You don’t protect my freedom:

[Green Arrow]

@Green Arrow

Did you read Bill's book yet. What about the you tube presentations of Larken Rose I found and posted for you and Peter and others?

Nope. I have a long reading list.

[iustitia]

If the troops were defending freedom they'd be storming Congress and the White House, not in deserts and mountains.

[donttread]

I respect soldiers and their bravery immensely, but every time I'm watching UFC or the NBA and they always show the announcers or the freaking fighters/players telling me how the soldiers and vets defended our freedoms, I want to hurl.

Brave people no doubt. Defending freedom though? No. They're just stacking the pockets of the military industrial complex, big oil, and bankers.

Exactly.

[donttread]

They are brave, they are heroes, they're also idiots. I love them, but they are. Luckily many of them catch on to it, but their intentions were good. Most of them believed in the state, believed in America and chose to go fight to protect our way of life.

I think the problem you never like to address @nic34 is the old adage about the government capable of giving you everything you want is capable of taking away everything you have.

You believe that we are incapable of governing ourselves yet insist that a whole bunch of "we"'s given absolute power will be just. That's just absolutely dumb thinking, no offense.

Our imperialism has not one bit to do with what we call our soldiers or our police but what we allow Washington to do. No, they don't protect your freedom, but neither do you every single time you talk about Republicans on here like there is a huge difference between them and Democrats, each time you pretend that by participating in the system you're doing something good.

You are aiding these evil people each and every time, so I disagree with 3/4 of that article because the problem isn't managing government but government itself.

There is a reason you can enlist at 18 bit not drink until 21.

[Calypso Jones]

disgusting.

[donttread]

Our Founders were militaristic, yet very independent. So I doubt that is the root of our current approaching police state.

The marriage of demons, government and megacorps is responsible

[nic34]

Oh, and I stopped reading after "forced worship" and "compulsory patriotism." I don't "worship" our soldiers and I'm not forced to. I love my country, but I am not compelled to be a patriot. That's bull$#@!.

Good, we should all strive to keep it that way.

[nic34]

They are brave, they are heroes, they're also idiots. I love them, but they are. Luckily many of them catch on to it, but their intentions were good. Most of them believed in the state, believed in America and chose to go fight to protect our way of life.

I think the problem you never like to address @nic34 is the old adage about the government capable of giving you everything you want is capable of taking away everything you have.

You believe that we are incapable of governing ourselves yet insist that a whole bunch of "we"'s given absolute power will be just. That's just absolutely dumb thinking, no offense.

Our imperialism has not one bit to do with what we call our soldiers or our police but what we allow Washington to do. No, they don't protect your freedom, but neither do you every single time you talk about Republicans on here like there is a huge difference between them and Democrats, each time you pretend that by participating in the system you're doing something good.

You are aiding these evil people each and every time, so I disagree with 3/4 of that article because the problem isn't managing government but government itself.

It hasn't been about Republicans and Democrats for a long time Ally. I thought you understood that. I admit republicans get my wrath more because they are conservatives, and neo-cons but not for the simple fact they are republicans. But I also don’t run away from my progressive and liberal stances as I have often criticized democrats for doing.

The point of my post was to point out our succumbing to authoritarian symbology that we seemingly do unconsciously. Our tendency to snap to attention whenever we see a uniform, a parade of flags or a mighty aircraft carrier, and how it blinds us to the very behavior we protest.

War and militarism have no left/right boundaries…. And I hold none of our politicians that use it blameless.