A Culture of Helplessness

[Raoul Duke]

Most of us paying at least passing attention to world news have heard about the rampant increase in violent crime in Europe, particularly in Britain.

We've certainly discussed at length their dubious cultural shift towards an inability to discriminate between offensive violence and defensive violence.

Here is a fascinating article by the CATO Institute about the origins of these policies, their antithetical relationship with common law, and their affect on the citizens of the UK.

Interestingly, the article was written in 2004; about 2 years before I started to hear regular reports of a marked increase in assault.


Oh, and despite the fact that I used the words "Fascinating," "Institute." and "Antithetical" in the same sentence, it really isn't a challenging read.

 

[center442]

Excellent article, Raoul. Thanks for the link. The last 2 paragraphs sound chillingly familiar to what is transpiring in the U.S.

 

[the jeff]

I think i just threw up in my mouth.

 

[RG617]

An excellent read. I feel sorry for those raised with a mindset that it's acceptable to become collateral damage simply so they can mistakenly claim to live in a "civilized" society.

 

[Yelena]

So, to be civilized, you should be concerned about "happiness" of criminals? Then, I am an uncivilized barbarian!

 

[boblik]

I wonder if this process of removing rights will ever see any sort of reversal on any scale.

Its so hard to get back what has been taken. And everyones just too apathetic to fight for what they deserve these days. Everyones too beaten by fear and distractions.

That article really sums up everything someone who has faith in society's protection needs to understand.

 

[Yelena]

The problem of the "civilized" society is that its people simply don't want to protect their rights. They seem to be so used to thought that someone is going to take care of everything, that no action is taken when the government starts to take people's rights away from them. Not all at once. Not most important ones first. Rather, very slowly and gradually, presenting it as taking care of the public. Ban after ban, regulation after regulation meets no resistance, just because people see no harm from them. Really, what can be wrong with a trans fats ban? Prohibition of smoking in public areas? That looks more like reasonable control measures!
And even when the government starts to ban and regulate things which are important to people, public just takes it. Because t looks like a reasonable measure, or it does not, but this is the governtment's task to think and to decide what s good for us.
I remember several relatively recent Pit Bull bans in some cities. What surprised me a great deal was a fact that people were simply giving up on their beloved dogs: finding home for them, moving out with them, or even surrending them to shelters. The chances of a Pit Bull to survive in a shelter are slim, least to say. What surprised me is that I did not find out about any protest action. I did not hear anyone to say in loud:
-This is MY decision what kind of dog I keep! Punish criminals involved in dog fghting, and NOT law-abient dog owners! Don't stick your a-way-too-long nose in my life!
Nobody said so. Peope just gave up. Hundreds of beloved family pets were given away or euthanised. Did it help to solve a dog fight problem? No.
This is just one example I use because I am familiar with the subject. But what I am thinking about is: if government meets no resistance while setting regulatons and bans, more regulations and bans must be expected. In the modern world, the "liberal" politicians want just one thing: control over the people. The Communism was just an ugly scary larva. The liberalism is a nice-looking, sweet, but even more dangerous beast. They don't confiscate your property, they tax the hell out of you. They don't take your rights away, they pass more and more prohibitive regulations, so you don't notice that you are screwed to the last moment. It s just like placing a frog in a water and warming it up very slowly. The frog even likes it, but when the temperature rises too much, this is too late.
This is why, I think, no ban, no matter how unsignificant, should be taken without resistance. I we dont want to be like those frogs in boiling water, or like those people who can be sent to prison for a very natural attempt to protect themselves.

 

[Raoul Duke]

Don't stick your a-way-too-long nose in my life!

There's a quote that translates well into every language

In the modern world, the "liberal" politicians want just one thing: control over the people. The Communism was just an ugly scary larva. The liberalism is a nice-looking, sweet, but even more dangerous beast. They don't confiscate your property, they tax the hell out of you. They don't take your rights away, they pass more and more prohibitive regulations, so you don't notice that you are screwed to the last moment.

No one can say you're not paying attention.

