I think I have been reading too much today anyway because I am probably making assumptions that are totally unwarranted! Oh yeah, it's Friday! :o)


>I wish I could keep my writing clear and to the point, but it seems I like to hear myself talk too much.
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>>In that I agree with you completely Jim.
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>>>That would be ridiculous, Tracy.
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>>>But that's not what I did.
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>>>My point, maybe badly made, is that virtually all major democratic governments today (I did include UK and Canada directly) have swung completely away from making better countries for their people to selling the nightmare scenario as the means to retain their elected status. They have thrown the rest of their job, which should be most of their job, completely overboard.
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>>>Fear - which I maintain elected officials are promoting - causes irrational thinking and completely takes focus away from other problems.
>>>How much have you heard recently about the poor folks in Florida who have yet to be "served" by FEMA?
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>>>I have a problem with radical Islam and I have exactly the same problem with radical Christianity or with radical hinduism.
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>>>>Jim, comparing the current government (as bad as it is) with terrorists is absolutely ridiculous. You must know this really. When you have seen real evil there is no comparison. Think for a moment about Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley and Nick Berg and the others.
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>>>>Under Islam, regardless of what others say, beheadings are perfectly acceptable as long as the cut is towards Mecca.
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>>>>I guess it hasn't been that long since heads were hanging from the tower of london so perhaps it doesn't seem that violent and evil to some.
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>>>>>>>>>> Today, though, governments everywhere thrive on FEAR so it is much more in their interest to over react. Even here, though we have it far less pronounced than in most other countries.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Another word for Fear is Terror. Which would make The goverment Terrorists. The thing they are trying to save us from, is the thing they are making us into.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Do you think that's true?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Do you think the government is making us into a society that treats women like animals?
>>>>>>>>Do you think the government is taking away our freedom of religion?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>That's "them." They hate us because we drink and gamble, and say nice things to women instead of beating and vieling them.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>If the government has to be not-so-nice in order to defend our open society from religious nutters, then I think that's OK. I don't think being not-so-nice is equal to becoming an Islamic Jihadist. It's too bad that's the first analysis you make.
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>>>>>>>Well, Mike, I think Greg is more right than he is wrong on this.
>>>>>>>Saddam was not a "religious nutter" and he was not threatening the U.S. I agree he was a nutcase, but that expands YOUR argument to include just about anyone we might choose.
>>>>>>>But the main thing is... what has your government done for "YOU THE PEOPLE" lately (and mine for me)? The answer is clear as a bell - NOTHING.
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>>>>>>That's your opinion. But even if you're right, does that make them Islamic Jihadists? No, I don't think it does.
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>>>>>Jihadists?...of course not.
>>>>>But terrorists are called "terrorists" because they instill fear/terror into people's minds.
>>>>>Isn't that what President Bush and Prime Minister Blair and Prime Minister Martin and ... doing? They are instilling fear into the citizens and then claiming that only they can keep us safe.
>>>>>Was it FDR who said something like 'our only fear is fear itself'? WHere would our leaders be if everyone remembered that!?!?!?!?!