Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Dear Pres. Obama: Dissent isn’t Possible in a Surveillance State (By Juan Cole) [View all]ProSense
(116,464 posts)41. Wait,
"I think your assumptions are off. Criticism of the surveillance state is a criticism of the
spy agencies. Pres Obama has no effect on them. When he came into office he was told to keep his hands off the spy agencies. They are the same agencies, same policies, same leaders that where under Bush."
...did I many any such "assumption"? I merely quoted Cole and pointed to a contradiction.
Barack Obama has the patience of a Job, in the face of an opposition party that has declared itself not a loyal opposition but a deadly enemy.
So it is not lightly or glibly that I use the occasion of Obamas heartfelt speech to upbraid him. But the contradictions in his sentiments and his actions here are too extreme, too glaring to pass without rebuke.
So it is not lightly or glibly that I use the occasion of Obamas heartfelt speech to upbraid him. But the contradictions in his sentiments and his actions here are too extreme, too glaring to pass without rebuke.
...contradiction of the OP title.
In a real surveillance state, opposition wouldn't exist publicly in any real form, let alone in the form of a "deadly enemy."
For dissent to be non-existent, there would likely have to be a dictatorship and mass oppression.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
58 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Dear Pres. Obama: Dissent isn’t Possible in a Surveillance State (By Juan Cole) [View all]
kpete
Dec 2013
OP
it provides way too much leverage to executives that won't be as saintly as Obama
nashville_brook
Dec 2013
#37
Yes. Because the NSA retains copies of the telecom data, dissent is impossible.
JDPriestly
Dec 2013
#20
The NSA has all the data on your communications and can link them to the communications
JDPriestly
Dec 2013
#26
Lol! I chuckle everytime you trot out Bernstein. As tho his evaluation outweighs Gore, Kerry
riderinthestorm
Dec 2013
#28
I think that is part of Obama's problem in dealing with this overly zealous security apparatus
JDPriestly
Dec 2013
#23
I think your assumptions are off. Criticism of the surveillance state is a criticism of the
rhett o rick
Dec 2013
#39
We havent lost all dissent yet. But Occupy proved that those in Power will go to
rhett o rick
Dec 2013
#42
Good grief. You have no argument here. You want to claim you are only pointing out what you
rhett o rick
Dec 2013
#47
The irony in the comments on this OP dissenting with policy while claiming they cant is unbelievable
stevenleser
Dec 2013
#54
It's really not a problem. If you don't say anything against the regime, you're safe.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Dec 2013
#18
As we know in Madison, POLITICAL CONTROL OF POLICE is an essential element
HereSince1628
Dec 2013
#21