoid TOS violations.

>sigh< It's just the latest manifestation of the insanity, as far as I am concerned. I think I'm going to go read some more P.G. Wodehouse and lighten up.

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I'm so confused. A new term has entered the fist-fight (Original Post) Hekate Jul 2013 OP
They're refering to us, Hekate.. Cha Jul 2013 #1
From context, I rather thought so Hekate Jul 2013 #4
Hahahaha!!! That's a DUzy for sure!!! Major Hogwash Jul 2013 #14
Or the pits in the third level of hell IrishAyes Jul 2013 #15
And ... 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2013 #19
It's just a series of tubes. Major Hogwash Jul 2013 #29
Cha, I love that cartoon. It's hilarious, cause it's true. Tarheel_Dem Jul 2013 #26
Why, whatever makes you think that, Tarheel!?! Cha Jul 2013 #31
It's meant to imply Summer Hathaway Jul 2013 #2
Thank you too, Summer Hekate Jul 2013 #6
All American Amnesia aside Summer Hathaway Jul 2013 #8
You picked up on that one too! JustAnotherGen Jul 2013 #12
Peace is only war by other means. IrishAyes Jul 2013 #16
My dad? JustAnotherGen Jul 2013 #23
I'm all for the green revolution myself IrishAyes Jul 2013 #25
'Beware the wrath of a patient man.' Memorable. freshwest Jul 2013 #41
It was one of my more remarkable life lessons learned from observation IrishAyes Jul 2013 #42
Ambrose Bierce's defintion in the The Devil's Dictionary is somewhat similar: freshwest Jul 2013 #43
I love Ambrose Bierce! IrishAyes Jul 2013 #44
What you all willfully fail to grasp is that it has nothing to do with the messenger (snowden) and Ed Suspicious Jul 2013 #51
Sorry, Ed Suspicious, this is the Barack Obama Group and Cha Jul 2013 #52
I hear you! freshwest Jul 2013 #55
The hyperbole in this thread nicely matches that of the one discussed... Democracyinkind Jul 2013 #3
I don't think so. this is the Cha Jul 2013 #11
Some people IrishAyes Jul 2013 #17
The BOG has a catch and release policy: freshwest Jul 2013 #54
Thanks for the habitat link - I'll check that out. IrishAyes Jul 2013 #57
Thanks IrishAyes. There a few people on this site I'd love to meet and you are one of them. freshwest Jul 2013 #58
Well, after moving to town to retire, IrishAyes Jul 2013 #59
For the most part I've stayed out of it. Firebrand Gary Jul 2013 #5
Happy 4th to you too, Gary. Hekate Jul 2013 #7
Lucky you, Firebrand Gary.. I hope you got Cha Jul 2013 #9
Happy 4th, all of you. Here since 1620 with regular infusions of immigrants... Hekate Jul 2013 #10
Great post, Hekate IrishAyes Jul 2013 #18
It is meant to imply that we believe in a police state treestar Jul 2013 #13
That was like the Marathon bombings. sheshe2 Jul 2013 #32
People have no idea what a real Marshal law is. Lady Freedom Returns Jul 2013 #34
Very well said, well thought out. I appreciate it. freshwest Jul 2013 #40
Sort of reminds me of that old saw IrishAyes Jul 2013 #45
Yeah, reminds me of the gun nuts who call us "controllers." SunSeeker Jul 2013 #20
Oh yeah, I hadn't seen that one. Cha Jul 2013 #21
Thanks, Cha. Happy 4th to you & yours. SunSeeker Jul 2013 #22
Well, gun nuts love HongKong/Moscow Eddie IrishAyes Jul 2013 #46
I'm sure it's a complete coincidence but Authoritarianism is the polar opposite of Libertarianism. great white snark Jul 2013 #24
Yes, definitely not within our party. They left, or never were. freshwest Jul 2013 #39
As a lover of snark, IrishAyes Jul 2013 #47
Shall we use our 'authoritay' for good or for evil. Whisp Jul 2013 #27
Evil! I'm on the side of evil! Ipso facto and summa cum laude and a bunch of other Latin tags. Hekate Jul 2013 #28
Don't for get one of my favorite latin tags! Lady Freedom Returns Jul 2013 #33
oooo, I like that one Hekate Jul 2013 #37
It means if you don't espouse libertarian ideology, you must be an authoritarian. freshwest Jul 2013 #30
Nailed it! JustAnotherGen Jul 2013 #35
Excellent rant, freshwest. sheshe2 Jul 2013 #36
Thanks. There are other forces ready and eager to fill any vacuum left by government. freshwest Jul 2013 #38
What you said. IrishAyes Jul 2013 #48
As Bill Maher says, Libertarians are just Republicans who want to smoke weed. nt SunSeeker Jul 2013 #49
Have you all seen still_one's farewell thread in GD? That's it; I'm done here. Hekate Jul 2013 #50
Yes, I trashed that thread when I saw the wrecking decided to go in for the kill there. freshwest Jul 2013 #53
"but why should we be relegated to hanging out in a safe haven, as if we have no right to speak? " Hekate Jul 2013 #60
I tried to pose the question of rising hate, as gently as possible Sheepshank Jul 2013 #63
Oh damn, Hekate! NYC_SKP Jul 2013 #56
Hey, SKP, that's me.. "Frugal Living", Hawai'i Cha Jul 2013 #62
See you in the BOG then, Hekate! We have a really active Cha Jul 2013 #61
Great idea! WinstonSmith4740 Jul 2013 #64

