4 ms·
Where does this idea come from that the government is a "normally sane" actor, usually acting in the best interest of the people? If history tells us anything,
by revelation 13y ago
Where does this idea come from that the government is a "normally sane" actor, usually acting in the best interest of the people?
If history tells us anything, it is that time and time again, governments are the principal actors in massacres and globe-spanning wars. They are the time-tested source of evil, no doubt about it.
I realize you didn't have a holocaust of your own in the USA, but surely you can learn from history.
- jlgreco 13y ago> I realize you didn't have a holocaust of your own in the USA A frightfully common misconception. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocides_in_history#United_States_of_America http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocides_in_history#United_Sta... We have also had a slavery based economy with unspeakable cruelty and concentration camps (though not death camps, to America's credit...) for Japanese Americans during WWII. In more modern times we have additional examples of atrocities, many of them ongoing. If you look outside of the boarders the picture becomes even worse. Nevertheless, the myth of the benevolent American government persists. Somehow historical atrocities, (relatively) small scale modern domestic atrocities, and atrocities that do not take place within the borders do not count. Current American government being good seems to be axiomatic to a disturbing portion of American citizens. It is assumed that our government is good and from that assumption explanations for everything are developed.