 

[calsdad]

The problem of the "civilized" society is that its people simply don't want to protect their rights. They seem to be so used to thought that someone is going to take care of everything, that no action is taken when the government starts to take people's rights away from them. Not all at once. Not most important ones first. Rather, very slowly and gradually, presenting it as taking care of the public. Ban after ban, regulation after regulation meets no resistance, just because people see no harm from them. Really, what can be wrong with a trans fats ban? Prohibition of smoking in public areas? That looks more like reasonable control measures!

I know you put "civilized" in quotes - but the meaning of "civilized" nowadays is different than it used to be in Western society. Civilized used to mean respecting peoples rights - at least the rights of those people who weren't criminals. I think the root of this problem is the socialist/communist mindset that has permeated most Western countries in one form or another. As the 20th century showed us - socialism/communism is far from being "civilized" - it is in fact just a very sophisticated form of barbarism and tyranny. What has happened is that along with everything else in human culture and society - barbarism and tyranny have grown up and gotten more sophisticated - you don't have to stick a gun at the back of someone's head to get them to do your bidding any more. You convince them thru slow methodical education and increasing amounts of laws that they are wrong to fight the power and make them feel guilty about wanting to do so.

And even when the government starts to ban and regulate things which are important to people, public just takes it. Because t looks like a reasonable measure, or it does not, but this is the governtment's task to think and to decide what s good for us.

See my quote about the guilt thing above.

I remember several relatively recent Pit Bull bans in some cities. What surprised me a great deal was a fact that people were simply giving up on their beloved dogs: finding home for them, moving out with them, or even surrending them to shelters. The chances of a Pit Bull to survive in a shelter are slim, least to say. What surprised me is that I did not find out about any protest action. I did not hear anyone to say in loud:
-This is MY decision what kind of dog I keep! Punish criminals involved in dog fghting, and NOT law-abient dog owners! Don't stick your a-way-too-long nose in my life!
Nobody said so. Peope just gave up. Hundreds of beloved family pets were given away or euthanised. Did it help to solve a dog fight problem? No.
This is just one example I use because I am familiar with the subject. But what I am thinking about is: if government meets no resistance while setting regulatons and bans, more regulations and bans must be expected. In the modern world, the "liberal" politicians want just one thing: control over the people. The Communism was just an ugly scary larva. The liberalism is a nice-looking, sweet, but even more dangerous beast. They don't confiscate your property, they tax the hell out of you. They don't take your rights away, they pass more and more prohibitive regulations, so you don't notice that you are screwed to the last moment. It s just like placing a frog in a water and warming it up very slowly. The frog even likes it, but when the temperature rises too much, this is too late.
This is why, I think, no ban, no matter how unsignificant, should be taken without resistance. I we dont want to be like those frogs in boiling water, or like those people who can be sent to prison for a very natural attempt to protect themselves.

The British have given up without resistance - which is why the time has come to stop feeling sorry for them - and start laughing at them. Laughing at Britain should become a national pasttime in the US - like we do at France but even more so. There are great ties between the US and Britain - and that has much to do with why there are so many people within the US who think the British policies are so great. We should laugh at and deride Britain the same way we would laugh at and deride some backwards ass two bit dictatorship in Africa if it passed policies so outrageous and tyrannical that people were prosecuted for defending themselves and books were seen as weapons.

Don't feel sorry for Britain - laugh at them, they deserve it now.

BTW - Great article.

 

[calsdad]

This paragraph points to the obvious solution for citizens of England in the face of these insane laws:

Millions of people in Britain live in fear. Elderly
people are afraid to go out and afraid to stay
in. The government has insisted upon a monopoly
on the use of force—but it can only enforce
that monopoly against the law abiding. By practically
eliminating self-defense, it has removed
the greatest deterrent to crime, people able and
prepared to defend themselves. Peter Hitchens,
a British columnist, recently pointed out, “In
Britain now we have the worst of both worlds,
police who can’t or won’t protect us, and no
right to protect ourselves.” He blames the change
on indulgent lawyers, judges, civil servants, and
juries. They have certainly played an important
part. But they were empowered by legal
changes that permitted the government to remove
the most basic of all rights.

Everybody should just become a criminal. There is obviously absolutely no reason to obey the laws anymore - so just act like a criminal - and your life will actually be worth living once more.

