I don't think it's Obama's fault in particular, it's what the country has been heading in for a while now. I've read an article a few years back that said the US is becoming increasingly fascistic. And now we have this on top of a few other scandals, I think they were right.
I'm not sure you can blame Obama personally though, I'm not sure how the political structure works in the US exactly. But isn't it that the senate holds the real power? If the majority decides to work into a specific direction then Obama can't do very much about it, can he? Like I said, I'm no expert on this but to me it seems like Obama doesn't have control over everything.
It's crazy though, when you think about it. They started to heavily spy on people after one terrorist attack, and now that a whistleblower has opened up this disregard for basic rights they even enforce the spying even further. Yes, I think now we've gotten to a point where it's fair to make the comparison to Nazi Germany or the KGB without it being an exxageration. But I'm not sure you can blame the president, I think there are simply things in motion even he can't stop.
Well Obama promised transparency, and has prosecuted more whistleblowers than all other presidents put together. (Is only about 1/8th of the way through his second term). Now he's pushing for people to whistleblow the whistleblowers for trying to make things transparent. The joke that he needs to keep everything secret to keep us safe needs to stop, even if it does make him sound like Gandalf.
because a program like that can be easily abused. for example. you and a co worker are both under consideration for a promotion to fill a vacant spot. you decide to notify your supervisor of suspicious activity by you co worker" he bought an expensive new car".
the consideration for promotion on your co worker is dropped because now he is under investigation. you get the promotion because the spot needed to be filled asap. then much later after the lengthy FBI digging into his personal life they realize he saved that money for 10 years to buy that expensive car
Last edited by Vyxn; 2013-07-11 at 03:43 PM.
Buying a new car = being a spy? I understand the idea behind your example, but it's more complicated than that. Buying a new car wouldn't make you a suspect or put a black mark on you. Missing documents and unnecessary downloads would be more suspicious than buying a new car. And more easy to prove too.
That example is asinine.
Also anyone who thinks this is new behavior for america is deluded, go open a history book and read about the red scare, or what america did to it's own citizens in 1942. Research the Nixon administration, or the patriot act... yeah Obama is the one trashing our rights, this type of behavior hasn't been going on for a hundred years or anything.
Last edited by Redmage; 2013-07-11 at 04:43 PM.
Slaying 8bit dragons with 6 pixel long swords since 1987.
Because the average person breaks the law something like 200-250 times a year without even realizing it?
Because governments have a history of abusing power?
Or maybe just because the US government, in particular, has committed acts which barely fall on this side of the Third Reich and has proven itself untrustworthy... some of those acts on its own citizens.
Your point being what? The fact that the issue is causing controversy and is being sued for in the courts indicates that the checks and balances are swinging into action as per usual.
Why is it when people say "governments have a history of abusing power" the only example they tend to cite is the Third Reich?Or maybe just because the US government, in particular, has committed acts which barely fall on this side of the Third Reich and has proven itself untrustworthy... some of those acts on its own citizens.
Ignoring that it's complete hyperbole of course, given that the overall trend has been a net -gain- in terms of civil liberties over the past two centuries.
Originally Posted by Marjane Satrapi
Laziness and hysteria usually.Why is it when people say "governments have a history of abusing power" the only example they tend to cite is the Third Reich?
Hitler also has highways built but no one ever compares someone to him for that.
Unless you're talking about taking over a country or committing genocide comparisons are never valid.
It is still hyperbolic. Saying because the 3rd Reich had power then abused that power= US government has power and will abuse that power is hyperbolic. The Nazis did a lot of bad things and had power. But just because a government has power doesn't guarantee it will do bad things.
I'm not sure you know what hyperbole means. If I were being hyperbolic I would be exaggerating. I am not, however, exaggerating. The US Government has, quite in fact, committed acts strikingly similar to those of Josef Mengele. That's not hyperbole. That's historic fact.