ArianeB says:

The author of this pieces decision to establish a non-historical, non-realistic spectrum from anarchy to dictatorship is very disingenuous.

Fascism and dictatorships do belong on the right wing because they are the ultimate result of uncontrolled conservatism.

By putting all dictatorships on the left the author is implying that the more left we move, the more likely we become an oligarchy, and that is simply not true. The way the political spectrum SHOULD look is:

LEFT WING OLIGARCHY – REPUBLIC – RIGHT WING OLIGARCHY

The United States is currently far closer to becoming a right wing oligarchy, ruled by church and corporate leaders interested solely in profit for themselves, than we are a left wing oligarchy like Cuba and North Korea. Even the Democratic party has proven they are friendly to corporate interests.

I suggest this article on this topic.

J says:

#24 brm

“Well, is there a more accurate description?”

Yes.

“Or is it so complicated that it defies abstraction?”

Nope.

KneeJerk Optimist says:

Thank you for the TV sound bite poli-sci lesson, however flawed it may be. But, I think what really makes a society manageable within itself is that the people themselves must develop a habit of getting along relatively well (i.e. less fear and mistrust of _each other as individuals and/or groups_).

If you don’t have this, all those governmental configurations will eventually tank.

joaoPT says:

Also funny to see the faces of the oligarchy:
Hitler, ho-chi mihn (?), Stalin, Napoleon, Mussolini, CHURCHILL (!!!), Lenin, Cesar???, Trotsky (?), ?!?!?, Mao zedong, Fidel Castro, Saddam, Kruschev, Henry the 8th, Brezhnev.
Next page
?, Putin?, ??, Kim Il sung?, Ceausescu, ??, Khadafi, Mugabe, Kim jong il, ??, Marcos?, Fidel (again), ??, ??, Saudi prince?, ??.

Here’s a mix match of people that have not so much in common… Some are dictators, some are revolutionaries and one was an appointed prime minister of the oldest Democracy (yes, the UK is a democracy but it’s not a Republic) in the world.
WTF!

ECA says:

AND the problem??

How many of the idiots we HIRE to represent us, Accually were BORN and raised in the states they represent? LESS THEN HALF..
Take a look.

How many of them PRACTICE what they preach?? Being religious when they RUN, and using those principles in their legislation..?

How many fight for the PEOPLE of this nation, to KEEP BALANCE and control in the PEOPLES HANDS??

How many POPPED UP in an area to run for a position??

FoolontheHill says:

Well like i tried to tell earlier….
I think #37 Cursor_ said it best

“The United States is an oligarchy. It was never anything BUT an oligarchy.”

I personally think the American constitution was never written for “the people” but for the big boys i.o.w. cooperations..Just like the Magna Carta was not written for the people but for the barons (Fools) The ideal republic described in the video has never existed and if it has, only for a short period.

There maybe sugar coating of history in the video and it is probably propaganda.(For the republican party?) That doesn’t take away the fact that it shows the correct way of thinking about the political spectrum. Not left/right Democrat/Republican or whatever you want to put on the two sides but Liberty/Tyranny!!
And that a Republic has THE best chance on surviving and not self-destruct. If of course the people are well informed and keep well informed on these and other political and socio/economic facts.

@#46 joaoPT, Great-Britain and its commonwealth lands are not a democracy they are a Democratic Monarchy where they pretend the queen is just a posterbody, which is a complete facade.

@#36 Uncle Patso,
Yes it is non correct latin, but with a reason…
In this way it has multiple meanings.
Just like those BIG BOULDERS on the moon…..WINK
BTW love your monkey video!!!!
My personal view on politicians: “Politicians are a bunch of monkeys in a cage all fighting over one banana.”

Probably the only way to understand what this video entails. Is to forget everything you have ever learned about politics, then read or re-read Plato’s Republic and all the old Greek myths, and then when you watch the video always keep in mind that the republic that is described is not the one that America has right now, and probably never had.

