I think we look like a horribly fearful, insecure nation

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

to the rest of the world. Think about it: we have a certain VERY strong element of fundamental Christianity/religion is very public here, very strong, especially in some parts of the nation AND we have the BIGGEST defense budget and bombs and weapons of ANY country in the world, by far.

If you were just to look from the outside in, you'd wonder what the hell a country like that was so damn afraid of.

[maxsolomon]

1. i'd say our GOVERNMENT is afraid of foreign IDEAS

fear is the method used to control the populace & make them compiant consumers.

i learned it all from howard zinn...

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

2. I really need to read his stuff

He and Noam Chomsky.

Want to hear something weird? Someone I know who is voting for bush (strictly out of fear of terra-ists, she is socially liberal) quotes Chomsky all the time. The irony kills me.

[Wind Dancer]

3. "Propaganda and Human Mind Control"

an excellent documentary by Noam Chomsky.

http://mysite.verizon.net/res7dhyg/id3.html

[theorist]

6. Has she read "Hegemony or Survival"?!

He makes the case that the Reagan/Bush players are the main source of international terrorism in the modern world. (Both as the perpetrators and the antagonists.)

He pretty much says, "Get rid of Bush, or we'll all doomed. And we're not talking about a 'missile crisis' this time...."

[mmonk]

4. We are

That's how we are so easy manipulated by people in power. If you know someone's weaknesses, you can exercize control by tapping into it.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

5. I agree. And that is scary. eom

[Lisa]

7. Canadian telemarketing company -- "If you want to sell to Americans ..."

"... you have to bully them". There was a horrible news story about a Toronto firm (con artists, really) pushing some bogus health care insurance on American customers, a few years back. The reporters used a hidden camera to record the comments made by one of the culprits. They even listened in on a phone call, where an elderly US victim was being coerced. It was disgusting -- that person (who for all I know might have parachuted into Normandy on D-Day) being reduced to helpless tears by that phone call. The memory of that company rep saying that all you had to do to get Americans to obey you was to threaten them long enough (that they would be sick and destitute without the plan) stays with me. My hackles go right up when I hear Bush, Cheney, etc., because it was the exact same tone of voice.