Hekate

(90,690 posts)
4. From context, I rather thought so
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 03:31 AM
Jul 2013

But then, "context" has been batshit crazy lately, so thank you for clearing it up.

Major Hogwash

(17,656 posts)
14. Hahahaha!!! That's a DUzy for sure!!!
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 02:40 PM
Jul 2013

Sometimes I wonder if some of those people that post here have any idea how big this country actually is.
We have had wildfires or forest fires out here in Idaho every freakin' year that are bigger than the states that some of those people live in!
And it takes almost 2 days to drive across Texas.

All of the states have some unique quality that sets them apart, and makes them special to the rest of us.
Or, to most of us, at least.
So, I just consider some of the people here, the ones that are calling other people names, as just venting, letting off steam.
Sort of like the geysers of Yellowstone Park, or the volcanoes in Hawaii.











IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
15. Or the pits in the third level of hell
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 04:38 PM
Jul 2013

Really, some days I have to work awfully hard to keep a shred of respect just for the basic humanity of wingers, because I don't have a lot to start with.

And yes, this week I've been violating my own 'authoritarian' schedule designed to maintain the fantasy of internet use self control: Pets on Friday, BOG on Saturday, and Catholicism/Orthodoxy on Sundays. Part of the trouble is caused by my surveying the front page for titles to bookmark and read later. Sometimes I get carried away and start reading and responding THAT VERY FLIPPIN' DAY! WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME? I must have a problem with authority, even my own.

Excuse me now. I have a hall monitor badge that needs cleaning.

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
19. And ...
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 07:55 PM
Jul 2013

one would have to chuckle if it weren't so sad ... these people a screaming (without the least sense of irony) about authoritarianism and control of the internet, as disclosed by snowden, ON THE INTERNET.

{1StrongBlackMan just shakes his head.}

Summer Hathaway

(2,770 posts)
2. It's meant to imply
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 03:24 AM
Jul 2013

that anyone who doesn't fall prostrate before the Snowden idol embraces the "authoritarianism" of the government.

It is a meme being advanced by those who embrace the authoritarianism of a man who stole confidential information, disclosed it to the Chinese, and thinks that "leakers should be shot in the balls" and social security recipients are "moochers" - Snowden's own words, not mine.

It is indeed "the latest manifestation of the insanity" - but, alas, it won't be the last on this site.


Hekate

(90,690 posts)
6. Thank you too, Summer
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 03:34 AM
Jul 2013

Oy.

My favorite statement of all, though, is the one about how Russia and China are our "allies," and how Hong Kong isn't really "a part of China." Seriously, that about makes me fall out of my chair laughing.

American Amnesia.

Summer Hathaway

(2,770 posts)
8. All American Amnesia aside
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 03:41 AM
Jul 2013

(which is, BTW, a great term) - Happy 4th of July to you and yours, Hekate.

Just keep in mind that DU is in no way reflective of the real world - despite those who live here, 24/7, and have little contact with reality.



JustAnotherGen

(31,823 posts)
12. You picked up on that one too!
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 07:15 AM
Jul 2013
i laugh when I read that because it shows how little people know about cold war. It never really ended - it just shifted to one of Economics and Manufacturing. Yeah - as IF China in particular is a friend of the average American trying to get by. Hmph.

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
16. Peace is only war by other means.
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 04:41 PM
Jul 2013

Of course I can't remember who said it first, but that doesn't change the truth of the statement. Anybody who doesn't understand that truism is dumber than dirt.

JustAnotherGen

(31,823 posts)
23. My dad?
Fri Jul 5, 2013, 08:40 AM
Jul 2013
I grew up with a "Cold Warrior". I think he rolled over in his grave when that nonsense was typed. I mean - even a few days before he died and he was "laying down wisdom" to me one on one he went back to his rant about how we "have to get off this terrorist hiding in the bushes nonsense" and get back to "watching the reds". He was one of the first Green Berets and a man of his time - but he was still fighting the Cold War in 2011.