 

[packingungal]

Laws are created to control one or 2 things and we think it is isolating one or two problems - but they are more like a disease that starts in one or two places and spreads throughout.

Laws get bent and molded, translated and re-translated, adapted for this cause and that cause until the reason for the original being is lost.

That is why we have the system we do - but it does require vigilance - forever constant. Anything ignored or simply lived with - just gets bigger.

 

[Mark from MA]

That article makes me.........

 

[JRyan]

It's scary because it could go that way here. I only hope very recent trends and ideas expand, and that my doom colored, or 'coloured" as the case may be, glasses are from living in Mass.

 

[packingungal]

That article makes me.........

I like the editing on that Mark from MA - I was having a time wiping the puke off...

 

[gene]

It's scary because it could go that way here. I only hope very recent trends and ideas expand, and that my doom colored, or 'coloured" as the case may be, glasses are from living in Mass.

I doubt Americans on the whole will ever be a passive about our rights as the British. Atleast in our lifetimes. Our country is too young at the moment to forget what has happened in recent history 250 years and the effect of becoming a slave to government programs goes against the grain of all but the most mindless and least productive of us.

Ofcoarse if they allowing into the USA, green card holders and illegal immigrants and others that cannot own weapons and expanding their rights while making the laws tougher to exclude gun ownership, who knows, we could get there rather quickly.

God knows they have played these groups of people off, effectively enough, to develop a certain party's loyalty.

 

[Yelena]

I know you put "civilized" in quotes - but the meaning of "civilized" nowadays is different than it used to be in Western society.

This is why I put in quotes. The modern meaning of being civilized has nothing to do with actually being civilized. Just as the "freedom" libarals and commies are talking about has nothing to do with a real freedom.

Don't feel sorry for Britain - laugh at them, they deserve it now.

There is just one thing which stops me from laughing at them. I see very similar tendencies here in the United States.
I just hope Americans will wake up before it's too late.

 

[Mark from MA]

I like the editing on that Mark from MA - I was having a time wiping the puke off...

LOL!!! Sorry....Britain's politics were definately the intended target of that....

 

[highlander]

Some people feel that the phrase"you can't fight city hall" may apply. The Govt be it Federal,State or city has virtually unlimited funds to enforce what ever rules it makes good or bad. If we as "citizens" don't agree with said rules who will pick up that tab for a lawsuit,I don't have that kind of cash lying around. Can't trust the law makers because by and large they want to keep their jobs so they vote for what ever will keep them fat dumb and happy rather than voting on what's right.

 

[packingungal]

I just hope Americans will wake up before it's too late.

These are not angry statements nor statements directed at any one person -

Americans? You are an American - if you are aware there must be an awareness that there are more who are also. This not about some 3rd party entity - this is about you, about me, about us - there is no standing alone on this. Look at the movement - the turning, the balancing has already started taking shape. Of course there is no "end result" - we are always reaching for more and more - and that is what we will always do.

Paint the vision and the future you want...there are many artists who will work by your side.

 

[Raoul Duke]

These are not angry statements nor statements directed at any one person -

Americans? You are an American - if you are aware there must be an awareness that there are more who are also. This not about some 3rd party entity - this is about you, about me, about us - there is no standing alone on this. Look at the movement - the turning, the balancing has already started taking shape. Of course there is no "end result" - we are always reaching for more and more - and that is what we will always do.

Paint the vision and the future you want...there are many artists who will work by your side.

+2 (I think that's the first time I've ever said that)

What a wonderful quote Kris!

Now, Yelena, how's this for a double edge sword (colloquialism meaning good and bad sides)? On one hand, you can no longer distinguish yourself from Americans. You have taken the oath and we have accepted you as a full citizen in our country (I believe I remember you saying that was your status) with all of the rights, privileges and responsibilities that implies. On the other hand, this means that "this" is now your problem too. You're an American now, isn't that great (no sarcasm here)? In your left hand we tender your rights, in your right, we tender our collective problems.

Welcome once again and always.

 

[Bob P]

Just as the "freedom" libarals and commies are talking about has nothing to do with a real freedom.

