Oppression Threshold (Police State Poll #1)

[plurality]

Ok, here's the deal. For the last 3 years there's been much talk about how we're moving towards a police state, and even a couple that say we're actually there. But regardless, whenever the next atrocity happens nobody responds, aside from coming to DU or someother board and bitching about it. So here's the poll:

What would be an action by the government that would finally send you over the line of, "Well this government's bad, but a Democrat can fix it", to, "This is Nazi America and I can't sit back and watch this happen any more.

There is another part to this poll, so after you've taken this one please take the second, as well as keep both of them kicked.

[plurality]

1. kick

come one, let's have some discussion here people!

[plurality]

2. kick again, keep it on page 1

[benfranklin1776]

3. Kick

n/t

[starroute]

4. It's a tough poll, because you're asking for a trigger event

This country could become a fascist state without some of the things you list -- like cancellation of elections -- ever happening.

And some of the other things -- like a crackdown on dissent -- have happened before (1798, 1917) without it being a reason to give up faith in the system.

I finally settled on major oppression of a minority group, because that would be a real bellwether in several ways:

- A violation of basic constitutional standards.

- A message to everyone else: "Falll in line or this could happen to you."

- A means of deflecting anger from the government onto a scapegoat.

- A way of raising the accepted level of violence in civil society.


The real statement this poll makes to me is something like this: "If things keep on going as they have been, there will be a point at which democratic institutions have been thoroughly subverted and replaced by coercion as the controlling factor in our society. At that point, democracy alone will not be able to save us. What would it take to convince you that point has been reached?"

[plurality]

8. I kind of feel it's already been reached and that we're in Brave New World

territory now. Really I just wanted to see how many people picked something that's already occured. And in reality, they've all occured to some extent or another. I also wanted to ask later on, which I guess I'll do now, would it make any difference if it was a Republican or Democratic administration perform the actions.

I know most will probably answer no, but really I think deep down people would accept stuff from a Democrat that they wouldn't take from a Republican. Something about the whole, "well that's a little bad, but Pres. (blah) is one of us so I trust him." Look at some of the anti-liberty things Clinton did and you never heard a peep from Dems about it, while it drove many righties to the point of terrorism, yet with Bush, we're all up in arms while the Repubs are silent, kinda makes you think, doesn't it?

[veganwitch]

5. i voted other

mostly because i can see a lot of different things happening. we already have the "voluntary" roundups of muslim men. south carlolina didnt hold its republican primary because it was afraid of the numbers of republicans that might vote against bush. you have the miami protest brutality.

oh and grover norquist this morning on wash journal was essentially calling for martial law in missouri when he said that "maybe the national guard should go down there and deal with those run-away judges."

all the more reason to get off this sinking ship.

[BiggJawn]

6. I went for cancelling the elections.

Because I see that as the event that would slap about 40% of this country out of their "fat, greasy slumber".("Sleep On, thou fat and greasy citizens"-Shakespeare)

The other 60%? as long as "Survivor" stays on the air, they could give a shit.

[mrgorth]

7. Who the hell

voted "nothing"?

[plurality]

9. at least they're honest

Quite frankly I think about 75% of Americans would accept any level of depravity from the government as long as it didn't intefere with "American Idol", their SUV being filled, and all the Big Macs they can eat.

[Brian Sweat]

10. When peaceful demonstators are arrested on trumped up charges

I will begin to suspect that we are seeing the birth of a police state.

[durutti]

14. This already happens.

It's happened to me personally on more than one occasion.

[Brian Sweat]

17. And I already believe that we are living on the edge of darkness.

[plurality]

11. evening kick

[TexasMexican]

12. Kind of Scary, according to this poll...

right now, about 45% of respondents would still be content as long as elections arent cancelled.

Reminds me of that scene in the movie "Gladiator" where the emporer's sister is telling him to "let the people have thier traditions," refering to keeping the senate around.

So as long as the powers that be let us little people keep our tradition of elections, most people wont do anything, regardless of the fact that the elections are rigged or whatnot.

[plurality]

13. i thought so too.

Personally I thought it would be something like waiting until someone they knew was disappeared, which would be bad. Personally I was hoping that people would wake up when a minority group they weren't a part of was oppressed, but who am I kidding, that's already happening and noone cares.

[smirkymonkey]

15. Kick....

any of these things by itself is an indication, but a grouping of 3 or more and I would consider it a done deal. The one that frightens me the most a present would be the cancelling of elections, because to me, that would mean it's over...No return.

[hellhathnofury]

16. I voted...

"Nothing (Our government is always right no matter what)"



















shhhh...it's watching.

[Sophree]

18. There is already a crackdown on dissent.

It's called the RAVE Act and it has already caused the cancellations of anti-Marijuana Prohibition rallies and fundraisers.

Plus, the 911 Truth protesters in NYC who had their records released.

It's already here, even if it is not effecting you personally. YET.