This was related to explain what I had drilled into me growing up. It also probably explains my complete, total opposition to war in general (dad was a pacifist after the bombing in Lebanon) and why I think Iraq and Afghanistan are the stupidest wars ever.

What we could have done as a country if we had spent that money on green energy initiatives - the job creation (local by nature) alone.

Alas - Obama has made it a cornerstone of his Administration as I suspected he would in his second term! Yippee!

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
25. I'm all for the green revolution myself
Fri Jul 5, 2013, 01:04 PM
Jul 2013

And try to practice what I preach by leaving as small a footprint as reasonably practical. I grow much of my own fruits and veggies and prefer passive, non-mechanical approaches to problems. A few months after I retired and moved where I am now, the city sent out an inspector to make sure my meters were kosher, because my utility bills were about 1/4 what previous residents had racked up.

Regardless, that's how I prefer to practice 'peace is war by other means' in my own way. Protect Mother Earth by making war on waste and hate and all that other bad stuff. I'm also what's known as an 'Irish pacifist' because I try to anticipate and head off trouble amicably whenever possible. Win-win is the best way. But I'll admit to coming down a bit hard on someone who absolutely refuses to leave me in peace. As my own father exemplified, beware the wrath of a patient man. I was a daddy's girl.

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
42. It was one of my more remarkable life lessons learned from observation
Sat Jul 6, 2013, 04:43 PM
Jul 2013

Too many people mistake patience for weakness and push past the point of endurance.

My friend Henry the Tae Kwon Do master had the most endearing tell known only to close associates. The rare times a stranger or some kid looking for a rep forced the issue, Henry would calmly remove his precious, expensive eyeglasses and put them in his shirt pocket before tending to business.

Dad was the same way. A career military man, he rose through the ranks and had a pretty quiet air about him, as Lincoln said of Grant. But when necessary he knew "how to make people git."

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
43. Ambrose Bierce's defintion in the The Devil's Dictionary is somewhat similar:
Sat Jul 6, 2013, 04:57 PM
Jul 2013
PEACE, n. In international affairs, a period of cheating between two periods of fighting.

O, what's the loud uproar assailing
Mine ears without cease?
'Tis the voice of the hopeful, all-hailing
The horrors of peace.

Ah, Peace Universal; they woo it—
Would marry it, too.
If only they knew how to do it
'Twere easy to do.

They're working by night and by day
On their problem, like moles.
Have mercy, O Heaven, I pray,
On their meddlesome souls!


Ro Amil

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
44. I love Ambrose Bierce!
Sat Jul 6, 2013, 05:04 PM
Jul 2013

But I shudder to think of the imaginary offspring he'd produce with Dorothy Parker.

Ed Suspicious

(8,879 posts)
51. What you all willfully fail to grasp is that it has nothing to do with the messenger (snowden) and
Sat Jul 6, 2013, 10:06 PM
Jul 2013

everything to do with the message (our government is collecting information I feel they should not be entitled to about me without my consent).

Cha

(297,240 posts)
52. Sorry, Ed Suspicious, this is the Barack Obama Group and
Sat Jul 6, 2013, 11:09 PM
Jul 2013

you don't come in here telling us that we "fail to grasp" anything.

Snowden made it about himself when he fled to China and then leaked the Docs. Instead of actually being a bona fide "whistle blower" or one who practiced civll disobedience.

And, he made it about himself when he whined and lied from Russia that his problems were all Pres Obama's fault. No personal responsibility for this asshole.

Cha

(297,240 posts)
11. I don't think so. this is the
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 04:08 AM
Jul 2013

Barack Obama Group and only those who support the President are welcome here.

And, that doesn't include those who are aching for his downfall or that of the United States of America.

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
17. Some people
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 04:44 PM
Jul 2013

really don't understand that President Obama's success IS America's success.

Well, except for trolls and other rats in the woodpile - I really think they do, and they resent it like poison. Take my patriotism cues from their kind? Not bloody likely.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
54. The BOG has a catch and release policy:
Sat Jul 6, 2013, 11:23 PM
Jul 2013

Last edited Sun Jul 7, 2013, 02:29 AM - Edit history (2)



Dewan’s OneDown Rat Trap is ingeniously disguised as a ceramic interior accent. All you have to do is place a little bit of bait inside, and when a mouse enters the slight shift in the base weight causes the vase to flip upright, trapping the mouse inside. Due to the vase’s tall, slippery mouth, your captive will be unable to climb out, and you can then easily transport it to a peaceful place far away from your home.

http://inhabitat.com/onedown-rat-trap-captures-vermin-without-killing-them/

Like your reply there. Was informed last night after having made a bland comment, not condeming ES but simply not caring, just how damned was my spirit in comparison to that of Edward Snowden.

