18-10-2010, 06:40 PM
Albert
I go along with pretty much all you have written on this thread, with just one jarring exception. As an American yourself (which admittedly provides some leeway) you say:
The plain fact is that both the 'American People' and the 'British People' are, by and large 'The sheeple'. The pressures on most of their everyday lives are such as to make it impossible to devine what is really going on in their names because, sure as hell they will NEVER be able to do so from the Western MSM anyway. There is a fundamental need to trust their leaders at a basic level; to believe that their governments have their best interests at heart; the patriotism that is instilled from birth dictates belief that their country may make many cock-ups, but that it means well and is basically a misunderstood leviathan trying to make the world a better place. Absurd propositions all - as you and I well know - but that's the way it is.
Most people are basically good and have no wish harm others, but they are also all-to-ready to blame perceived misfortune on 'others' (based on largely imagined differences judged by skin colour, race, accent - whatever) and to be persuaded that they need protection from powerful wicked external enemies out to get them. They are simply suckers for snake-oil salesmen IOW - the plausible story that panders to their prejudices and keeps their fond illusions intact - so that's exactly what they get from the psychopaths with real power.
I have no idea what the answer is and confess in my dotage that I don't think there is one. Humanity is headed for that cliff with a bunch of arrogant psychopaths at the helm (as ever) and no 'Catcher in the Rye' is likely to stop it IMH and very pessimistic O.
I go along with pretty much all you have written on this thread, with just one jarring exception. As an American yourself (which admittedly provides some leeway) you say:
Quote:I have nothing but contempt for the American people because if America was what it says it is the people would take this up in outrage and practice what we describe ourselves as.As a UK citizen, I might as easily say the same about 'The British People' . I admit to being tempted at times - and harbouring similar thoughts - but I resist them.
The plain fact is that both the 'American People' and the 'British People' are, by and large 'The sheeple'. The pressures on most of their everyday lives are such as to make it impossible to devine what is really going on in their names because, sure as hell they will NEVER be able to do so from the Western MSM anyway. There is a fundamental need to trust their leaders at a basic level; to believe that their governments have their best interests at heart; the patriotism that is instilled from birth dictates belief that their country may make many cock-ups, but that it means well and is basically a misunderstood leviathan trying to make the world a better place. Absurd propositions all - as you and I well know - but that's the way it is.
Most people are basically good and have no wish harm others, but they are also all-to-ready to blame perceived misfortune on 'others' (based on largely imagined differences judged by skin colour, race, accent - whatever) and to be persuaded that they need protection from powerful wicked external enemies out to get them. They are simply suckers for snake-oil salesmen IOW - the plausible story that panders to their prejudices and keeps their fond illusions intact - so that's exactly what they get from the psychopaths with real power.
I have no idea what the answer is and confess in my dotage that I don't think there is one. Humanity is headed for that cliff with a bunch of arrogant psychopaths at the helm (as ever) and no 'Catcher in the Rye' is likely to stop it IMH and very pessimistic O.
Peter Presland
".....there is something far worse than Nazism, and that is the hubris of the Anglo-American fraternities, whose routine is to incite indigenous monsters to war, and steer the pandemonium to further their imperial aims"
Guido Preparata. Preface to 'Conjuring Hitler'[size=12][size=12]
"Never believe anything until it has been officially denied"
Claud Cockburn
[/SIZE][/SIZE]
".....there is something far worse than Nazism, and that is the hubris of the Anglo-American fraternities, whose routine is to incite indigenous monsters to war, and steer the pandemonium to further their imperial aims"
Guido Preparata. Preface to 'Conjuring Hitler'[size=12][size=12]
"Never believe anything until it has been officially denied"
Claud Cockburn
[/SIZE][/SIZE]