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Turning Insanity Into Politics
COMMENTARY
This article originally appeared in The Daily Capitalist.
Like most of us I was shocked by the murders in Tucson and I hope for a speedy recovery for Gabrielle Giffords.
When our politicians are targeted it disturbs our sense of security and we question what kind of a society we are. That's only natural. Next to 911, the most shocking public event in my life was the assassination of John Kennedy. Like 911 the memories are vivid.
But, not every insane act by a "lone wolf" is a political event. A tragedy to be sure, but in this case even if Jared Lee Loughner thought he was making a political statement, it is not a political event. It is an insane event. All you need to do is check out Mr. Loughner's Youtube postings.
If had he been slightly insane and believed that violence would achieve a defined political end for a known political movement, then it would have been political. I would put most terrorist bombers in this category. I mean Unabomber Ted Kaczynski had political ends and was a terrorist, but could you say it was a political act? No. It was an insane act.
Yet the topic of the day on the media has been "What does this say about politics in America?" "Yes, yes, we know the guy was insane but what about the politics of hate." "What about hate mongering on talk radio?" Generally the words "Tea Party" usually came up. In almost all comments on radio and TV the folks that I would say were on the left were the ones raising these issues.
In other countries there are defined movements that use terrorism to achieve political goals. It seems to be a way of life in Iraq, Pakistan, and some other Muslim countries. Even in Europe, the Basque separatists, ETA, and the Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland have used political assassination for years. You could say that anyone who would assassinate a politician had to be "crazy" but that is not always the case in cultures of violence.
In the U.S. (correct me if I'm wrong) all of the political murders have been committed by insane persons. Conspiracy theorists can argue the point, but I don't buy into those ideas. Conspiracies have a way of unwinding and so far no great conspiracies have been uncovered behind Lee Harvey Oswald, James Early Ray, and Sirhan Sirhan. All of these men had political ends, but not even Malcolm X's murderers, arguably acting with political motives, have been tied to a secret underground political movement. You would say they were deranged.
Tom Ashcroft on NPR Monday morning asked the question first off in his pandering manner: "What does this say about politics in America?" Well, Tom, I'll tell you: it means nothing. In fact Tom, compared to the 1960s, the level of "political" violence has gone way, way down in this country.
In a few short years of the 60s we had the murders of John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy, and Malcolm X. We had the Watts Riots sung to the tune of Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction." We had a nasty war in Vietnam that gave rise to large protests and riots on campuses across the country as the military draft was taking 50,000 men per month. We had violence from the Civil Rights movements as "agitators" were murdered (James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner) and beaten. Not to mention the Birmingham bombings of little girls. I recall the Black Panther shootout in Oakland quite vividly. The Cuban Missile Crisis and The Bomb was the backdrop.
I would say that despite the complaints by talking heads, the level of political discourse in America has gotten better, not worse. And, dear reader, I would say that the discourse on the blogosphere has done much to raise it. Every medium is a mixed bag but blogs rise above the 30 second sound bite.
Assassinations, murder, and violence are a part of every society, including ours. But don't confuse insanity with politics.
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speaking of vietnam war protests, where are the Iraq and Afghan war protests? what happened? you guys sell out? seems like nowadays only the "nutjob" libertarians protest America's wars. i guess the left is just too damn busy trying to convince the rest of us that only the right is guilty of vitriol. even while calling anyone and everyone that doesn't by into their progressive/statist agenda a "racist".
Actually the left protesters are probably about as big if not bigger than the Teaparty. They just do not have their own TV station to publicize them. There was a big protest against the war on Dec. 16th at the White House. Did any of you hear about it? No, because the media refuses to cover the left in America.
All the while spreading the meme that the media is liberal. hahah This system works for the corporate masters. They do not want you to know about the real liberals and left wing in America. It might wake you up.
more fevered wet dreams......
Exactly, the media serves the corporate masters and directs attention away from the real issues like perpetual wars, disparity in wealth, you name it they evade or rationalize it.
Exactly.
Thats why the media needs cover by floating the meme that they are 'liberal'.
When Noam Chomski takes the place of Coki Roberts, then you will know the media is liberal.
characterizing the protesters at the Dec. 16th event as Liberal is a bit disingenuous, don't you think? its like you are suggesting, "they protested the war, ergo, they are Liberal" my impression was they were much more Tea Party than Progressive.
