>>> 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?

Wrong question. Try with "how much of it is true".

>Do you think the government is making us into a society that treats women like animals?

Did you stop beating your wife?

The mistreatment of women here is more economic. But then, since the major religion here is "in god we trust", i.e. the $$$, having them burdened with unwanted and/or forced births, lower wages and upper limits in career is still making the males more equal.

>Do you think the government is taking away our freedom of religion?

In a way, yes. Because it's gradually taking away the freedom of religion (as in "religion free"). In little steps, like pouring money into faith based charities and slowing the flow of cash into secular ones. Like making the big issue over the pharmacists' right to choose when to do their job and when not.

>That's "them." They hate us because we drink and gamble, and say nice things to women instead of beating and vieling them.

That's their problem. I'm not on the side of Islam on that. They're just another repressive religion.

>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.

So, when will Pat Robertson be arrested? :)

>I don't think being not-so-nice is equal to becoming an Islamic Jihadist.

Of course it's not. It's called a crusade, if we're talking religion, or a silent coup, if we're talking state matters.