Here is some of the exalted spirit of Snowden. I'm now starting to dislike the man on the basis of the broad accusations and arrogance from his followers.

But here are his own words at the link below. And I am not disliking him for his personality - that's rich coming from those who use such florid terms of praise for him.
It's reminiscent of the love of Ron and Rand Paul and other Libertarian gods.

But with further reading, I'm beginning to dislike him. Not for what he did, since I've decideed most of it is hype, nor who he associates with, who also recieve some nauseatingly fulsome praise here, but for his IDEOLOGY.

Read and see that there is nothing that is liberal, progressive or anything else that this site is supposedly to be about:

How the Professional Left's Blind Obama Hatred Got them Played by a Far-Right Nutjob

http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2013/07/how-professional-lefts-blind-obama.html

It's not what I'd call spiritual, not traditionally, new age, or any other kind, or even generically, like me. I hadn't mentioned ES or his or my "spirit" just said I wasn't sure he is a anything more than a media mirage, essentially, and had no hatred for him, one way or the other. That my concern was of private contractors and corporations having my data, that I cannot control.

That was obviously a 'red flag' or 'wrong answer!' to the 'purity test' and garnered the weirdest insult yet, other than the usual:

Obamabot
blind follower
Obama worshipper
partisan hack
Obama asskisser
authoritarian swooner
Obama cheerleader
Obama personality cultist
warmonger
Obama fanboy
Third Way Democrat
Obammer lover
fascist enabler
Obama bootlicker


And the ever faithful:

sheeple...


I'll leave out the profanities. You know, the usual words applied to a member of the Democratic Party who just so happens to support a Democratic President on a website that is named Democratic Underground.

Apparent we are just as welcome here as we would be at the Daily Paul, Free Republic, WND, Breitbart or Libertarian Republican websites. It's still a step up from when I used to post on a site with conservatives calling me and others of my 'ilk' there socialist, godless, baby killing, liberal, (insert crude sexual slurs here), and N-lover. Although I have been designated as black by more than one poster, and my reasoning ability deemed to be lacking on account of that, uh, failing by one poster on DU.

Yeah, nice, very nice.

Meh!

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
57. Thanks for the habitat link - I'll check that out.
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:09 AM
Jul 2013

Most importantly, wear those winger blows with pride. It means you're doing something right. A LOT right. Their behavior is disgusting and contemptible, but you are highly esteemed by those of us with a brain and a heart.

I don't know about that term 'professional left', though. The ones in question are posers, perhaps w/o realizing it, and I consider them tools of the right wingers, not actual real lefties at all. A real one would honor what President Obama is doing and trying to do rather than hate him because he doesn't/can't fulfill their every fantasy. They're childish twits at best.

BTW, your takedown of libertarians is the best I've ever read.

Soldier on. You must know that if you try to leave DU, I'll have to hunt you down and drag you kicking and screaming back here. I don't at all know how, but I do know why. Bet I could whip up a posse faster than you can blink, too.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
58. Thanks IrishAyes. There a few people on this site I'd love to meet and you are one of them.
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:18 AM
Jul 2013
I'd love to see those memorial trees you plant every year!



IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
59. Well, after moving to town to retire,
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:35 AM
Jul 2013

I no longer have the room to plant a dozen trees annually. But I try to plant at least one even here, though I'm fast running out of room. Maybe I can start making a donation to the Arbor Foundation or something.

And (snicker,snicker) some of those I've planted here have been, shall we say 'scavenged' - no, 'liberated' - Rose of Sharon saplings from the overgrown property across the back alley. Nobody lives there; the absentee owners are just letting it rot to pieces in the hopes of another housing boom someday, not realizing it will be too far gone to rescue by then. Shame, too, because it was a really fine place when they inherited it. But I don't like them one little bit for a zillion reasons, and occasionally my shovel drags me along on a midnight search and rescue mission, if you know what I mean. I imprinted on Johnny Appleseed as a little bairn and blame it on him, really. At least that's what I was planning to say if the cops ever found out.

Firebrand Gary

(5,044 posts)
5. For the most part I've stayed out of it.
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 03:33 AM
Jul 2013

I've been too busy moving. I gotta say though, I cannot remember a time when DU was so nasty to one another. This place has turned into something that is not at all constructive to the democratic party.

Happy 4th Hekate!

Cha

(297,240 posts)
9. Lucky you, Firebrand Gary.. I hope you got
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 03:43 AM
Jul 2013

moved nicely. That's always such an ordeal to be Over!

