Isn’t that the truth? Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and the closer we allow our leaders to edge toward that intoxicating level of power, the more temptation is placed in the hands of mere mortals. If the scandals in the history of every major politician indicate, they are susceptible to using shady means to reach what may be truly noble ends. And as you said about precedents….they are very dangerous. While you may trust a current leader, you cannot guarantee that every other person to acquire that level of power will be equally trustworthy. Nor can you foresee the legal ramifications of the precedents, which could be used at some future point to repeal even more freedoms.

It’s much more of a slippery slope from “shutting down websites big corporations dislike” to “shutting down websites that have opinions our campaign contributors dislike” than it is from “gay people getting married” to “people marrying dogs,” and you know how loudly we’ve heard that fearmongering spouted in the past decade. And yet, on this infinitely more dangerous issue, we hear nothing. What about the white collar criminals whom the government seems intent on giving bailout funds and subsidies? There are far more expensive, dangerous, insidious crimes going on all the time, but those wealthy enough to afford their own lobbyists aren’t the victims, so those will never be a priority.

The government is good at some things, but looking out for our personal freedoms isn’t one of them. Some people may scoff at the notion that the government can and would use these laws to suppress dissenting opinions, but look at where we are. Look at the wiretapping and spying on citizens that’s allowed in the interest of “national security.”

Anyone who thinks there won’t or haven’t been abuses are living in a dreamland. Look at what happens to Julian Assange for showing Americans and the world the truth about what’s going on with our military. Killing a Reuters photographer? Innocent civilians? And that’s all redacted from public view and we just carry on our merry way and act like it’s Assange’s fault for posting it?

And people think it won’t happen to them? Maybe it won’t because all they think about all day is Snooki like they’re supposed to. I should just shut up and pretend like Ryan Seacrest is a genius.

The willingness of small publishers and authors to rejoice over something like that is a microcosmic instance of the larger publishers of movies, music, and books and the big-name artists using their clout to destroy internet freedom in the name of profits. It’s no different whether you stand to lose dozens of dollars or millions, but what’s truly sad to me is that people with millions can leave the country when they destroy freedom here and realize they don’t like it. The smaller authors won’t be able to and will have to deal with the repercussions more personally, while never having benefited half as much.

Even just a quick cost vs benefit analysis tells me that the people who are really reaping benefits from this do not include me, the small author, but I know that as a 99%er I’ll be paying the cost.

Romney, well, I wouldn’t characterize him as doing well, just not as poorly as the others. He has a huge uphill battle on a number of fronts, but eventually the Republicans will have to settle on someone. Huntsman’s the more electable of the crew, but he’s not being aggressive enough. Rumor is that he’s using this as a dry run for 2016.

As far as I can tell, privatization of successful government enterprises is the goal of all of the Republicans. And even some Democrats if they can find a way to profit from it. Having worked in both private and public sectors, I can tell you that the problem of inefficiency is pretty much the same. At a certain girth, any organization is going to suffer officiousness and failures of management. The difference being that private sector can write off the problems and public becomes open record–and also front page news.

There is far less accountability in the private sector, which is why for profit healthcare is so slap dash and scary. At least with the public sector, you get a vote now and then.

Interesting to see that Romney is doing so well. Being a corporate raider from way back, does that mean he’ll split off all the government enterprises (and programs) and sell them to the highest bidder or private company that’s willing to take on the contracts? That’s how those private equity guys usually work. Sell off all the good stuff and then refloat the rump.

There is such a minority of people who vote or are even paying attention. And a lot of those who aren’t involved are the ones who say love it or leave it. Which is really more of a reflection on their mindset (don’t bother me with this crap) than an interest in deportation.

Maybe.

Yeah, the infighting is horrid. Liberals here are their own worst enemies. Much like the Republicans are currently their own worst enemies. At least it’s entertaining. To me, anyway. Maybe to more people as it gets wackier and wackier.

I like your comments about the leaky roof of a shared house. Good analogy.

Part of the problem is the average Joe Blow doesn’t want to know and at the other end of the spectrum is the in-fighting amongst those that are political (often worse amongst those in the same party).

The alternative, apathy is worse though.

Good luck!

That is why I heart you like I do. On this most morbid day, let us all take a moment to reflect on the wonders of tinted corn syrup and childhood obesity. Isn’t life in the first world grand? Yeah, yeah it is.