Quote:
Originally Posted by
MJ1970 
I think there is a very real risk of this and it is not bound by a particular partisan stripe (at least the traditional Coke and Pepsi parties in the US). The country has been on long, slow, almost imperceptible path towards this. Sometimes a step back, but often followed by two steps forward. Each administration seems to build on the apparatus assembled by the previous one. Obama is Bush++ in all of the bad ways. What I actually fear beyond where we are now is the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing next. Someone who talks a good game (though most who get elected to high office, presidency or otherwise usually do) but becomes the final brick in the wall, so to speak.
We have astonishingly and frighteningly little understanding or knowledge of the constitution and its blueprint for limited government which actually protects people's rights, rather we now simply do whatever seems rather expedient and even popular regardless of the rights is stifles and even tramples.
I
fear dark days ahead. I
hope for the best though.
There could be a particularly tyrannical president, but what I'm trying to get at more is the pressure for change coming from places like China. China's leaders make up any rules they want and the people follow. They have complete control which means that they have the ability to push their society in any direction of their choosing and incredibly quickly. Our representatives have to have votes and have limitations on their authority. It's a bit like the Chinese are ruled by a corporate board telling their employees what to do. That gives China a host of advantages.
As an example here in the UK a Tory Environment minister has written a new book where he espouses personal carbon trading which in all likelihood will happen before long. See here-
"Britain must be prepared to embark on radical steps, such as the introduction of personal carbon trading, if it is to play a leading role in combating climate change. Under his plan, people would be given a carbon credit that would allow them to make, for example, one transatlantic and one short haul flight a year. People who fly more than that would have to buy carbon credits on the equivalent of a credit card.
"People have got to get used to making low carbon choices. If they have a direct incentive to do so they will think about it. Many times a day you have a choice between a low carbon option and a high carbon option, whether it is at home or at work. This would be one way of bringing the whole issue to life."
~
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010...carbon-economy
In the UK, this will still take years to get fully implemented and likewise in the US, but if China wanted to do it it would happen practically overnight. If the US finds itself repeatedly held up in the courts or congress or by public opinion on all sorts of issues, whilst China keeps taking huge strides forward, I wonder whether those pressures will push the US to change the way it get's policies passed and implemented and how close to tyranny that could become.