Happy Fourth of July to you, too.

Hekate

(90,690 posts)
10. Happy 4th, all of you. Here since 1620 with regular infusions of immigrants...
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 03:45 AM
Jul 2013

... including two "illegal" Irish sisters who survived a coffin ship and then lied their way across the border from Canada to the USA; the most recent infusion being my husband's family, survivors of the Holocaust who came here after WW II.

I love this country; my love has been tested by the likes of Baby Caligula, but this is my country.

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
18. Great post, Hekate
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 04:50 PM
Jul 2013

My grandfather and g-grand slipped across the pond from Ireland, too, only they had John Bull - just as bad as the Nazi's - on their tail during the Civil War. Fresh ID in Wales, which has a large contingent of anti-Brits, then into Canada and a quiet stroll across the border in the middle of winter.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
13. It is meant to imply that we believe in a police state
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 01:37 PM
Jul 2013

if we don't think random employees should leak classified documents.

sheshe2

(83,771 posts)
32. That was like the Marathon bombings.
Fri Jul 5, 2013, 08:46 PM
Jul 2013

Something that hurt our souls in Massachusetts. The blood had not dried, bodies had not been buried, yet we were attacked.

We were sheeple cowering under our beds, to stupid to know what what right for our city and State, for ourselves. We were, I guess bostonbots. Forward! Blindly follow, when asked to shelter in place. Asked, not ordered for safety and for a way to ease the police access to a pair of deadly terrorists.

We were ridiculed beyond belief during the height of our grief.

No small wonder that they are attacking again. This time their troops have amassed a slew of followers.
..It's sad treestar, very sad.

Lady Freedom Returns

(14,120 posts)
34. People have no idea what a real Marshal law is.
Sat Jul 6, 2013, 09:07 AM
Jul 2013

What happen in Boston was people doing what was necessary to stop two bad men.

Joplin was under Marshal Law for 1-2 weeks and you did not get asked, you were told. Yet once again it was for a good reason. Yes, you had to show ID, a lot. Yes we had a a hard deadline curfew, zero wiggle room. But we had outside people coming in that were out to get whatever they could. So yes, we were happy to follow orders.

Do we need a national debate about what is private anymore. Yes, no question. Boston showed us that. People may think it was horrid, but truth was it was for the public good. The people of Boston went with it because they knew the bad guys had to get caught with no more citizens getting hurt.

The hunting/stopping of terrorist, foreign or domestic, is a national thing. We all need to pull together on this and talk about the new technology out today and what really is private. Is a phone #, something we place online or in a phone book private? Is an e-mail address really private or is it like regular old snail mail? (as in people can see your address, but can't read your mail without a warrant).

But much of it, at this time, will be needed to be trusted to the government. Debate it, yes, but remember that those out to hurt us is not waiting on us to finish that debate. Things will still need to be done that we don't agree with yet.

So much to do with so little time.And people not even trying to really discuss, those that are throwing around those new terms, they are really just slowing it all down. They can not add to the conversation so here are the new name for those that see that the President is doing the best with what he has at this time. He is leading us through a time where he working without a net.

He too, is in the same new world, he is trying to lead us through it. But those that can not see this, they are lost and have no clue.





IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
45. Sort of reminds me of that old saw
Sat Jul 6, 2013, 05:21 PM
Jul 2013

about there being no atheists in foxholes.

I'm appalled at the number of armchair wannabe 'leaders' declaring their willingness to sacrifice OTHER PEOPLE'S SAFETY to satisfy their own notion of superiority.

Listen, I've even told the local police chief to stay off my property unless his official business requires him to step foot in my yard. (He has to telephone me first, and he hates it - but he won't defy me, either.) But if I saw him in hot pursuit of or in search of a genuine felon, I'd cheer him on and do what I could to help. Just don't come pounding on my door every time his nutjob pal, my southside neighbor I call Old Fart, wants to hassle me about what goes on only in his head. That got old quick. A few firm civil rights lectures and a visit to the town council meeting put the kabosh on the harrassment soon enough, though. I simply took all the fun out of it for them, and now they mind their p's and q's a lot better.

The police chief in office when I first moved here was pretty cool, though. He saw his job as mediation more than anything else, and he didn't throw his weight around like a jackass. So of course the town council eventually got around to running him out of office on obviously trumped up charges. He almost refused to arrest anybody who'd listen to reason, and he hated writing traffic tickets worse than poison.

SunSeeker

(51,559 posts)
20. Yeah, reminds me of the gun nuts who call us "controllers."
Thu Jul 4, 2013, 10:20 PM
Jul 2013

And many are the same people (gun nuts and Snowden worshippers).

