On the REAL ID Act

The nazis didn't *originally* require papers of
everyone. Various communist countries
implemented a primitive form of this sort of
thing and as such it has always been
conceptually associated as a tool for government
opression.

There are a number of people that claim that
Bush is a closet nazi or some such, though, I'm
willing to accept that he's not a nazi but
rather simply a clueless man that listens to
clueless advisors about superficial solutions to
poorly posed problems. Albeit, I do understand
that Bush was the favored mainstream candidate
amongst domestic neo-nazis, but I'm sure that's
a matter of he being as far right a candidate as
was available.

That's not to say that Bush and his advisors
don't have some level of dogmatic similarity
with the third reich. There are parts of the US
Patriot act that read VERY similarly to soviet
and nazi-era laws with regard to surveillance
and arrest powers (particularly compared to
pre-existing US law). And, of course the Bush
administration's public chastisement of anti-war
protestors with "You are either with us, or with
the terrorists," and the accompanying rallying
of the public to support the war in Iraq was
eerily reminiscent of Hermann Goering's (Nazi
Luftwaffe-Chief) sentiment:

"Of course the people don't want war. But after
all, it's the leaders of the country who
determine the policy, and it's always a simple
matter to drag the people along whether it's a
democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a
parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice
or no voice, the people can always be brought to
the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All
you have to do is tell them they are being
attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of
patriotism, and exposing the country to greater
danger."

Thought for the day and all the days to come

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
--
Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in the world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.

Letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy [Nov. 13, 1789]
--
He that lives upon hope will die fasting.
--
When the well's dry, we know the worth of water.
--
Little strokes, Fell great oaks.
--
Who has deceiv'd thee so oft as thy self?
--
Benjamin Franklin

Deserving of its own post

"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by the gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison

Another quote stands on its own

"No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent." - Abraham Lincoln

A quote from one of my favorite peeps

"We've arranged a civilization in which most crucial elements profoundly depend on science and technology. We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster. We might get away with it for a while, but sooner or later this combustible mixture of ignorance and power is going to blow up in our faces." - Carl Sagan

I love this one...

"The trade of governing has always been monopolized by the most ignorant and the most rascally individuals of mankind." - Thomas Paine

Damn! Spot on!

"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves." - William Pitt, 1783

They keep rolling....

"The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws." - Tacitus (A.D. 55? - 130?)

My last burst of quotes for the day. Something about not learning history and doomed to repeat.....

"He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice." - Albert Einstein
--
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Dr. Benjamin Franklin, 1759
--
"You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence." - Charles A. Beard (1874-1948), U.S. historian
--
"The history of liberty is a history of the limitation of governmental power, not the increase of it." - Woodrow Wilson
--
"The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedients." - Edmund Burke
--
"Our forefathers would think it's time for a revolution. This is why they revolted in the first place... They revolted against much more mild oppression." - Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) when he was asked about the USA Patriot Act.
--

More Jefferson - This guy had quite a mind...

"The oppressed should rebel, and they will continue to rebel and raise disturbance until their civil rights are fully restored to them and all partial distinctions, exclusions and incapacitations are removed." - Thomas Jefferson, 1776.
--
"Convinced that the people are the only safe depositories of their own liberty, and that they are not safe unless enlightened to a certain degree, I have looked on our present state of liberty as a short-lived possession unless the mass of the people could be informed to a certain degree." - Thomas Jefferson to Littleton Waller Tazewell, 1805.
--
"A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular; and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inferences." - Thomas Jefferson (writing to James Madison), 1787.
--
"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." - Thomas Jefferson.
--
"Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plenitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law,' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual." - Thomas Jefferson to Isaac H. Tiffany, 1819.
--
"Most codes extend their definitions of treason to acts not really against one's country. They do not distinguish between acts against the government, and acts against the oppressions of the government. The latter are virtues, yet have furnished more victims to the executioner than the former, because real treasons are rare; oppressions frequent. The unsuccessful strugglers against tyranny have been the chief martyrs of treason laws in all countries." - Thomas Jefferson: Report on Spanish Convention, 1792.

