Posted on 11/01/2005 5:43:47 PM PST by StoneColdTaxHater
Please, sir, may I have another.
:)
I'd agree with you.
Worthy of a bookmark. Thanks.
I just read an old Howard the Duck comic in which he finds himself running for office-a bystander blurts out"My God,he's telling the truth about things,he'll be dead in a week".Was it really satire?
Hmmm. Its not all bad news. Network TV viewing is way down and people are watching more shows customized to their tastes (the History Channel is a good example). When I was a kid, you had fewer choices, but was that really a good thing? I remember waiting 10 weeks for books to arrive in the mail--today I can get it the next day (or even read it on-line). There is also on-line courses (free even) and forums like Free Republic. Face it, the Internet makes it a veritible golden age if you want to THINK or just associate with people who do.
"I believe that our leaders today are using a modern version of Bread and Circus to distract us from what is going on."
I think you're absolutely correct. Personally I always thought the Clinton impeachment made a real nice smokescreen for some much more impeachabe offenses he comitted. Today the democrats got lots of press for a stupid stunt yet the Able Danger scandal goes unmentioned.
:)
Ditto!
You mean people on this forum really think? I think you're giving Free Republic way too much credit.
:)
This TV thing is beyond belief! I can't believe they are doing this! Makes me furious actually! Perhaps part of the problem here is that they don't want us fat and happy? They seem to want to take all of our good junk food from us and complain that we are fat!
:)
Uh....you just figured this out? ( ;
You just now figured this out?
I disagree with your basic premise, although there are paralells.
Rome's economic model basically stank. The whole "Bread and Circuses" concept was to keep the large numbers of unemployed Roman citizens occupied. Slaves did much of the work, and generated little taxable economic activity. The Gladiators who performed in the Coliseum were slaves or condemned prisoners also.
If Rome had freed it's slaves, put them to work for wages, and taxed those wages and the products they bought, Rome would have experienced a huge economic boom- perhaps enough to save the Empire. And if they had let private concerns run the Theaters, Coliseums and Circuses, funding them with ticket revenue rather than the public till, the Roman Government's budget would have been cut drastically.
With freedom and capitalism, Rome might never have fallen.
But back to your main point- much as we here at FR like to bash the MSM, we do have a thriving free press in this country. If people would rather watch "rasslin'" or Maury Povich rather than educating themselves about politics, that's a matter of personal choice rather than a Conspiracy.
Does the Government take every advantage of voter apathy? Absolutely. I live in NY, and BOY do I know what you're talking about. What we need to do is educate ourselves and our children, and everyone else who can be made to listen. The Government isn't going to do it for us- nor should they try.
Save us? SAVE US? I don't know what will "save" us, but the only thing that will get everyone's attention is nothing less than bankruptcy of the US government.
It always amazes me how my co-workers baa like sheep when I bring up the differences between dems and true conservative repubs. They bleat, "Thaaay aaare aaaalll the saaaame" in the most resigned way.
Apathy runs high in this country. I think most people are afraid that if they raise a stink the politicians will stop the world and punish them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.