Who poses the greatest threat? BFEE/PNAC Mob, Media, Joe and Jane 6 Pack?

[ElementaryPenguin]

While I believe it's almost impossible to despise the Bush Crime Family and the major elements of the right wing media (like FAUX News)any more than I do, I would still have to contend that the actual greatest, most lethal threat to this nation (and indirectly, to the world) is today's average, ignorant American (a.k.a. Joe Six Pack and his Mrs.).

While the list of revealed lies and crimes against humanity commited by the Evil Chimp misadministration continues to grow, Joe Six Pack continues to show an almost chilling lack of interest, lack of empathy towards the victims of these outrageous, unlawful acts, and, most disturbingly for me - a complete lack of remorse for any of the obvious wrongs committed by the U.S. (the monstrous Iraq war, of course, being first and foremost). Instead of even so much as expressing any second guessing, the average, television educated American now seems to simply wrap themselves up in some sort of synthetic culture cocoon of blissful ignorance - comprised of hate radio, inane "reality" and celebrity worshipping TV, gas guzzling, military sized SUV's, and a proud, almost defiant display of Chinese made American flags that have somehow, for me, managed to convert a symbol I once loved and was truly proud of - into one that I now positively dread - a symbol of war, aggression, oppression and empire.

In short, trying to conduct an effective democracy with fellow citizens that are this willfully ignorant, irresponsible, and wholly disconnected from the political process, is about as futile as conducting one in a kindergarten of 280 million children! It is reaching the point where it is not unlike a democracy in as insane asylum - with all of us effectively being oppressed by an insane majority!

Am I overeacting - overstating my case here? I only wish that I was. I live in California, where a moronic "adult" electorate just elected a veritable cartoon character as governor. I am convinced that the Democrats best chance in that election was to have nominated either Bugs Bunny or Mickey Mouse.

We can bitch and moan endlessly about the horrors of this nightmarish administration and the unfairness of the corporate media whores (and I know I will) - but the sad (and indeed scarier) truth is that America's government is now simply becoming what the American people have already become: a self centered, willfully ignorant, close-minded, short-sighted, greedy, bullying bunch of brutes! Try making a "great" nation out of that, folks! It sure as hell isn't going to be an easy task - if it's still even possible!

[quinnox]

1. LCT

those pose a threat, at least to good discussion if nothing else

[DarkPhenyx]

2. the 6-pack crowd.

Masses of stupid, ill-informed, easily manipulated and led people are always the most dangerous.

[ElementaryPenguin]

8. Agreed.

We've got a modern day lynch mob for a public.

[elfwitch]

9. I'm with you... (mostly)

If the general public would just get pissed about what is going on, this stuff wouldn't keep hapening. However, the gerneral public doesn't know what is going on because of the shill media.

Chicken? Egg?

[ElementaryPenguin]

15. You're right...

It really is a chicken/egg question. The cynical corporate dumbing down of America has been a truly amazing "success"!

[ElementaryPenguin]

16. You're right...

It really is a chicken/egg question. The cynical corporate dumbing down of America has been a truly amazing "success"!

[Faygo Kid]

3. A thoughful post - thanks; here's another thought

Your points are well taken, but we are not going to all of a sudden wish into existence a well informed electorate. (Say, who is on "Survivor" tonight? Just kidding). It simply won't happen. The GOP panders to this ignorance; we need to inform it. I still believe the K Street lobbyists are the greater danger. If our message is not getting out, we need to be more effective in delivering it. What choice, ultimately, do we have? (And, we must be DILIGENT against voter fraud, which is a linchpin of the GOP/Rove strategy in 2004).

[ElementaryPenguin]

5. A well reasoned response.

I am, if fact, a pathetically eternal optimist, and I'm actually cautiously optimistic that we CAN somehow turn this thing around.

[Faygo Kid]

17. It will take effective communications, and a solid message

That's what's lacking here. We have the Angels on our side, WHY CAN'T WE COMMUNICATE BETTER? With over 20 years in communications/PR, I grow increasingly frustrated with our inability to do so.

[ElementaryPenguin]

19. To me, Clark is a damn good communicator. As was, of course...

The masterful Big Dog!

[SammyWinstonJack]

6. Hey, I like Survivor

:silly: I'm all for wishing into existence a well informed electorate. :toast: When pigs fly, of course.

[tom_paine]

4. Media.

The Busheviks could not do what they are doing if they were held accountable for lies.

I have to say, creating Goebbels v2.0 was a brilliant work of evil genius, as muich as the creation of v1.0 was.

[ElementaryPenguin]

7. The media is awful, but...

Even what is revealed barely causes a ripple amongst the sheeple. Consider the cover of Newsweek with a horrific photo of the World Trade Center burning and a giant caption "WHAT BUSH KNEW" - what he KNEW beforehand, for crying out loud - and the mob was so indifferent that they not only didn't demand a lynching - they didn't even demand a bloody EXPLANATION!!!! I'm convinced that the American public, at least the vast majority - really doesn't give a shit!

[lovedems]

10. You described Joe 6 pack perfectly

It is as if they care more about their hatred of skin color and sexual orientation then they do their childrens future. I have in-laws who vote on morality issues rather than constitutional issues and while the constitution may have been based on morals, it is a legal document and if you ask me, you should interpret the constitution legally rather than morally. That is a problem that is posed with all of *'s judicial appointments...How will they interpret the constitution?

In summary, I agree that Joe 6 pack is the biggest threat because it is who the politicians are pandering for and look at the results of that, * in the WH.

[ElementaryPenguin]

12. I seriously doubt that Joe 6 Pack knows ANYTHING about our Constitution

And if it were explained to him - he would undoubtedly oppose most of it in principle!

