Paul Montgomery ([info]paradox0220) wrote,
@ 2008-10-01 15:25:00
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Want an impartial measure of where the US is going?
Check out this 1946 film "Despotism & Democracy" which is obviously oblivious of our current status and yet eerily pertinent. I challenge you to measure the current US and it's future direction on this scale for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfrQalpmdqk

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[info]goulo
2008-10-02 08:16 am UTC (link)
It is impressive that the film dared to show some scenes of the US, e.g. people mindlessly repeating the pledge of allegiance, and KKK cross burnings, and small farmers losing their farms to a few wealthy corporations, portrayal of newpapers bowing to not only government censorship but advertising pressures, etc to make the point that "even" in the US freedom and justice are not automatically guaranteed.

The part about respect toward minorities reminds me of the increasing anti-gay and anti-islamic rhetoric (including the recent gas attack on the mosque).

The quote by the caricatured gangster "What I say goes - I'm the law around here!" reminded me of Bush's "I'm the Decider and I decide what is best."

The part about formally free elections versus genuinely free elections reminds me of the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, with their various "irregularities".

The part about uneven economic distribution rather obviously applies to the US now.

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