Undefined and dangerous

[HopAlongBunny]

A run through some discussions at Tech Review landed me at Foreign Policy
This little gem seems to nicely sum up my reservations about the "War on Terror"; many of the same issues surround the "War on Drugs" though the link is not made in the article.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/article..._war_on_terror

Enemy or criminal? The answer to that question raises issues for "justified" surveillance and the whole boundary question.
Who precisely are the subjects of this war? Everyone guilty til proven innocent? Everyone an enemy til shown otherwise?
Can such an ill-defined "War" actually ever end?

These are all intensely political issues. Where is the debate?

[Kadagar_AV]

Meh.

For being the proclaimed (without anyone really asking them to) carrier of freedom and democracy, USA sure seem to be a bit fuzzy on what the terms entail.

That became obvious around the millennium shift, I think we all can agree.

[HopAlongBunny]

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less."
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master - - that's all."
(Through the Looking Glass, Chapter 6)

Still a classic

[Fisherking]

Freedom is a buzz word that is itself quite meaningless in American English. More important are the connotations and associations that the different political camps place on the buzzword. The far right does a nifty double-think where Freedom actually means something quite oppressive, but they pretend its not a buzz word at all. The left simply doesn't use the word without sarcasm or irony.

And I call your Right-Left mindset Myopic and Delusional!

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=52b_1...xjXtCxXjIXy.01

[Husar]

And I call your Right-Left mindset Myopic and Delusional!

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=52b_1...xjXtCxXjIXy.01

Napolitano is a pretty decent guy, always liked him on the Daily Show as well.
It's nothing new though, it's either that politicians are not really deciding a whole lot and get paid to decide "the right way" or it's your lovely voting system that completely erodes the differences in party politicies. Or maybe it's a bit of both.

Of course you get a little bit of this in other countries as well, it just seems like the USA have managed to make this trend exceptionally strong, USA#1 I guess.

[HoreTore]

And I call your Right-Left mindset Myopic and Delusional!

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=52b_1...xjXtCxXjIXy.01

...And I call this idiot someone who crossed the treshold into New World Order conspiracy lunacy a long time ago, and should be tarred and feathered for his nonsense.

"What if he would just shut up?" is the question I have after watching that.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

...And I call this idiot someone who crossed the treshold into New World Order conspiracy lunacy a long time ago, and should be tared and feathered for his nonsense.

"What if he would just shut up?" is the question I have after watching that.

"tarred" has two "r's" in it. What is this, you third language or something?!?

[HoreTore]

"tarred" has two "r's" in it. What is this, you third language or something?!?

No.

Obviously I meant to determine or indicate the tare of, especially to weigh in order to find out the tare.

How did that confuse you?!? You mexican?!?!!

[Kadagar_AV]

"tarred" has two "r's" in it. What is this, you third language or something?!?

*gently hugs Seamus, pats on back - and go "there, their, they're"*

[Husar]

*gently hugs Seamus, pats on back - and go "there, their, they're"*

Where does Seamus use any of those?

...And I call this idiot someone who crossed the treshold into New World Order conspiracy lunacy a long time ago, and should be tarred and feathered for his nonsense.

I know it's faux news and I blame him for being on that but what exactly is so bad about his point that American politics hardly provide a real choice anymore? Or did I miss anything?

"What if he would just shut up?"

The use of "would" in an if-sentence is further only allowed under certain conditions, you may want to look that up.
Here's a start: http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/ver...e-vs-if-i-had/

[Kadagar_AV]

Where does Seamus use any of those?

Wow, we went from grammar/spelling police to joke nazi in like 2 posts...

[HoreTore]

I know it's faux news and I blame him for being on that but what exactly is so bad about his point that American politics hardly provide a real choice anymore? Or did I miss anything?

He's well into the paranoid idea that "the powers that be" are constantly conspiring to screw him(the "regular citizen") over, and that political debate is nothing more than a show to hide the hidden power structure.

Ie. a conspiracy nutjob. Unsurprisingly he endorses Ron Paul, the nuttiest of the bunch.