George Washington, First President of The United States of America (1732 - 1799)

Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.
--
The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.
--
It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it.
--
Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.
--
The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.
--
The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves. (Seems to be pertinent again)

Observations that the common people can always be manipulated into supporting and fighting wars

We got around to the subject of war again and I said that, contrary to his attitude, I did not think that the common people are very thankful for leaders who bring them war and destruction.

"Why, of course, the people don't want war," he shrugged. "Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship."

"There is one difference," I pointed out. "In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars."

"Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

The quote offered above was part of a conversation Gustave Gilbert, a German-speaking intelligence officer and psychologist, held with Hermann Goering in his cell on the evening of 18 April 1946, as the Nuremberg Trials were halted for a three-day Easter recess.

Thought for the day and all the days to come

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
–
Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in the world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.

Letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy [Nov. 13, 1789]
–
He that lives upon hope will die fasting.
–
When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.
–
Little strokes, Fell great oaks.
–
Who has deceiv’d thee so oft as thy self?
–
Benjamin Franklin

Deserving of its own post

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

“I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by the gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations.” - James Madison

Another quote stands on its own

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

“No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.” - Abraham Lincoln

A quote from one of my favorite peeps

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

“We’ve arranged a civilization in which most crucial elements profoundly depend on science and technology. We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster. We might get away with it for a while, but sooner or later this combustible mixture of ignorance and power is going to blow up in our faces.” - Carl Sagan

I love this one…

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

“The trade of governing has always been monopolized by the most ignorant and the most rascally individuals of mankind.” - Thomas Paine

Damn! Spot on!

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt, 1783

They keep rolling….

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

“The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.” - Tacitus (A.D. 55? - 130?)

My last burst of quotes for the day. Something about not learning history and doomed to repeat̷

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

“He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice.” - Albert Einstein
–
“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.” - Dr. Benjamin Franklin, 1759
–
“You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence.” - Charles A. Beard (1874-1948), U.S. historian
–
“The history of liberty is a history of the limitation of governmental power, not the increase of it.” - Woodrow Wilson
–
“The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedients.” - Edmund Burke
–
“Our forefathers would think it’s time for a revolution. This is why they revolted in the first place… They revolted against much more mild oppression.” - Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) when he was asked about the USA Patriot Act.
–

More Jefferson - This guy had quite a mind…

“The oppressed should rebel, and they will continue to rebel and raise disturbance until their civil rights are fully restored to them and all partial distinctions, exclusions and incapacitations are removed.” - Thomas Jefferson, 1776.
–
“Convinced that the people are the only safe depositories of their own liberty, and that they are not safe unless enlightened to a certain degree, I have looked on our present state of liberty as a short-lived possession unless the mass of the people could be informed to a certain degree.” - Thomas Jefferson to Littleton Waller Tazewell, 1805.
–
“A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular; and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inferences.” - Thomas Jefferson (writing to James Madison), 1787.
–
“My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.” - Thomas Jefferson.
–
“Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plenitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law,’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.” - Thomas Jefferson to Isaac H. Tiffany, 1819.
–
“Most codes extend their definitions of treason to acts not really against one’s country. They do not distinguish between acts against the government, and acts against the oppressions of the government. The latter are virtues, yet have furnished more victims to the executioner than the former, because real treasons are rare; oppressions frequent. The unsuccessful strugglers against tyranny have been the chief martyrs of treason laws in all countries.” - Thomas Jefferson: Report on Spanish Convention, 1792.

George Washington, First President of The United States of America (1732 - 1799)

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.
–
The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.
–
It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it.
–
Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.
–
The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.
–
The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves. (Seems to be pertinent again)

Observations that the common people can always be manipulated into supporting and fighting wars

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

We got around to the subject of war again and I said that, contrary to his attitude, I did not think that the common people are very thankful for leaders who bring them war and destruction.

“Why, of course, the people don’t want war,” he shrugged. “Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don’t want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship.”

“There is one difference,” I pointed out. “In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars.”

“Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.”

The quote offered above was part of a conversation Gustave Gilbert, a German-speaking intelligence officer and psychologist, held with Hermann Goering in his cell on the evening of 18 April 1946, as the Nuremberg Trials were halted for a three-day Easter recess.