*edit* and the fact that the liberal media did not pay any attention whatsoever to it sort of proves that it was not a "Liberal" protest, don't you think?
*another edit* okay i read your comment again and you are suggesting that the fact that the media did not cover this "Liberal Protest" is proof that the majority of the media is not Liberal. unfortunately, 25 million tons of evidence points to the opposite conclusion, the one i posted above. i am sorry to not provide links to the 25 million tons of evidence, lets just say that the fact that NPR, CNBC, CBS, etc are Liberal is axiomatic. the one non-liberal media outlet is, as we all know, Fox, who is just neo-conservative, which is probably worse.
i didn't junk you, but i think you are stuck in the two party paradigm.
the media is fascist. the media supports corporate control, a financial oligarchy and the MIC.
the best way to visualize this is to envision a tyrannical ogre with a left leg and right leg. the left leg isn't the right leg and the right leg isn't they left leg. they are different.
yet, they belong to the same tyrannical ogre and both will stomp the sh*t out of you at the behest of the tyrannical ogre.
yes, they will leave different footprints on you, but the stomping won't feel all that much different.
that's why bush rescinds the constitution with his criminal patriot act and then obama comes over the top and starts reaching down the pants of citizens - and their children.
hardcore crimnals, the lot of them.
if you remember on thing...
THOSE WHO HATE YOUR RIGHTS THE MOST ARE THE ONE WHO ARE TAKING YOUR RIGHTS AWAY!
hmmm, 3 junks but no replies. that pretty much seals the deal does it not?
How about every G20 meeting of the past decade, Greenpeace strikes on fishing and whaling boats, PETA strikes on fur wearers, and union activists attacks on tea party demonstrators outside several town hall meetings during the health-care bill debates.
Not to mention the shooting of Reagan, the movie about Bush being assasinated, Ayers murdering people and bombing shit.......oh wait, that's not the past decade so I guess they don't count.
Hinkleys parents knew Reagan.
You do not know the power that Sarah Palin gave to hate groups in Arizona and groups that practice terrorism, like the pro choice movement. Words and images matter. It is what advertising is based on and psychologists know it works. Words and images. Arizona has been saturated with horrific speech and images demonizing our political process since 2008.
Who was assassinated? When was the funeral?
How many died? When? Where? and Who?
Who was killed in these protests?
Vietnam War? Oh you mean JFK/LBJ's War. LBJ got incredibly rich(er) off the JFK/LBJ War. Second wealthiest President and close to a billionaire (inflation adjusted) when he left office. Nixon left office and he was broke.
LBJ was a direct owner or major shareholder in many companies with no bid contracts in Vietnam and SE Asia during the war.
....and then one of these very same companies gets a no bid contract in Iraq.....nothing chnages.
Not to mention riots in most large cities - Watts, Newark, Detroit, are a few examples, plus the 68 Demo Convention in Chicago. I watched Jackson MS round up rioters in old-style garbage trucks and detain them inside barbed wire enclosures with 50-cal machine guns around the perimeter manned by the Natl Guard.
I kept a loaded 12-gauge behind the front seat during the summers at my uncle's suggestion. These are tame days compared to then.
Sad part is it shows just how FEMINIZED our men have become.
You would certainly know, Missy.
HUH
??????
Kennedy was killed for trying to end the Fed...
DUH!!!!!!
Armchair,
I totally agree with you.
Kennedy end arounded the Fed, had US Bank notes Printed( Not Fed Reserve Notes), he started w/the $5 bill, was going to the $10, and then the $20.00.
With US Notes, there was no interest due on the notes, so we owed no one.Why this has not been spoken about more than it has is beyond me.
Kennedy also had discovered a plot, and he gave a speech approx 6 mos prior to the American people about it, saying when HE had the FACTS, he would open it up for all.
He was dead well before the speech was given,and the US Notes were removed from circulation.
Coincendence??, I think not.
Oswald acted alone. No conspiracy here. Move on.
