Comments | talk_politics: So let's assume we wipe'm out. Then what?

htpcl in talk_politics

So let's assume we wipe'm out. Then what?

Oct 05, 2011 18:40

Hello, my astroturf-munching grasshoppers freedom loving worshipers of liberty & democracy! Here's an interesting excerpt from a conversation. "The morons who think protesting is a better use of their time". -- I heard that line recently. (Really? Can you "hear" a line? Anyway). The whoever-said-that made an interesting point, actually. A while ago ( Read more... )

democracy, activism, extremism

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underlankers October 5 2011, 16:54:26 UTC

Extremism has the seductive appeal of providing simple answers to complex problems. It assumes that by sufficient application of ideas or actions that have often limited relevance to the issue at hand that one can untie as opposed to cut Gordian knots by using simplicity to provide a core of strength against complexity. The unfortunate truth of human nature and the political dilemmas that propel extremism is that these simple, easy solutions really aren't solutions, simple, or easy and yet complexity selling well requires one hell of a salesman to make it so ( ... )

ddstory October 5 2011, 17:02:14 UTC

But, but, "Extremism in the defense of Liberty is no vice."...

policraticus October 5 2011, 17:13:06 UTC

Would you have joined the French Resistance in 1940? Would you condemn those who did?

ddstory October 5 2011, 17:17:08 UTC

I'd have totally joined them. I love their hats!

htpcl October 5 2011, 17:29:02 UTC

Just wanted to say. Love that show!

ddstory October 5 2011, 17:32:34 UTC

Jawohl, Herr Flick!

underlankers October 5 2011, 18:54:32 UTC

Nobody was in the French Resistance in 1940 except Charles De Gaulle and his movement. And historically the German resistance did more harm to Hitler than the French resistance did up until the Allies reaching within artillery range of Paris.

policraticus October 5 2011, 19:50:46 UTC

I think Jean Moulin would disagree.

My point wasn't about the effectiveness of the Resistance, but the violent extremist principles of resisting tyranny.

underlankers October 5 2011, 20:13:23 UTC

Ah, yes, the same principles that libertarians deride for having freed the slaves by such hideous and unconstitutional means as those pursued by the Lincoln government. And the same principles that lead them to demonize FDR as the moral equivalent of Stalin for having fought that bastard Adolf. Indeed, quite so.

htpcl October 5 2011, 20:15:42 UTC

Why does it always boil down to libertarians/progressives/conservatives/whatevers? I wonder if I start a thread about kittens it'll again go into libertarians/progressives/whatevers.

underlankers October 5 2011, 20:19:18 UTC

Because it's a rather ironic comment given that libertarians like to claim that Jeff Davis was right and that FDR is Stalin's moral equal. It seems that all tyranny is equally worth resisting but some tyrannies less so than others.

htpcl October 5 2011, 20:23:26 UTC

Stalin?

underlankers October 5 2011, 20:25:23 UTC

Stalling about what?

underlankers October 5 2011, 20:25:49 UTC

But seriously, this as usual is a great post, dude. =)

htpcl October 5 2011, 20:27:22 UTC

Not this one. It's just some rambling.

policraticus October 5 2011, 20:40:23 UTC

What is the purpose of your comment? You know I am not a strong libertarian, certainly not to the extent that I would seriously object to either the Civil War or WWII. Does anyone on these forums serious hold these positions? Does trotting out these straw men tickle some part of your amygdala, or something? Is it a reflex?

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