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
46. Well, gun nuts love HongKong/Moscow Eddie
Sat Jul 6, 2013, 05:24 PM
Jul 2013

because he gives them a specious reason to hate the government more, especially with that awful black man in THEIR WH! America belongs solely to THEM, and they're gunna take it back!

great white snark

(2,646 posts)
24. I'm sure it's a complete coincidence but Authoritarianism is the polar opposite of Libertarianism.
Fri Jul 5, 2013, 12:57 PM
Jul 2013

Not that we have any Libertarians here but if we did I'm sure they'd label, out of spite or just plain ignorance, anyone that disagrees with them as Authoritarians.

Just keep in mind all these terms thrown at us do not come from within our party.

Happy 4th to all!

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
47. As a lover of snark,
Sat Jul 6, 2013, 05:26 PM
Jul 2013

I have to say you have one of the greatest usernames I've ever seen. Congratulations - I'm jealous!

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
30. It means if you don't espouse libertarian ideology, you must be an authoritarian.
Fri Jul 5, 2013, 05:35 PM
Jul 2013

Last edited Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:35 AM - Edit history (5)

Because to them, all forms of control are by definition authoritarian, except tribal forms. They won't say that directly but that's where this leads.

Which are more oppressive as we've seen in fundamentalist homes that don't believe in sparing the rod, that girls need to be educated, have the right to say no to sex, child bearing or a life of child rearing, vote, or to speak when a man is present.

There are non-religious groups who must follow the demands of their own authoritarians, the petty family and business tyrants, but they get a pass from this group as well.

In fact we are upbraided if we bring up these 'useless social issues' which are major issues to those who are invisible to those a few rungs higher up on the social ladder. Because they believe that by not paying taxes or following laws, they will become wealthy. Not the same class as those who they consider themselves to be above and so they don't care about social issues, since they won't fall on their heads.

So it's only evil when government does something, or has a war? What of the thousands of daily deaths that belong at the feet of these authoritarians never written down in history books? Those invisible lives were people, too, to some of us. Their myopia is showing.

Afghanistan, Somalia and other bastions of freedom and liberty where guns rule, they have no argument with. Mind you, there is a certain liberty, freedom and privacy rights strictly enforced in such cultist groups. No one can register their guns, question their child rearing, or take them in for physical violence, incest or rape in all its manifestations.

Those they commit these things upon, have no liberties, no rights to their own thoughts, not even their own bodies. Invisible victims of the control systems they don't care about.

They are not in the class who argue about civil liberties. Just as in the days of the much vaunted Greek democracies and even the founding of the USA and other countries, that so many adore and want to beat us over the head with, neglect one essential fact in their view of freedom, equality and liberty.

Those societies, and the leisure to discuss these things and determine what was right and wrong, indulge themselves in high ideas with philosophy, were built on the back of slaves, conquest, slaughter, and dispossessing others. Yes, their view is quite narrow.

Libertarians, their spiritual kin the Republicans and the Koch brothers, have several ideals in common. They don't believe in any kind of regulation imposed by those 'filthy democrats', both with little and capital letter d's, while they certainly will regulate the most intimate of control mechanisms on those who are under the control of their leaders.

They have a vision for America, and that nasty government is standing in the way. Except they expect they will maintain their modern life by not paying taxes, and polluting and cheating others, as their right. Those others are another file in their forgetaboutit trash bin.

Thus by attempting to arbitrate between competing forces in society, keeping a government strong enough to stand between them, we are told that it is a police state to hold back natural law, families and the free market following its course. They have a lot of demonization to portray others as being so evil their concerns must never be heard, nor their reasons, logic or excuses. They cannot be allowed to speak, period, they must be shut down by the mob. They and their viewpoints must be destroyed.

On the list are banks or agencies of the government they see as evil. One word trying to explain what is logical is called support for the evil cabal. You are then an enemy of the people, an authoritarian, and against civil liberty, anathema and a scourge. You are ______!

They believe, too, that women's rights to their bodies are not in the natural order when this happens but they claim to be for liberty for all. The social system they want will not give any rights to women or any vulnerable population, period. This is what I call Animal Farm. 'All animals are equal to others. Some animals are more equal than others.' But some will not sign up for the glue factory operated by libertarians.

It's social darwinism under a different name, just as the rich and powerful have always justified their rule. Now it's 'let the market decide, who will live and who will die.' The marriage of theocracy and government won't affect the wealthy. It only affects the 47% who need some help. Planned Parenthood, food stamps, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are thus set up to cater to 'parasites.'