"In the U.S. (correct me if I'm wrong) all of the political murders have been committed by insane persons. Conspiracy theorists can argue the point, but I don't buy into those ideas. Conspiracies have a way of unwinding and so far no great conspiracies have been uncovered behind Lee Harvey Oswald, James Early Ray, and Sirhan Sirhan...." - I disagree. If we've learned anything it's to ignore what they're trying to get us to buy. To not pick the "shell" that they're manipulating us to select. Good points on the Sheriff but I wouldn't dismiss "alternative" theories to anything so quickly.
Wasnt there a deathbed confession recently from 1 of the Kennedy killers?
more shootings means stock market go higher. If I had some money I would buy stocks. I is bankrupt so I is just trys to stay warm but I is wishes I is had some apple stock.
Yes insane people lead the sheeple to Wars,Hunger and Famine.
What is this "TV" you speak of?
Beautifully stated.
My only add, it isn't "society's" lunatics. It is humanity's lunatics.
There have been, will be and will never be "lawed" or regulated, out of existence crazy people.
Why does it seem that the Powers That Be are so hellbent on convincing the sheep that human nature - and history - can be regulated or controlled?
History proves it can't. Mental health workers can prove that insanity and political discourse have nothing to do with each other.
We, of course, don't like reality when 15-second soundbites and tweets are so much easier to understand. Plus, humans like to assess "blame."
Somethings (can) never change.
When our politicians are targeted it disturbs our sense of security and we question what kind of a society we are.
I disagree, I think(and we're witness to it this day),that it disturbs our POLITICIANS far more than the general public.
We have been brain washed (some of us),into believing these people are better, and in some convoluted way, FAR more important/and valuable than J6P.
Not so.They just are in the public eye more, they are worth no more, and no less than any other human created in Gods image.
Their hubris is their worst enemy, and the MSM treating them as royalty makes it 10x's worse.
This is the reason for the squealing from the Pig pens about more laws, and penalties.The reason for the clarion cry, is they feel vulnerable. (scared)
As well they should, after the antics and laws they have rammed down Americans throats, with LARGE majorities against them, and they are so arrogant that in their positions they should somehow be immune to persecution??,because they are somehow above the Law?.
I agree!
+1383!!
"There have been, will be and will never be 'lawed' or regulated, out of existence crazy people." Amen
He got what he wanted.... "attention" or notice.
Thanks...
by James Kelley
Jared Loughner is a product of Sheriff Dupnik’s office"Jared Loughner has been making death threats by phone to many people in Pima County including staff of Pima Community College, radio personalities and local bloggers. When Pima County Sheriff’s Office was informed, his deputies assured the victims that he was being well managed by the mental health system."
"This was not an act of politics. This was an act of a mentally disturbed young man hell bent on getting his 15 minutes of infamy. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department was aware of his violent nature and they failed to act appropriately. This tragedy leads right back to Sherriff Dupnik and all the spin in the world is not going to change that fact."
Nuff Said!
Jared Loughner was a member of TEAM OBAMA 2007.Jared Loughner was invited to attend events and meetings by Gabrielle Giffords(or members of her election team).
Jared was a Left wing ,liberal pot smoking Democrat.(verified)
All FACTS, and verified,how does the Dem party shove this off on the Conservatives, and right wing radio programs?,and their discussions.
Cant do it.
Jared Loughner is one sick puppy, and has been one for a long time.
The reason the MSM wants to make this into a Politically motivated shooting, was a Federal Judge was killed.(and f proven he was there on offical business,Jareds dead).
An automatic death sentence.(Jared does not qualify as mentally ill), under current laws.
He must be the first leftie, pot smoking liberal democrat who thought abortion was terrorism... Probably friends with those communists from the Westboro Baptist Church...
Dupnik is an elected official - a politician. He knew the shit would hit the fan once it was learned that his office was aware of Loughner and failed to act. So what does a good politician do? Go on the offense. Stir the pot as much as humanly possible. Cast a wide net of blame. Divert the discussion away from his personal culpability. A classic case of political deflection that Dupnik is carrying out through a duped liberal MSM.
Dupnik is a partisan hack spewing vitriol.
+1
hey, pass the blame off - it's not ME or MY office - it's that bear huntin gal way up in Alaska that is the problem......WTF
+1
The shooter's mom supposedly worked in the Pima County Parks Department too. Makes you wonder if someone was getting special treatment - it would sure explain the vigor with which the good sheriff is pointing that finger of his.