It's Left-wing prats who are defending our freedoms

[Swagman]

A few weeks ago, a British national newspaper was visited by a detachment of national security agents who demanded that its computers and hard drives be destroyed. The security men then stood over its staff while they smashed their equipment to pieces. In the peace-time history of a free country, this incident is about as shocking as it gets. And yet, a remarkable consensus has grown up, including – I’m sorry to say – many on my side of the political fence, to the effect that this is no big deal.

The reasons that this scene – which looks, on the face of it, like something out of East Germany in the 1970s – is apparently perfectly acceptable seem to be: a) the data in the computers was a threat to the national security of this country and to that of our American allies; b) this information was stolen from the US government and published illegally by people who are narcissistic/eccentric/of dubious political judgment, and c) the newspaper in question was the Guardian, which is full of annoying Left-wing prats. Let’s consider these points in order of importance.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/10263356/Its-Left-wing-prats-who-are-defending-our-freedoms.html

[Hydra]

1. Let's hear it for left wing prats!

Without us, the world would probably be a happy little prison.

[silvershadow]

6. Well, cheer while you can. It might be my imagination, but it sure seems like traffic here has

dropped dramatically the last few days in particular. I'm not in the know, but just was noticing. Not surprising, given all that we now know about the programs. I first thought it was because of the divisiveness of the issue, like I know there are a few that have me hidden because of it, so I thought that's what it was. But I don't think it's that, I'm just watching the number of Rec's on the home page, and it sure seems like it's got people scared (which it's intended to do, to keep everyone in line). I would say this election cycle will be interesting, to say the least...We on the so-called "extreme left" prevail (I am a traditional union/labor Dem, btw, it's just that my party has shifted right...)

[Hydra]

7. I don't think you're wrong

But having been on DU for so long, I don't think it's fear. There was lots of activity during the early Snowden leak where the leftys were scrambling to get information and link it to what we knew before, while the righties were trying to smokescreen it all. We were also waiting to see what the administration was going to say.

All the ducks are in a row now. We have the full picture, so there's nothing to really dig for or fight about. The line is in the sand now, so at least for me, there is less reason to be on DU as much. Now it's time to get ready- things are likely to get ugly WAY before the election. If you're in the UK, in the US we have the Trans Pacific Partnership mess coming up, and we have to try to derail it. If we don't, it's probably all over.

[bemildred]

8. Proud left-wing prat here.

When they start calling you names, you know you are onto something.

[Mojorabbit]

10. Hear! Here! nt

[freshwest]

2. What an idiotic thing to do. Did the UK ever have freedom of the press to begin with? IDK...

[tblue]

3. If not for the LWPs, we'd all be pro-fascism.

I really believe there's a subset of the Left who really believes things are not that bad, our leaders are mostly trustworthy, and we are just a few seats in Congress away from being saved.

[robinlynne]

4. not a subset of the left. but yes a subset of the Democratic Party......

Remember the arguments here about whether this is Democratic, or Underground?

[gtar100]

5. Back in the Dark Ages of European history, liberalism was considered a mental disorder.

The term "Dark Ages" is very apropos. There is a reason they were called that and why the dawning of the Age of Reason and Enlightenment comes with the rise of liberal ideas.

It's clear the insanity of conservative/fundamentalist, tyrannical right-wing ideology still holds great sway and we have a long way to go before we can consider ourselves out of the woods. Too many care more about protecting their own self interest than in trying to make this a better world for everyone... which, in the long run, serves self-interest far more than short-sighted, greedy actions.

Trying to erase the data in The Guardian computers for the reasons they gave is shameful.

[Doctor_J]

9. unfortunately many democrats are now right wingers, due mostly to

their hero worship of the current president, who is also a right winger. The people who actually run the country have done a masterful job of brain washing. There are amazingly few Americans right now who actually want to be free.

[truebluegreen]

11. True.

And in part the corruption of the Democratic Party is due to somewhat sensible people (relatively speaking) fleeing the collapsing tent that is the Republican Party.