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View Poll Results: Land of the FREE! .......or is it?
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The United States is so far from becoming a dictatorship that even if there was a world-wide dictatorial revolution the US would still be the shining beacon of democracy it is!
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10 |
17.24% |
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The United States is better than most when it comes to dictatorial policies.
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3 |
5.17% |
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The United States is about as far away from becoming a dictatorship as most democratic western nations.
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10.34% |
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The United States is is a bit closer to dictatorship than other western, democratic nations.
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25.86% |
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The United States is disturbingly close to becoming a dictatorship.
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27.59% |
 The United States is ALREADY a dictatorship!
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13.79% |
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December 20, 2002, 06:46
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#31
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PolyCast Thread Necromancer
Local Time: 12:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: We are all Asher now.
Posts: 1,437
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
"
(Also, ming read the posts. Thats not the SOLE reason...)"
It's not a valid reason at all.
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Ad Hominem....
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Correct, but a dictatorship can not be voted out
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Dictatorships have also been voted out before as well....
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thus another way showing how GWB is not absolute.
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But its becoming absolute with more and more democrats losing their spines. Thus the reason why I said its BECOMING a dictatorship.
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If it someone who makes a rediculous thread like you have, you deserve what you get.
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Ridiculous is an OPINION. Monkspider apparently likes it. Therefore because it is an opinion, it means you are AGAINST the thread. If you are AGAINST it, that means that you DISAGREE with me. If you DISAGREE with me and you are saying I deserve this, then esentially the following is true:
If I post a thread you are against, you support the use of fallacious statements to kill it.
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I logged on because I couldn't fall asleep, it's 4:40 AM so I am going to try to crash again....... Ming if you feel like wasting even more time trying to talk sense to this bozo have fun..........
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Personal attack, but thats just one of your ever-growing list of debate fallacies. I sense you don't really know how to debate....
But anyway, because its late I suppose it's excusable (considering you are not thinking clearly). See you tomorrow 
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December 20, 2002, 06:57
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#32
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Emperor
Local Time: 23:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: of Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,851
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Tass, have you been taking lessons from Archaic?
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December 20, 2002, 07:04
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#33
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PolyCast Thread Necromancer
Local Time: 12:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: We are all Asher now.
Posts: 1,437
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Quote:
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Originally posted by GeneralTacticus
Tass, have you been taking lessons from Archaic?
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December 20, 2002, 07:17
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#34
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Emperor
Local Time: 07:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: In Exile
Posts: 4,140
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Where is the option
"Tass is way too obsessed with this topic and really needs to get some fresh air"
__________________
Which side are we on? We're on the side of the demons, Chief. We are evil men in the gardens of paradise, sent by the forces of death to spread devastation and destruction wherever we go. I'm surprised you didn't know that. --Saul Tigh
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December 20, 2002, 07:23
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#35
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Warlord
Local Time: 13:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: L'Boro, UK
Posts: 126
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It is nowhere near a dictatorship. It might have certain twinges of an authoritarian government, but they can be removed at the next election, which sort of removes the whole dictatorship thing from the equation.
__________________
It’s a great art, is rowing. It’s the finest art there is. It’s a symphony of motion. And when you reach perfection, you are touching the divine. It touches the you of yous – which is your soul. George Pocock
What fun is that? Why all that hard, exhausting work? Where does it get you? What is the good of it? It is one of the strange ironies of life that those who work the hardest, who subject themselves to the strictest discipline, who give up certain pleasurable things in order to achieve a goal, are the happiest. Brutus Hamilton
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December 20, 2002, 07:24
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#36
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PolyCast Thread Necromancer
Local Time: 12:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: We are all Asher now.
Posts: 1,437
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Sprayber
Where is the option
"Tass is way too obsessed with this topic and really needs to get some fresh air"
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When was the last time I posted this thread...?
Think about that.
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which sort of removes the whole dictatorship thing from the equation
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*Sigh* It helps to read the thread....
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December 20, 2002, 08:12
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#37
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Warlord
Local Time: 13:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: L'Boro, UK
Posts: 126
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Tassadar5000
*Sigh* It helps to read the thread....
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You honestly think that Americans will let their rights to vote taken away from them? When that happens there will be a civil war...
__________________
It’s a great art, is rowing. It’s the finest art there is. It’s a symphony of motion. And when you reach perfection, you are touching the divine. It touches the you of yous – which is your soul. George Pocock
What fun is that? Why all that hard, exhausting work? Where does it get you? What is the good of it? It is one of the strange ironies of life that those who work the hardest, who subject themselves to the strictest discipline, who give up certain pleasurable things in order to achieve a goal, are the happiest. Brutus Hamilton
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December 20, 2002, 08:14
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#38
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Emperor
Local Time: 23:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: of Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,851
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The Iraqis haven't lost their right to vote either.