That's because real freedom is scary - freedom and responsibility go hand-in-hand. A paternalistic government tells people they don't have to worry their little heads about all that scary stuff, daddy & mommy will take care of it all. My only disagreement with the above is that you single out the left. Unfortunatly, I see the 'new right' doing the same damned thing.

 

[Raoul Duke]

That's because real freedom is scary - freedom and responsibility go hand-in-hand. A paternalistic government tells people they don't have to worry their little heads about all that scary stuff, daddy & mommy will take care of it all. My only disagreement with the above is that you single out the left. Unfortunatly, I see the 'new right' doing the same damned thing.

The "new right" is not substantively different from the democrats in any way I can think of. This crowd is generally way to informed to believe that Republicans support gun rights and Democrats do not, for instance.

 

[Bob P]

Yah. So much for the ideal that the Government that governs least governs best. The Right is out of the 'small government' business.

 

[Yelena]

What I meant was the majority of people. Of course, as a citizen of the USA, I will do all I can to prevent taking our rights away from us.

 

[z0mbi]

The "new right" is not substantively different from the democrats in any way I can think of. This crowd is generally way to informed to believe that Republicans support gun rights and Democrats do not, for instance.

It's been my experience in talking guns and politics with Bush-hating modern Democrats (re: people who develop their political leanings based upon what the mainstream media feeds them and nothing more) that the way to slowly win them over to the pro-gun side is to try to explain to them that the gun issue is a bi-partisan issue and not a Red vs. Blue thing. They tend to violently reject this notion at first, but I've turned a few over so far after repeated discussions.

Most mainstream media democrats I know hate guns based purely on the fact that they believe that is the role they must play by being a democrat. Combating this misconception is the key to gaining more support from your average politically inept person.

 

[Bob P]

That's so devious! I love it!

 

[the_doctor]

The British have given up without resistance - which is why the time has come to stop feeling sorry for them - and start laughing at them. Laughing at Britain should become a national pasttime in the US - like we do at France but even more so. There are great ties between the US and Britain - and that has much to do with why there are so many people within the US who think the British policies are so great. We should laugh at and deride Britain the same way we would laugh at and deride some backwards ass two bit dictatorship in Africa if it passed policies so outrageous and tyrannical that people were prosecuted for defending themselves and books were seen as weapons.

Don't feel sorry for Britain - laugh at them, they deserve it now.
.

Are we forgetting that these are the same people, whose ancestors had decided that they could dispossess the property and land of many people in countries such as Ireland and Scotland? Are we not aware of all of the abuses that their forebears made in later imperial possessions such as India? I think it is important to remember that the ancestors of these subjects worked hard to take everything from the people that live in the USA, now.

 

[calsdad]

Are we forgetting that these are the same people, whose ancestors had decided that they could dispossess the property and land of many people in countries such as Ireland and Scotland? Are we not aware of all of the abuses that their forebears made in later imperial possessions such as India? I think it is important to remember that the ancestors of these subjects worked hard to take everything from the people that live in the USA, now.

Actually what the British people are experiencing now is I believe - exactly because of the things you mention. Thruout the centuries the British people have subordinated themselves to the Crown. Then the Crown used it's power to dispossess all the peoples you mentioned. Then Britain went away from the crown - now the people subordinate themselves to a socialist govt.

In the end there really is not much a difference. In fact if you look at many countries they go from being ruled by religion, to ruled by royalty, to ruled by a dictator - to ruled by communism or socialism. The people NEED somebody to tell them what to do.

This is in fact one of the reasons why a great many people in what was the largely Protestant US objected to Catholic immigrants coming into this country - they didn't want "Popery" to take root here - along with all the things that came with it.

 

[Palladin]

The Brits suck....none of them remembers WW2 and how they had to fight for their lives and we saved their asses.
Look up 'Pussy' in Wikipedia, there's a pic of a Brit waving at you!

 

[Scrivener]

The Brits suck....none of them remembers WW2 and how they had to fight for their lives and we saved their asses.

Actually, they did as much to save ours by fighting long enough for fat, happy and stupid Americans to pull their heads out of their isolationist asses - by way of Pearl Harbor. Britain provided the staging and launch point for the assault on Europe.

Look up 'Pussy' in Wikipedia, there's a pic of a Brit waving at you!

Not as long as the French are still extant.