"From a 'pragmatic' point of view,
political philosophy is a monster,
and whenever it has been taken seriously,
the consequence, almost invariably, has been revolution,
war, and eventually, the police state."
by:
Henry David Aiken
(1912-1982) Author
Source:
Commentary, April 1964
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"The Patriot Act" exposes the U.S. to be a police state.
 -- Joe, Rochester, MI     
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    From a 'pragmatic' point of view, the current levels of compelled compliance, license, theft of the noble labor's fruit, the inability to express certain religious perspectives in public arenas, even arbitrary speed limits which are good for nothing more than raising revenue, etc. are all part of the monster's political philosophy that is our police state. (the glass is half empty and the tap at the bottom is wide open - that only means that those of us that love liberty must become more peacefully effective against the monster's serious patrons)
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    While I agree with Joe & Mike (for once ;-), their comments seem to have little to do with the quote which seems to be little more than negitive babble. However, I wonder if Mike's comments on "inability to express certain religious perspectives" is really the right way to put it... I suspect he is exhibiting a Judeo-Christian leaning and doesn't really support "the ability to express any and all religious perspectives", which is a truer path. Remember, to question IS the answer...
     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US     
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    Anything but the defense of individual liberty is merely a power play to bring more power and money to the ruling class.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Perhaps the truth in this comes from the inherent stagnation of instituionalizing any dogmatic theories, and then the need to perpetuate them in order to sustain their justification. Religions and political systems are certainly lacking in the organic transformative nature of intellectual inquiry that requires constant reevaluation and change.
     -- EGL, LA     
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    Our liberty is being taken away under the guise of security. Let's not go quietly in the night.
     -- Elce, Chicago     
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    If you are looking for evidence of a police state you have to be looking for things that are not designed to protect our freedoms. The first that they will do is taking your right to speak as in the "fairness doctrine" or "campaign finance reform" do. Then look to see if they try to take away guns from the individual. No serious tyrant worth his salt will try to run a country and allow free speech and personal ownership of guns. If you want to imply that some are taking away our rights look for those doing those things. These other things that so many get riled up about will not stay in place if they are truly bad ideas as long as we do not loose the two rights that I have mentioned. If we spend all our efforts on squabbling over temporary inconveniences we will soon not have the right to dissent at all. Win a little battle while loosing the war. I have no doubt in my mind that some in congress want us enraged by perceived wrongs in order to slide by what they do not want us to notice. By the way if you believe the quote to be true you also are saying that your political philosophy will lead to a police state. The quote is gibberish.
     -- warren, olathe     
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    Malevolent human beings like Stalin, Hitler, or Mao can turn almost any thought into a "monster", but taking political philosophy seriously does not necessarily end in a police state. I am sure that the serious political philosophy of Thomas Paine or Samuel Adams was considered a monster by the British. I don't consider it so even though it led to revolution and war. Revolution and war are sometimes required, not for a police state, but for liberty.
     -- Ken, Allyn, WA     
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    Right on Ken. I get tired of the hate America crowd.
     -- warren, olathe     
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    The "A" from Reston, my comments on "inability to express certain religious perspectives" was a reference concerning "the laws of nature and of nature's God" (Declaration of Independence). Said law jurisprudence of the de jure States united is a recognizable scope of absolutes (gravity, science, math, life, liberty, property, etc.). An appropriate administration of said jurisprudence recognizes individual sovereignty, inalienable rights, liberty; and, religion as non-law breaking sacrosanct objects of conscience (an ethic(s), a moral(s), a value (system) or an orientation of correctness / enlightenment) believed sufficiently conventional as to enable an attributable action(s). Religion is: “real piety in practice, consisting in the performance of all known duties to ⋯ our fellow men.” (Bouviers Law Dictionary)

    By way of extremely brief example: Marriage, is a religious sacrament that is NOT! contrary to "law". The "monster's political philosophy states that marriage, of all religions, is an illegal act that requires a carnal god / competent authority's privilege to break said law without prosecution.

    Current Moloch patrons of human sacrifice (participants in abortion for pleasure, life style and/or otherwise) break natural law with impunity, demonstrating the serious consequences of the "monster's" political philosophy.


     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    In case you have missed it, the governments of the world have declared war on their people, sparking unrest, punishing dissent, implementing population reduction programs, one-party rule, and the criminalization of Liberty.  The powers-that-should-not-be are rolling right along with their plans to dominate the world's population into submission.  Global socialism is a global empire of oligarchs ruled by the 'lords' who print the money out of nothing.  This is war, and your submission is the goal.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Social  responsibility is the beauty that will 
    that will tame the political monster beast. Socialism is the dream that we use our social abilities to create.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    One man's Socialist dream is another man's Fascist nightmare.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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