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December 20, 2002, 08:37
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#39
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OTF Moderator
Local Time: 13:58
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Join Date: May 1999
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Posts: 7,511
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Voting has become so meaningless in the states that most people now don't use their right to vote.
Much more interesting and important issue than this dictatorship thing.
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December 20, 2002, 08:52
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#40
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King
Local Time: 12:58
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Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Uni of Wales Swansea
Posts: 1,262
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If there was only one party but the citizens can vote for representatives within that party is that a dictatorship? (Presuming the Democrats just curled up and died or something).
I'd say it is possible for the US to become a dictatorship - like it is anywhere. I just think one of the main problems is the way the President is treated - all his answers are always prepared for him. We make our Prime Ministers go on live debates with the public until they go grey from stress
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December 20, 2002, 08:53
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#41
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OTF Moderator
Local Time: 13:58
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Join Date: May 1999
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Posts: 7,511
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And live debates with the opposition politicians every week!
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December 20, 2002, 08:55
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#42
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Warlord
Local Time: 12:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: State of the Animal
Posts: 227
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Corporate interest are ultimately the controling share-holders in both American parties anyway, its abit like the egg-cup game really, except they always pick the one with the bean underneath.
__________________
Freedom Doesn't March.
-I.
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December 20, 2002, 08:58
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#43
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King
Local Time: 12:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Kuzelj
Posts: 2,314
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UK is much better than US... even though Tony is a new Maggie... Maggie, Major, Tony....  , still something must be wrong 
UK has at least three parties + 1 nationalist and some other meaningless mess  .
__________________
*** Apolyton Champions League 2002/2003 Champion***
Good is That at which all things aim, If one knows what the good is, one will always do what is good.
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December 20, 2002, 08:59
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#44
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Emperor
Local Time: 23:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Posts: 6,851
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Quote:
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If there was only one party but the citizens can vote for representatives within that party is that a dictatorship? (Presuming the Democrats just curled up and died or something).
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Well, assuming that whoever was in charge of said ruling party pciked all the candidates, yes. Voting is irrelevant when who you vote for makes no difference.
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December 20, 2002, 09:00
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#45
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Warlord
Local Time: 12:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: State of the Animal
Posts: 227
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except for when they edit the electorate.
__________________
Freedom Doesn't March.
-I.
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December 20, 2002, 09:04
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#46
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OTF Moderator
Local Time: 13:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Ming on rakastajani
Posts: 7,511
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Quote:
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Originally posted by GeneralTacticus
Well, assuming that whoever was in charge of said ruling party pciked all the candidates, yes. Voting is irrelevant when who you vote for makes no difference.
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I guess that's why so few people vote in the US, they can't see what difference it'll make to them.
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December 20, 2002, 09:06
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#47
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Emperor
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Join Date: Dec 2001
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And rightly so.
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December 20, 2002, 09:08
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#48
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Warlord
Local Time: 12:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: State of the Animal
Posts: 227
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No, I know you're eing sarcastic but I agree, the nature of 'The West' is like that. That's why people are always complaining about a lack of differences between the parties.
__________________
Freedom Doesn't March.
-I.
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December 20, 2002, 09:15
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#49
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King
Local Time: 06:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 1,716
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If the USA is a Dictatorship... Canada is a commiest (sorry for spelling...)
__________________
Former President, Vice-president and Foreign Minister of the Apolyton Civ2-Democracy Games as 123john321
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December 20, 2002, 10:39
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#50
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Warlord
Local Time: 12:58
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: State of the Animal
Posts: 227
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A new term has to be invented for what the US is, Corporate Republic ala CtoP, or Market State, Lobbitocracy, Commercial Technocracy....
__________________
Freedom Doesn't March.
-I.
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December 20, 2002, 12:30
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#51
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Local Time: 12:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Oxford or Northampton, England
Posts: 8,116
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Quote:
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Our government doesn't even come close to what you posted
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No, it doesn't, but does the Government actually control the county? I agree the US is quite a leap away from a Dictatorship, but I have seen enough eminent people arguing that corporations have more power in America than the Federal Government. They choose not just what people by, but some (media companies) almost decide what the nation should think. I also heard that something like 90% of Midterm elections are won by the candidate that spends the most money in advertising and campaigning. Since the corporations hold the money, it is quite conceivable that they choose who is elected to a large extent. I voted "The United States is is a bit closer to dictatorship than other western, democratic nations", because although I believe it has a long way to go until it becomes a dictatorship, it is further on that road than most of Western Europe.
__________________
Smile
For though he was master of the world, he was not quite sure what to do next
But he would think of something
"Hm. I suppose I should get my waffle a santa hat." - Kuciwalker
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December 20, 2002, 12:51
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#52
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Warlord
Local Time: 12:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: State of the Animal
Posts: 227
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Anyway the Electoral Colleges apparently do the actual votin, so its more like a Republic (where only an elite get to vote) then a democracy (where every common joes vote counts)
__________________
Freedom Doesn't March.
