I've always been careful about using the word "evil." However

[Cyrano]

I'm starting to give it second thoughts.

As a devout agnostic, the term "evil" is one I take with a ton of salt. But Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Rove and the rest of their criminal empire are making me start to question my own values.

These people are something we hoped we'd never see in this country. Yeah, I know, over the last century we've seen some of the worst monsters that history had to offer.

However, with the exception of Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger and the rest of the scum that made up their criminal empire, (many of whom are now wingnut pundits), we haven't, in this country, seen the degree of evil that we are now seeing in American government. (I'm not talking about the number of people murdered under the banner of democracy. I'm talking about the intentional and total destruction of democracy.)

It's not just the lies. (All politicians lie. It's expected.) It's their actions. They lied us into war, they lied a majority of Americans into giving up their freedoms without a whimper (the Patriot Act), they've lied about our economy and safety, our loss of respect in the civilized world, and the billions upon billions of dollars that have been stolen by Halliburton and others favored by our current royalty.

If ever people had to be held responsible for their actions, it's the current band of thugs running our country. Yet, most people seem to have given up with a "there's nothing I can do about it," attitude.

[SteppingRazor]

1. Like you, Cyrano, I'm not much on evil --

at least in any religious or black-and-white morality sense of the word. But unlike you, I'm not willing to use the word on the Bush administration. If they were fighting war simply for the sake of killing people, or passing the Patriot Act because it will strip us of our rights, I might be more tempted. But, no, they have their reasons, however repugnant, for being in Iraq. And the loss of civil liberties under the Patriot Act is a side effect for them, not the meat of the legislation.
But then again, maybe this casual disregard for the consequences of one's actions -- the sheer amorality of it all -- bespeaks evil more than an intentional commitment to atrocity ever could.
Or I could be wrong. I usually am.

[Salviati]

10. I have come to the conclusion that the source of most evil in the world...

... is this amoral attitude of "I'm going to do what I want to do, and damn the consequences" that is so prevalent in this administration, along with it's brother "the ends justify the means".

True unmitigated evil is hard to find in the world, but evil actions done out of self interest, or what I like to think of as time-share-psychopathy, where the capacity of many individuals to commit small isolated psychopathic actions are conglomerated into advancing a single entity that can be all psycopath all the time, like a corporation or government, are all too prevelent...

[sui generis]

2. what's good for the human is

evil for the cow.

The problem is, they think of us as cattle, to be herded and harvested, and so far us "cattle" haven't been amazingly successful at getting the pigs away from the trough.

Viva evolution. Darwin and many scientists since have proven that selfish evolution isn't as successful as cooperative evolution. The trail of shit they leave in their wake has the added effect of pointing straight at them.

We need to use that to advantage - we've given them the rope, they're busy hanging themselves, now we just need to point out the rotten corpse.

(sorry, I just ran out of metaphors)

[Jokerman]

3. "Evil" is a word that I try to avoid

I think it gives too much of a supernatural dimension to the crimes perpetrated by man. It's like doing something you know is wrong then claiming "the devil made me do it".

[KnaveRupe]

4. On Evil.

Remember the movie Time Bandits? At the end when the little boy tries to warn his parents about the "roast" that burned down their house: "Mum! Dad! Don't touch it! It's Eeeevil!"

It is my personal belief that Dick Cheney is that roast. And when America touched him, we exploded. Just like the parents in Time Bandits.


-----------


The GOP: Sacrificing the blood of the Lamb on the Altar of Mammon!

[Vickers]

5. From dictionary .com:

1. Morally bad or wrong; wicked: an evil tyrant.
2. Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful: the evil effects of a poor diet.
3. Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous: evil omens.
4. Bad or blameworthy by report; infamous: an evil reputation.
5. Characterized by anger or spite; malicious: an evil temper.

I think it applies, regardless of your stance on religion.

[SteppingRazor]

7. Agreed, in that sense.

I actually opened my dictionary to the definition before writing my post above.

But the connotation of evil, of course, does have that whiff of the supernatural -- or at the very least, of some real and ultimate wrongness. In that sense, I can't agree that Bush is "evil." He's not the devil incarnate, after all. That would be Karl Rove.

Ok, Ok. I'm kinding. It's actually me. Photo attached:

:evilgrin:

See? Told ya.

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. It's only supernatural if you give power to the supernatural.

As an atheist, I wholeheartedly believe in the concepts of good and evil, just not in the supernatural personification of them. The human personifications can be seen, with literary license.

It is difficult to not see Hitler as the personification of evil.

[Lecky]

6. I prefer to use the word 'sociopath' to describe them

[PurgedVoter]

9. I feel the same way.

Which is interesting considering I am a Christian. Then again maybe it isn't that odd.
The Neocons plainly believe that might makes right. Their stated goals are to use the power of the United States to take control of the world. The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are philosophically in direct opposition with the goals of the Neocons.
Since Jesus preached putting others first, compassion, tolerance and giving, his philosophy is also in fairly strong opposition with the philosophy of our current leadership.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi PurgedVoter!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Roaming]

11. Taking your question of evil literally, I recommend a book

It's quite interesting -- it's called "People of the Lie" by M. Scott Peck, and it explores the question of human evil from a psychiatric/psychological perspective.