Why is everyone freaking out?

[whatchamacallit]

If you're not doing anything wrong (something defined by someone) you've got nothing to worry about. Let freedom ring!

[Dreamer Tatum]

1. Said the people at the wedding ceremony in Pakistan

just before the kid in the Virginia strip mall presses the red button...

[whatchamacallit]

2. Personally, I don't mind having a target on my back

if it's there to keep me safe.

[Dreamer Tatum]

4. Exactly. Only by knowing we can be blown to bits for any reason

deemed sufficient by people we've never met can we truly be free and safe.

[whatchamacallit]

8. DU has taught me

No matter how far we slip there's always more slope. We can be trained to accept anything.

[Dreamer Tatum]

12. How do I know the government supports me, the little guy?

Because if they didn't, I'd have been blown to shit by a drone by now!

[rustydog]

3. That sounds vaguely familiar....Wasn't there a second and third phrase after that?

Like: "Why do you hate America?" and "You are either with us or you are with the terrorists!"

[kenny blankenship]

13. Familiar - because it's the motto of every police state in history.

Fortunately for subjects living under authoritarian rule, police states are something that only happens to other people, not something that happens here.

The reason they are shielded from the awful awareness of their condition, the reason "they believed they were free", is that in each case they knew that, quite unlike what happens among foreigners with their insane lawless despots, they could trust their Leader to use his limitless powers only for good - or put another way only against other people. It's a happy accident of history that Police states are always led by a man of outstanding Benevolence and Trustworthiness. He is often seen in Church with his family and he is loved by children everywhere despite his fearful powers, and is a friend to animals. And as the authors of the Federalist Papers noted, that's why we have the institution of laws in the first place: because there are men who are wholly trustworthy and good, and they will need the free rein of secret laws to enable them to put their universal benevolence into action.

[quinnox]

5. K&R

Any good and loyal citizen has nothing to worry about!

I, for one, welcome our new Drone spy overlords. Hell, load them up for bear with some hellfire missiles, while they are flying around in our glorious skies, I trust the authorities to make good decisions.

[think]

6. The end DOES justify the means.....

~Snip~

Scholars often note that Machiavelli glorifies instrumentality in statebuilding—an approach embodied by the saying that "the ends justify the means". Violence may be necessary for the successful stabilisation of power and introduction of new legal institutions. Force may be used to eliminate political rivals, to coerce resistant populations, and to purge the community of other men strong enough of character to rule, who will inevitably attempt to replace the ruler. Machiavelli has become infamous for such political advice, ensuring that he would be remembered in history through the adjective, "Machiavellian"......

~Snip~

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli

[whatchamacallit]

10. The architect for a fucked up world

Thanks Mac!

[randome]

7. Is this another pubic hair thread?

[Incitatus]

9. absolutely

You also need to make sure to never be in the wrong place at the wrong time

[Dreamer Tatum]

11. and be ready to have your estate accept a posthumous regret

that you were blown to kingdom come for wearing a flowing white robe in full view of a drone.

[leftstreet]

14. A conscientious citizen would invest in a drone-detector

personal responsibility

[Dreamer Tatum]

15. "He was wearing a white flowing robe"

pretty much the same as "she was dressed like she was asking for it."

[Incitatus]

16. The drones could just carry banners behind them

"sorry for killing you of you aren't a threat to us"