People being denied education, medical care, food or housing by the rich or by religious edict don't bother them. They support living under church or family wealth and dissolution of all programs for those who don't want to surrender their freedom of mind and submit to the intimate tyrannies there.

They conveniently ignore the oppression of sectarian and corporate rule. 'Don't look at the man behind that curtain,' it's on private property as everything should be according to them. Nothing public. You have no right to that information.

Interesting that they finally showed their colors on the issues of information being suppressed. When it's in private hands, there won't be questions to ask, as it's proprietary information, and NOYB.

Talking to a some people wastes time. Paulite zealots reveal themselves by claiming to have voted (D) but show such an thorough hatred and disdain of Democrats and the process, it's not credible, or else they were duped.

They might benefit from a 'you might be a libertarian' check list. There is criticism and demand for reform, but that means being a part of the 'authoritarians' or at least working them, that they do not support while denying that to do so, is to support a plethora of less visible authoritarians.

Well, invisible to them, but all too obvious to many of us.

But mainly it's Obama they cannot bear to look at, listen to or hear about, as he carries out the party platform which can lose them votes as he does so. Those who see that as desirable are 'fascist enablers' and 'authoritarian swooners' which is some pretty messed up name calling.

If you take all the fancy verbiage from the Hedges, Greenwald, Benjamin and the rest of the 'government is evil' squad, they support the status quo of the 1% by giving government no power to oppose them. Likewise those who only want the right to be in the streets to vent, but don't get into the evil government to change it.

They are content to dwell in a factory dedicated to producing an unending supply of poutrage, and nothing else. 'Man the barricades!' is not known as a strategy for changing things as much as getting into and transforming the evil government from within. Yes, 'embracing the horde and serving the state' is what that calls for.

The love of street theater is just what is says, the love of street theater. It can entertain and when the next day comes, the fantasy is over unless the numbers are so huge they represent a voting block. And one that will vote and fearlessly take responsibility to become part of the process, no matter what. The little media circuses we are being fed are not a voting block, but depress voters, as planned.

Libertarians will never want to see the government succeed at anything good, since it's in their way. If you are into 'drowning the government in the bathtub,' you'll toss it out later with the bathwater. You will never hear them leading a cheer for any of the measures taken to help the poor and downtrodden. It is ironic when this game is being played with liberals who fall for it consistently.

They never care about the issues of the platform or celebrate any good done, because they don't believe they are proper. They are for more Libertarians in power, period.

Their interests reflect those of the Pauls and are never interested in the rights of women, minorities, nor voting rights or health care or the social safety nets.

They don't believe in any of that, but will use any failure to flog Democrats with and depress them. It's a cynical ploy to beat on the ones trying to make things work, but that they want eliminated.

They will use any crisis to promote their 'It's every man for himself and god against all,' to 'drown the government in the bathtub.' They hate representative democracy, but then, private hierarchies are not democracies at all.

They know better than to openly say that or to promote tribalism here, but it's the end result of their fervent desire to destroy government. They call those who work within the government or receive benefits 'statists,' 'moochers,' 'fascists' and 'authoritarians.' They are getting more upfront when they call those who support the US government for any reason, 'authoritarian enablers.' Anyone that disagrees is a 'fascist,' since they didn't join the 'freedom express.'

They refuse to answer the question on what is proper government function or services, since they are either woefully uninformed about how things work, or do not want to see any. I suspect the latter which leads them to not take the time to learn the former. Although it is possible it's the other way around, all attempts to explain how things work are pointedly ignored, which indicates it is the latter.

By default they want the 'free market' and 'the invisible hand' to do it all, just as the Koch brothers do. If we bring out stories of their involvement with the same, we are called authoritarian stooges.

When people use such strategies and are not honest about their goals, I don't bother to respond here or in real life.


sheshe2

(83,771 posts)
36. Excellent rant, freshwest.
Sat Jul 6, 2013, 12:49 PM
Jul 2013

What have we got when we have no rule of law? What ensues when we abdicate any authority over corporations and the like? We have chaos.

You have stated the facts far better than I ever could. I thank you for putting the truth to words.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
38. Thanks. There are other forces ready and eager to fill any vacuum left by government.
Sat Jul 6, 2013, 02:29 PM
Jul 2013

Last edited Sat Jul 6, 2013, 07:17 PM - Edit history (1)

We see this daily in those who want less regulation, seek to impose their faith on others. Those entities are well-funded and have operated at a less open level than any government ever has done.

It a matter of history that they create dissension and conflict to weaken any secular authority as well as anything that stands in the way of their profit and power. We ignore these groups at our peril, and idealism or holding our noses at anything, will not make them go away.

