The Maelstrom of Violence

[Bob Butler 54]

(09-20-2017, 03:29 PM)pbrower2a Wrote:

(09-20-2017, 02:13 PM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote: I can agree that people who have been subjected to a lifetime of propaganda need more than one exposure to new ideas, but it isn't just the red-state (or blue-state) that features a propaganda system that leaves one values locked.  For many, it takes a lot more than a few exposures to get an open mind.  (I assume you two have lost count?)  To a large degree, you are saying the same thing about each other, and it is greatly true.  The problem is real, and nobody has a wide enough vision and large enough group resolve to solve it.

But people in central and southeastern Europe generally did not need long to reject Marxism-Leninism, a system that inundates people with propaganda.

I’d like to have a thing to watch for that lets one pick out groups like the Stalinists, NSGHP, ISIS or other clearly dark True Believers.  It is easy to note that the dark True Believers aren’t the only ones lacking a open mind or a theory on how things work.  We can go around in tight circles.

What are significant about the people of central and southeastern Europe?  They have the Catholic background?  That’s as elaborate an indoctrinate system roughly as the Stalinists.  There are complementary political systems to go with it.  Or can the critical difference be found in the spiral of violence.  Were they just close enough to a solution that the idea of being violent is more necessary that the value of life did not go critical?  There is also not that much ground between central Europe and the territory of NSGHP and the Stalinists.  There is also a gap between populations that contain a large number of True Believers, enough to dominate politics, and a population truly sharing the perspective.

I also never got another answer.  What is the politically correct way of referring to the NSGHP?  That seems a bit obscure, but it seems some of conservatives are crazy into political correctness and get upset by perceived insults.  I wouldn’t want to hurt people’s feelings.  The NSGHP are so sensitive, you know.  

(09-20-2017, 03:29 PM)pbrower2a Wrote:

(09-20-2017, 02:13 PM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote: And that leads back to a political system where those who can buy the best lawyers, lobbyists, media people and politicians make the rules.  That will take a lot of people getting angry to fix.  The questions include how many, how soon, and how angry.

Donald Trump found the anger, but he had no viable solutions.

Decent evaluation.  One of the few positive things about the Trump phenomena is how angry the Republican base is getting and how badly their protest candidate is failing.  The Democrats also failed with their establishment.  We might be ready for a true shift.

(09-20-2017, 03:29 PM)pbrower2a Wrote: I will say this of the "red" states of the South: they have swung from conservative epochs to populist epochs in the past, and without obvious indications of doing so. Is anyone certain that the "New South" that gave America such types as Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and John Edwards will not return?  

Interesting point.

(09-20-2017, 03:29 PM)pbrower2a Wrote:

(09-20-2017, 02:13 PM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote: We shall now return to our abstract philosophical discussion of maybe True Believers needing to see the key problem as more important than the value of human life.

Let us remember that the best defense against the fanatic is the principle that human life is precious even if it has obvious differences  such as hooked noses, an epicanthic fold, or above-average melanin content. Or that it has a different theology. To Hell with Stalinists, Nazis, and ISIS!

Watch out.  Conservatives are so politically correct, and we wouldn't want to hurt any feelings.    Otherwise, good point...  I hope.  I sometimes wonder.