[lovedems]

14. That's precisely why they are the most dangerous

and that is probably why bushco. isn't funding education. It is better to keep the masses ignorant.


They might disagree with the constitution except the 4th amendement of course.

[ElementaryPenguin]

18. Remember - Jebbie's now got 12th grade OPTIONAL for graduates

in Florida!! Unfucking-believable!

[lovedems]

25. You know, just on the side

My dad is a conservative republican who is PRO education. College for us wasn't an option. I wonder what all the thugs around the country think of this? My dad would probably say, "I don't care what other parents do, you are going to 12th grade". That kind of leads me to believe that this makes a huge statement to the way Jeb feels about minorities because they are the ones most likely to be effected by this.

[ElementaryPenguin]

28. I think we have a pretty good idea about how Jeb (and his entire family)

Feel about minorities in general.

[beanball]

30. Tell the big lie

often enough it becomes the truth someone once said that.

[ElementaryPenguin]

31. "The bigger the lie, the more people will believe it." Adolph Hitler

ChimpCo's idol.

[smirkymonkey]

11. The New and Improved Axis of Evil...

They all need each other to keep this nightmare going...:grr:

[ElementaryPenguin]

13. And they're doing a damn good job - of ONLY that!!

Fascist, warmongering, war profitering, blood thirsty bastards!!

[Cocoa]

20. you might not be as sophisticated as you think you are

your name calling is kind of crude.

I think some people you look down upon probably have a much more nuanced and less arrogant view of things.

[ElementaryPenguin]

23. I DO LOOK DOWN UPON ANYONE THAT SUPPORTS CHIMPCO!

I confess - I am guilty of that! As to your other assertion - you are probably correct. I am undoubtedly not as sophisticated as I think I am, or as I would like to be (but I am always working on it). Thank you for pointing that out.

[Amich]

21. It is not all ignorance, but also no care for the future

I have a friend who doesn't vote because she doesn't listen to politics or the news because she doesn't want to hear anything bad. I have tried to get her to listen, but she says it doesn't matter to her what happens. I finally told her that she was just sad.

[ElementaryPenguin]

24. I'm sure your friend is a good person - but she is living like a child.

And that is very sad.

[newyawker99]

38. Hi Amich!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DemNoir]

22. It's the public

I see so many that hit the Trifecta.

1) Ignorant

2) Religious Fundamentalist

3) Racist

[ElementaryPenguin]

26. That is one scary, and deadly trifecta!

And it makes us just like many of the nations that we claim to want to be "aiding."

[Faygo Kid]

27. Too much elitism here!

We have to play the hand we are dealt. I don't disagree about the ignorance of the electorate, but that simply poses a greater responsibility upon us! Let's GET OUR MESSAGE OUT MORE EFFECTIVELY! It can be done, folks. It hasn't been done - and telling people they are stupid is not likely to bring them over to our side.

[ElementaryPenguin]

29. I don't think we have many Joe 6 Packs on the DU.

And if you pretend that we are dealing with a well informed - engaged electorate - and try to approach them that way - than you've really got your head stuck in the sand and you are bound to fail. It is not elitist to describe the truth. Do you not find it absolutely unfathomable that although it has now been widely publicized that the Chimp lied about the threat Iraq posed and that this war was completely unjustified - that the public, by and large, has expressed NO OUTRAGE WHATSOEVER??? I find it astonishing!

But I do agree that we can't give up, and we MUST get our message out effectively. (Which might mean that unless Al Gore gets his cable news network up and running - we are doomed - for it is a fact that most people in this country get ALL of their news from the boob tube!)

[Faygo Kid]

32. Wait a minute - that's not what I said

I KNOW we do not have a well informed electorate. And, thanks for agreeing that we need to have better communications. Again, we have to play the cards that we are dealt, and that includes the electorate as we find it, not as we hope it would be. That means better communications. I like Howard Dean very much. And yet, his comment about the pick ups and Confederate flag was just stupid, and not the first time he has made that comment (only the first time it has drawn heat). WHERE was someone in the campaign to catch this? He offended not just those offended by the Confederate flag as a symbol (include me in), but Southerners who felt stereotyped, at a time when the average person there and nationwide is getting SCREWED by this Administration. That's what I am talking about. 25 years of successful communications work here; now unemployed (and frustrated), and it drives me nuts to see this level of incompetence.

[ElementaryPenguin]

33. We are in total agreement here, F.

Thanks for the explanation. Perhaps one of the Dem candidates - (I like Clark/Dean) - could hire you.

[Faygo Kid]

34. Thanks. Do you adopt?

If you are wealthy, would you like a 52 year old son you may never have had? Just got turned down at the very end on a very big communications job on Tuesday. I was the final candidate, and for some reason it didn't work out. Instead, they reopened the search. That's why I am spending time on DU for a couple of days, and looking at adoption as a creative option. Is your name Bill Gates? (One can hope, can't one?)

[ElementaryPenguin]

36. Not in the market to adopt at the moment - but I always say, you can't

Have enough communications experts around your household! The decision maker for your interview wasn't by any chance a blatant rethuglican type, were they? If I were out interviewing during this Bush Reign of Terror, I think I might become paranoid about that. Sigh. It must be very rough indeed finding work in this Chimp destroyed economy! Just keep pluggin' away, comrade. Where there's a will - there really is a way.

[camero]

35. All the same

This country is playing out like "Les Miserables".

[ElementaryPenguin]

37. Isn't it though?

Looking more and more as if were are truly fucked! Diebold issue unresolved - Dean and Clark dissed by the media whores! Chimpy starting up the draft! Shit!

[frank frankly]

39. the window for us to be the people not the sheeple is closing

excellent post