Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: goldworldnet who wrote (154176)	12/16/2004 11:39:56 AM
From: Neocon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

It is a little more complicated than that. First, the Civil Rights Movement exposed a deep flaw in American society, and undermined respect for existing leadership. Second, the war in Vietnam strained our trust. It was within those contexts that the drug culture could have much influence. What you characterized as the "drug culture" was, more broadly, the mass marketing of Bohemianism. That is why it was more "liberationist" than truly leftist, and can be found on the Right, among some Libertarians, as well as on the Left. It had more to do with unconventionality and finding oneself than with pursuing a broad social agenda. The Port Huron Statement, which was the manifesto of Students For a Democratic Society, announced that that generation was looking for a society where love was more possible, and John Lennon was considered deep. Of course, a culture cannot flourish without a sense of continuity and trust in major institutions, and it took Ronald Reagan to restore a lot of the damage. But not all, unfortunately.

To: goldworldnet who wrote (154176)	12/16/2004 2:36:45 PM
From: cnyndwllr	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Goldworldnet, re: "The deterioration of respect for authority figures and established institutions can be traced directly back to the drug culture that became mainstream in the 60’s." I suppose it had nothing to do with the fact that almost 60,000 of us died and hundreds of thousands of us were wounded in a war that was continued based on deliberate lies from our most trusted "authority figures and established institutions?" I suppose it had nothing to do with the corruption of the Johnson and Nixon Administrations? No, it's those low life druggies and burned out ex-users who fail to respect our authority figures and established institutions, and it's solid citizens like you who continue to hold such "respect." Hey, it's kind of an "us and them" thing where the "them" are all drugged out. I personally opted out of most of that drug stuff but I'll question the "Blue Skies Act," the "evil Iraq" rationale, the "we're winning the war on terror" platitudes, the "we gave you a tax cut" smoke and mirrors, the "Haliburton was the only contractor big enough" justification, the "Abu Ghrieb was an anomaly from a few bad apples" excuse, the "we're making all the armor we can" bullshit, the "Irag is just about to turn a corner" silliness, the "Iraq was the greatest threat to Americans in the world" hyperbole, the ...... You, on the other hand, can trust all the authority figures and established institutions you want. Faith has, after all, played a huge role in human history. But remember that some of us have to survive when the flock, bleating happily, runs over the cliff. Remember too, that the leaders of the flock will not lead you over the cliff; they'll send you. Ed