@spendius,
spendius wrote:
Quote:I notice you left out some of what I said, which was an important part of what I said, which said we can be free to do what we want as long as we don't harm each other.
I don't see that as a realistic possibility. That's why I left it out. It is a gradation of harm to others. Not doing harm to others is an absolute position. And has to be balanced against the good that might come from harming others. And who or what "others" means.
Now thats a tough opinion to defend, spendius. I don't think you can sell the idea that harm to others is perhaps common or necessary. In a world where self interest prevails, as in a free market system, any transaction is a trade, a trade that benefits both parties, no harm at all. Its just that your interest is different than mine, you may need the car, while I need the cash you pay for the car, thus I sell you a car, both of us benefit, just an example. If no transactions occur, most of us starve, now that is harm.
Quote:I have not seen your link to dictators. I have read Reich's Mass Psychology of Fascism though. A long time ago. I suppose there might still be some reverb going on from that.
Here is the link again:
http://able2know.org/topic/66117-1
I compared several dictators, in terms of their upbringing and mindsets, and I came up with some common denominators.
Now, I find it bothersome that some degree of these things can be found with Obama. Now, before you dismiss this, I will say, I could be totally off base and overly nervous. We also have some insurances built into the system, hopefully sufficient, so that any president, no matter what his worst intents could be, is pretty boxed in, in terms of what he is capable of doing wrong, his power should be sufficiently limited. And remember this, alot of these guys with big ambitions start out with grandiose goals of wonderful and benevolent achievements, they do not perceive it as wrong, but somewhere along the way if they are stifled and frustrated, they can turn into some very bad apples indeed, and any end justifies the means.
Again, to anyone reading this, I am not predicting the worst with Obama, he could turn out wonderful, I hope he does, but I am saying this, that there are some red flags to pay attention to out there, things to take note of, and be aware of. Among the red flags is the extreme fanaticism, bordering on worship for this man, something I am having a hard time understanding or comprehending why. He has evidently tapped into a reservoir of anger and unhappiness out there, which I also have a hard time understanding.
Important to point out that I did that thread about ruthless dictators a long time ago, before the set of circumstances we have today, but I have long believed that the biggest danger for another madman will come from the left, not the right. I have my reasons.
To summarize, to all people, I am not borrowing trouble where there is none. I am not accusing Obama of being a madman, compared to Hitler, no way, but what I am doing is reminding people of the dangers of placing too much faith and adulation into one man, and I am warning of a man that has promised some very lofty things, too lofty to be practical, and too lofty to even understand because he leaves them purposely vague, and so I think it is troubling, and I am nervous. I still hope for the best, and I hope I am pleasantly surprised.