-I.
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December 20, 2002, 12:57
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#53
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King
Local Time: 09:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,886
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WTF? Another one of these threads? The US is not a dictatorship because it has:
1) An elected government
2) Respects Rights
Now you leftists try to use this excuse as to prevent the war against terror (for example stalling progress made against Al Qaeda cells domestically).
I believe some parts of Europe, even Western Europe, are moreso dictator like than the US.
__________________
Lets face it. We flamiing queers have more appeal then Pat Robertson and other religious wackos. We have shows that are really growing in popularity. We have more channels (Q TV, Logo Channel). And we help people in their style issues (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy). The last thing I saw a religious preacher did was ask for $5 in a "generous pledge" to help his bank account in Zurich, erhm, some starving kids in Zimbabwe.
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December 20, 2002, 12:57
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#54
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Emperor
Local Time: 08:58
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Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Fort LOLderdale, FL Communist Party of Apolyton
Posts: 9,091
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Ming
Let me know when a real dictatorship takes over in the US... Until then, just a troll...
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You do realize, that by then it will be too late. 
No, the US isn't distubingly close to being a dictatorship. Certainly it has aspects of a police state, and some of our Constitutional rights are have been severely diminished, but we aren't close to becoming a dictatorship.
That isn't to say that the direction we are headed isn't disturbing and that under the right circumstances, we couldn't become one overnight. But we an't fight might bes, only what's actually happening. So stick to the diminishment of our liberties and buy a gun for the day Bush closes down Congress.
__________________
Christianity: The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree...
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December 20, 2002, 13:39
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#55
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Emperor
Local Time: 07:58
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Join Date: Feb 2000
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i don't think dictatorship is the right word to use when comparing to other nations. It's our political culture that makes us overexert ourselves, and overstep our bounds, in most cases, and while that may look dictatorial, our nation is clearly a democracy. I would say, however, that other western nations are more democratic than we are, while not being complete democracies themselves, because they have better representation in government. Political parties are much finer in their policy differences, and coallition governments provide that all parties have a chance of having a say in government policies. As long as our two party state exists, and our voting population remains somewhat passive and apathetic, we will be a democratic republic.
__________________
"Chegitz, still angry about the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991?
You provide no source. You PROVIDE NOTHING! And yet you want to destroy capitalism.. you criminal..." - Fez
"I was hoping for a Communist utopia that would last forever." - Imran Siddiqui
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December 20, 2002, 20:45
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#56
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Emperor
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Join Date: Dec 2001
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Quote:
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2) Respects Rights
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What happened to the rights of those 1000+ Muslim-Ameircans who were arrested after September 11 and haven't been heard from since?
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December 20, 2002, 20:47
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#57
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King
Local Time: 09:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,886
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Quote:
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Originally posted by GeneralTacticus
What happened to the rights of those 1000+ Muslim-Ameircans who were arrested after September 11 and haven't been heard from since?
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Proof. Not assumptions. A lot of them have been released.
__________________
Lets face it. We flamiing queers have more appeal then Pat Robertson and other religious wackos. We have shows that are really growing in popularity. We have more channels (Q TV, Logo Channel). And we help people in their style issues (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy). The last thing I saw a religious preacher did was ask for $5 in a "generous pledge" to help his bank account in Zurich, erhm, some starving kids in Zimbabwe.
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December 20, 2002, 20:48
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#58
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Emperor
Local Time: 23:58
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Join Date: Dec 2001
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Posts: 6,851
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Source?
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December 20, 2002, 20:53
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#59
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Emperor
Local Time: 23:58
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Join Date: Dec 2001
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Oh, and I find it hilarious that you can ask for 'proof, not assumptions', when you make statements like 'you're a communist, therfore you're wrong.'
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December 20, 2002, 23:01
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#60
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King
Local Time: 06:58
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,394
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Eh...
Read the text of the Patriot Act (and for that matter, read news articles of some of the consequences of it) and tell me the US respects rights.
The main trouble with it is that the nation was still panicking after Sept 11 and it was rushed through Congress. Our congresspersons should not panic; that's one of the things they are supposed to be good at in these kinds of instances
And oh yeah, the other trouble is it hasn't been repealed yet (or AFAIK even spoken unkindly of in Congress)
Probably because any speech against the great Patriot Act would get this response:
So, are you saying you're not a Patriot??? Do you not believe how good the USA is!? Don't you trust John Ashcroft!???
(BTW, another poly poster posted something like this this morning or yesterday. If I knew them, I'd credit the inspiration for this to them )
Also, Fez, source please.
__________________
meet the new boss, same as the old boss
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