Posted on 02/19/2010 7:38:33 PM PST by LouAvul
www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-kass-0219-20100219,0,5463549.column
chicagotribune.com
Linking America’s anger to a suicidal madman: Now that’s madness
John Kass
February 19, 2010
Common wisdom, as expressed by a general theme in the media lately, is that Americans have turned from an abiding hope in their government to anger and bitterness.
A subtext of the common wisdom has been that while voter anger may be explained, it belongs on the political fringe.
So the belief in hope is considered rational. But anger at government is irrational. Get it?
On Thursday, madman Joseph Stack slammed a small plane into a building containing an Internal Revenue Service office in Austin, Texas.
He was angry at the federal government and its tax collectors, at the Roman Catholic Church, at GM, at health insurance companies, at capitalism, you name it.
“I am finally ready to stop this insanity,” Stack raved on the Internet in his suicide manifesto. “Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let’s try something different, take my pound of flesh and sleep well. … Violence is the only answer.”
While we were hoping that Stack was the only victim of his madness, another body was pulled from the crash site late Thursday.
But his lunatic petition forecasts the liturgy to come. The spinners will scrape up his rhetorical remains and put them to use.
Inevitably, there will be an attempt to tie Joseph Stack’s insanity to the legitimate anger that Americans are feeling these days about their government and political incumbents.
Even before the smoke cleared in Austin, you could see it. The public’s anger and disillusionment was cast — in media shorthand — as dangerous and irrational.
Yes, it’s a trick, but it works
EXCERPT
Tolsti2 ??
I thought Tolstoy the anarchist was dead!
AVIATION PING
Being a moron ain’t doing your cause a whole lot of good, either.
Personal thoughts of an Austinite.
1. News crews within 30 minutes of accident were asking questions about ‘was IRS the target’ and terrorists. Austin loonies at it again. Investigation wasn’t even taking baby steps as fire fighters and EMS still inside building. The Press and some citizens want a conspiracy before the facts even are known. A bit of fear mongering I’d say, either that or a news-person with Pulitzer in his/her eyes.
2. Can’t see the terrorist angle at all against a non-downtown building with multiple tenants (incl. IRS). Best IRS target is IRS Main on IH35 South.
3. Austin does have some relatively high value targets for terrorists but not like NYC, Dallas, Houston Chicago or LA just to mention a few others.
Personally, it is an isolated incident perpetrated by a man with a grudge. Nothing more. Will not speculate on his emotional or mental state.
Exceptions are bad things to make laws on.
You are not as opposed to tyranny as you claim what with the way you want to regulate GA.
*Security* hasn't stopped terrorists from getting on commercial planes with bombs. It's not going to help with private individuals.
So, for the record, just what kind of *security* do you purpose that would work to keep an individual bent on flying a private aircraft into a building if he wanted to?
Post 70: Wow, I’ve been called a communist. My only 2 things I’m against that aren’t libertarian are planes and drugs.
If the shoe fits......
Time to notify the zot brigade?
IOW, you don't have a clue about what GA is really all about.
Your PERCEPTION is that it's just a hobby for bored, rich people, and so you want to regulate it or shut it down because YOU don't see any need for it.
It doesn't matter what the need really is. You don't see that people need to be moving around the country, you think the Constitution is to regulate our lives in this country as the government gives us permission, you attack other's opinions and freedoms and then can't figure out why they are calling you an idiot and communist.
Man, you need to get your head out of, er ..the ground.....
No, you don't know that. You just wish it. Why should we be forced to live the way you think because of your own personal paranoia of flying. You don't want to fly? Fine. Don't.
You aren't in a hurry? Fine, Don't be.
You think driving is safer when it isn't? Fine, delude yourself.
But don't demand it of us.
For the record, please tell us when private aircraft has been used for a WMD attack once.
Bio agents? Chemical agents? Nuclear bomb? Anything?
Wow, I’ve been called a communist.
You sure do play the Class Envy card like one...
And calling for government regulation, and lack of mobility, and.....
I’ve got to get one in..
IBTZ
Most of us refer to The United States as "this country," not "that country." Where are you from, that you consider the U.S. a foreign country, and our ideas of freedom are foreign to you?
No thanks, I’m not a base jumper or flier. Again, with one, the public isn’t at risk.
How do you propose we eliminate the risk of pedestrians getting run over? Should we outlaw automobiles? What other limitations do you wish to impose on Americans?
So tiresome, the part following the colon was a quote from wikipedia. The way people freak out on this thread’s just amazing.
IBTZ.
Good catch...
A state or country flag is conspicuously missing from its homepage.
Couple that with its lack of understanding of the Constitution....
How do you propose we eliminate the risk of pedestrians getting run over? Should we outlaw automobiles? What other limitations do you wish to impose on Americans?
Intersting question.
Where are you from that the American concept of freedom is foreign to you? It’s more than just your referring to this country as “that country.” After the fact, you claim to have plagarized Wikipedia, but you failed to answer any of the other questions. That doesn’t mean FReepers are freaking out. Your trolling is a reflexion on you, not the people who read your posts.
GA’s already regulated by the FAA quite a bit, would you want all that removed as well? It's not a right, it's considered a privilege to fly over public land, same as driving.
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