The gardening baron fool on the only hill in an otherwise green fielded flat land greets you all.

Mr. Fusion says:

#51, Foolonthehill,

Good post and fairly accurate.

I disagree with:
Great-Britain and its commonwealth lands are not a democracy they are a Democratic Monarchy where they pretend the queen is just a posterbody, which is a complete facade.

Most of the British Commonwealth are Constitutional Monarchies as is most of Western Europe.

The UK itself is governed by the Magna Carta, Bill of Rights, and the Act of Settlement (1701).

Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa cut their formal ties with the UK under the Statute of Westminster (1931).

Australia also has the Statute of Westminster (1942) and the Australia Act (1986) to act as their Constitution.

Canada wrote their own Constitution in 1982.

South Africa wrote their Constitution in 1996.

Some Commonwealth members, such as Bermuda, are independent in most aspects. The UK still determines Foreign Affairs and the Supreme Court (House of Lords) as well as provides the Governor General.

The Queen is the Head of State. Her authority is still considerable though mostly symbolic. If she were to exert the authority she does have, those opposed would scream loudly for her removal. Therefore her power is not used other than as a figurehead.

LibertyLover says:

#48,

Anyone suggesting America is a Republic and not a Democracy just doesn’t know what they are talking about.

I guess the founding fathers didn’t know what they were talking about?

Or do you agree we need to get back to our roots?

Article IV – The States
[...]
Section 4 – Republican government

That’s my fear talking

soundwash says:

-this is [truly] an exquisitely produced piece of revisionist
history propaganda. The use of subliminal [subconscious] symbolism is quite apparent throughout.

-kudos to the republicorp propaganda machine. [sic]

[I as a Greek, take some [minor] offense to it as well. -even though
i am by no means, a scholar of history]

————————–

-further, this propaganda clip has produced some genuinely *good* discussion, (a rarity in DU threads) -yet the obvious conclusion was rarely even noted..

-the easiest way we could have prevented the now imminent downfall of the U.S. would have been to make sure the “true history* of the world and how it relates in American history was a required class that ran through the entire school year from grade seven all the way through the end of college or trade school, if taken.

-Most important would be to teach the
[inter-relational] ramifications of the phrase:

“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it”

-Had we as a country, been constantly taught about our true history, the true history of Humanity and how it relates to the rise and fall of other great empires, -the odds are good that we would be in far better shape than we are now.

(that is, -if we ever came to exist at all. -if this type of history course was a constant throughout all of the teachings of history, there would have never been any need [or want] for the creation of a God, religion or an America.

-for the seeds of deception would have most assuredly, never have been able to take root in the first place.

-s

(please excuse some of my minor grammar “infractions”)

Mr. Fusion says:

#55, Loser,

#48,

I guess the founding fathers didn’t know what they were talking about?

No, YOU don’t know what YOU are talking about. The alternative to a Republic, where the representatives and Head of State were chosen democratically, was a MONARCHY. As the new nation was very fearful of once again falling under s despot King. I am also quite sure they never envisioned the likes of King George Bush the Worst.

A Republic does not need to be a Democracy to exist. Nor does a Democracy need to be a Republic to exist. The two concepts are as mutually exclusive as apples and lettuce.

Really, do you honestly believe because we are a Republic, we can not be a Democracy? Why not say, hey because you are a man, you can not be blond or because Police Cars are mass produced they can’t go fast. Really, you need to start thinking through your arguments on this one.

The definition of Liebertarian is “I got mine Jack, fuck you”.

That’s your fear talking again.

No. That is the example put out there by Liebertarians. They don’t want the governments to spend any money EXCEPT when they benefit.

Liebertarians pick and chose which parts of the Constitution they like. The parts they do pick they start adding new meanings to. The parts they don’t like they start screaming belie the intent of the Constitution.

That makes them selfish bastards in my book.