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Whomever controls doubt, controls everything in America

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inthebrain Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-23-06 06:00 PM
Original message
Whomever controls doubt, controls everything in America
I posted this on AriannaOnline and the right wing trolls went nutz. Me thinks I hit a nerve!!!!


I was just reading a book called "Doubt". It goes into the history of Doubt and how it brought about a change in thinking. Mainly regarding politics and theology.

It got me thinking about our politics, media and justice system in this country. These days everything has become so image based that we are constantly fighting a war of doubt.

I think back to the presidential campaign of 2000 where Gore and Bush did little to differentiate between each other. That campaign was based on "Gore is a pathological liar". Then we move to the 2004 campaign between Kerry and Bush. That one was about Kerry as this weany liberal who can't protect us from the terrorists. Then we had the Swift Boat Campaign and the "flip flopper" talking points. I wonder how much money was spent by the Bush campaign to prop up Bush versus money spent to tear down Kerry?

Kerry wasn't even the anti war candidate they proclaimed him to be!!!!! Where was the real criticism of policy that effects out everyday lives? Kerry mumbled about some things and Bush offered bad ideas regarding SS. Yet, very little revolved around why Bush would make a great leader and how Kerry offered up something entirely different to change the public debate.

On health care Bush offered a ridiculous and senseless series of tax cuts. Kerry's plan, although mildly better, just offered us drugs from Canada. How do these proposals fix a major flaw in the "Free Market" system we apply to health care? The demand curve for health care is always vertical spike.

Then there is the issue of media. Conservatives a long time ago learned that controlling doubt is what wins elections. The media is stacked with nothing but pro corporate garble. Who ever offers anything that remotely challenges corporate power gets beaten with the doubt stick.

Even our justice system, or how we look at it, as moved far away from "innocent until proven guilty". How about "Better that ten guilty men go free than one innocent man goes to jail". What ever happened to fundamental belief that we used to strive to uphold?

Now a days, in these ridiculous court trials, we are constantly reminded that the defendant is guilty. Anybody spouting any of the two beliefs mentioned above would be looked at as if he was nuts. The so called "small government conservatives" are the ones that come to mind the most. Our justice system, or the way we think about justice has moved from proving guilt to proving innocence.

Doubt is a very powerful thing in this society.
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blm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-23-06 06:08 PM
Response to Original message
1. It's absurd to say Kerry's healthcare plan just offered drugs from Canada.
You just completeky ignored hia entire healthcare plan that got the highest rating of all the healthcare plans by nonpartisan groups.

His plan was to offer the exact same healthcare that ALL govt. workers, including congress get. And the govt. pays for all healthcare for the most devastating cases and universal healthcare for every child.

Kerry never MUMBLED anything and decisively won all 3 debates.

Where did you get your info from, anyway?
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inthebrain Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-23-06 10:31 PM
Response to Reply #1
4. Perhaps I misread his plan
When I read it on his campaign website.

Last i checked he was basicly offering up cheaper drugs from Canada. Offering the same healthcare package as senators? I never saw that on his campaign website.

Bush offered up tax credits. Which is complerely fucking retarded.

Kerry's was nothing close to a national healthcare plan. At least nothing close when looking at what was outlined on his website. He offered up a Free Market solution which does not address the Free Market flaw in health care. When given the choice between Bush and Kerry's plan who wouldnt pick Kerry's?

That doesnt make it ideal.

What happens to those prices when they are allowed into the American market?

Any comment on the subject?

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Virginia Dare Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-23-06 06:12 PM
Response to Original message
2. Or, whomever controls the media..
they steer the debate and fuel the doubts.
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pretzel4gore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-23-06 06:47 PM
Response to Original message
3. 75 percent of the world's lawyers are in the USA
i got this from 'the united states of anger' by a bushloving dupe named gavin esler (he wrote his book during the 'incompetent' clinton era...i womder what the asshole thinks now)
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pretzel4gore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-25-06 07:37 AM
Response to Reply #3
5. maybe the number of lawyers reflect upheld rights!
considering that apparently in 1991 vp dan quail asked (in reference to the 'exploding number of lawsuits') the American Bar Association 'does the US really need '70 percent' of the world's lawyers...the answer MUST BE hell yes!
funny how these people have their kaka and eat it too: most lawyers are repukes, yet they criticise number of lawyers, and their potential social role of defending against injustice(!)
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Minnesota Libra Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-25-06 08:21 AM
Response to Original message
6. I must have missed something during the campaigns because...........
....during the Gore/Bush campaign and the Kerry/Bush campaign I saw a lot of differences between Bush and his opponents. A plan was offered that pretty much matched the health care Congress enjoys:hi:, but of course Bush thought that was too good for average Americans.:freak:

Plus, I can only dream of how much better our country would be today with Gore in office on 9/11 and up to today.:applause:

Top that off with the condition of the national debt right now and how much better shape we'd be in with either Gore or Kerry at the helm.:loveya:

:rant:I just wish that anyone (regardless of age or gender) who thinks Democrats are so terrible would run for office themselves. Come up with a better plan for everything, run for office, and bring it on. No excuses as to why they can't run for office, just do it. If they win they get the chance to put up or shut up. Remember people, NOT A ONE OF US is perfect and we never will be.:rant:
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