That they are not part of a discussion when people trash all the government in knee-jerk fashion, strikes me being very ignorant or else dishonest. We cannot afford willful ignorance and blind faith something will magically arise to take place of our demanding 'We The People' style of governance. Leave the 'We' out of that equation and you get corporatism and/or theocracy. Every single time.

There are always those ready to take control, who are doing so today, right in our faces. They know too many will find excuses to not lower themselves to work with others. Their motto is that those who do get involved are all crooks, with bad motives, but I see them in this quote:

He who says there is no such thing as an honest man, is himself a knave.

~ George Berkeley


Thus it is pointless to talk to them, since they choose to ignore the real world. The one that is crushing real people, while they stand by and jeer.

It's ironic when they yell at us, to wake up, that we are sheeple, when they slept through history classes and are still sleeping through reality.



Hekate

(90,690 posts)
50. Have you all seen still_one's farewell thread in GD? That's it; I'm done here.
Sat Jul 6, 2013, 10:00 PM
Jul 2013

I didn't want to start a new thread in the BOG -- and definitely not in GodDam -- but this one is still getting a trickle of action, so I thought I'd say it here.

I'll check in a little bit at the BOG and for PMs, but kids, this place is worse than it ever was before I checked out for two years the last time. I feel like I need to have my head examined for sticking around this long, i.e. from election night 2012 till now.

Love and peace to you all here in the BOG,

Hekate

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
53. Yes, I trashed that thread when I saw the wrecking decided to go in for the kill there.
Sat Jul 6, 2013, 11:17 PM
Jul 2013

Give me PM. Hekate, whenever you want. Several people have PM'd me to say they can't take the unrestrained hatred and personal attacks here.

I saw someone go off on you last night, too, and another went off on me on the same thread. what he said didn't make much sense, but the hate was clear. I had not supported the idol. While I don't think the one that went off on you is a Paulbot, jhe ust felt it personally, he was out of line to pitch a fit on you.

Many of the others have a missionary fanaticism indicative of Paulites. This site is being disrupted big time. And we know from Galreida's OP that their home page has said to meet here.

Not for our own good, of course. For the purpose of ratfucking Democrats and electing Rand in 2016. They are cursing anyone who disagrees with them - the vitriol is very telling. And there is no redress for it, as there is in election season.

But really, we're in that season right now. 2010 was not created in 2010, but 2009, by the same Koch forces using the same tools as now.

I hope you will post at the BOG, but why should we be relegated to hanging out in a safe haven, as if we have no right to speak?

Sad stuff. maddening insanity here.

Hekate

(90,690 posts)
60. "but why should we be relegated to hanging out in a safe haven, as if we have no right to speak? "
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 02:08 AM
Jul 2013

This is exactly my point. If I have to hide out, if I have to put half the current DUers on Ignore, what is the point of being here at all? Something is really sick at this place -- it's never been as bad before, and actual harm is being done not only to DU but to the Democratic brand, imo. There's work to be done, and instead what we've got going on is a mass false-equivalency plus pure falsehoods plus voter suppression tidal wave. I just don't get it.

PM me any time...

 

Sheepshank

(12,504 posts)
63. I tried to pose the question of rising hate, as gently as possible
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:30 PM
Jul 2013
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023190860

I suppose I wandered to closely into the space held sacred regarding DU policy and had the entire thread locked down.

I personally found this thread to be pretty benign compared to many...and was suprised at the admin decision.

I would be sorry to see anyone with solid views and incredible discussion skills be pushed out by the manufactured (and by that I almost mean bought) opinions of come and go idiots.
 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
56. Oh damn, Hekate!
Sat Jul 6, 2013, 11:28 PM
Jul 2013

We need you here. When I get upset I just avoid the front page and change my default view to subscriptions:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=mysubs

That's one way to never see any Obama-hating posts.

What you see will be limited to groups you subscribe to, and you can change them any time.

I subscribe to BOG, Energy and Environment, Computers, and Frugal Living.



and



.

Cha

(297,240 posts)
61. See you in the BOG then, Hekate! We have a really active
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 04:29 AM
Jul 2013

BOG now.. thanks to sheshe and our other BOGgers who make up this Group. And, what a group, huh? Those who appreciate and understand President Barack Obama and don't have a ugly hate bone in their body directed at his busy self.

Mahalo, Hekate.. I always enjoy your posts wherever they are.

BOG

WinstonSmith4740

(3,056 posts)
64. Great idea!
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 11:38 PM
Jul 2013
I think I'm going to go read some more P.G. Wodehouse and lighten up.


Wodehouse saved my sanity in the aftermath of my husband's passing three years ago. I went to spend some time with my sister and she turned me onto Bernie and the inimitable Jeeves. Immediate love.
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