Ronald Reagan quote

8 even more terrifying words

“Wake up people, the government are controlling you”

Terrifying because there exist people who actually believe that ...

More people should because it's true!!

What's sad is that people just go with the narrative, whatever that may be...totally compliant to the restrictions and rules

That's scary

JJ

But what is central still is the PURPOSE of control.  To some extent, yes of course we are controlled by government - we live within laws set by government for the ordered running of the country, we live within laws set to benefit the many, not the few.  The objective of that particular control is to ensure an ordered society that is safe to live in.  That is the purpose.

There are those who eschew that control, they don’t want to live within those laws.  So for the good of the many, those people are sanctioned, so that they no longer threaten the safety of the many.  That is an example of government control and its purpose.

Many seem to suggest that “the government is controlling us” and as outlined above, in that respect, yes.  No need to “wake up” because the evidence and purpose of the control is obvious - and beneficial.

However, there is still some suggestion that the government is seeking “more and more” control .... but without any explanation of what the purpose of this control is - is it benevolent, beneficial control? or is it malevolent? and if it’s malevolent, in what way is it malevolent? How is it to the detriment of society as a whole?  

There is no control for the sake of control, for such control serves no purpose, it has no function, there is no benefit to the entity doing the controlling.  If control is being sought - or imposed - by a government, it will always serve some purpose, for if it serves no purpose other than “to control”, then it is ineffective control, and therefore no control at all, Q.E.D

There is no control for the sake of control, for such control serves no purpose, it has no function, there is no benefit to the entity doing the controlling.  If control is being sought - or imposed - by a government, it will always serve some purpose, for if it serves no purpose other than “to control”, then it is ineffective control, and therefore no control at all, Q.E.D

Er I think the Chinese communist party would find that comment hilarious

Except the purpose of control by the Chinese Communist Party is to preserve their power - so it isn’t control for the sake of control - it’s to their benefit.  They do not have a democratic government, Xi Jinping has declared himself leader for life and there is no effective opposition, ergo to prevent any challenge, strict governmental controls are imposed on the populace.  That is the function of the control.

Contrast that to Spain; there are elections and a democratically elected government through universal suffrage.  There is an effective opposition, providing balance to any overt seizure of power.  Any attempt by Pedro Sánchez to declare himself “leader for life” would be met with “spirited opposition” - the memories of Franco still wayyyy too raw to allow another dictator.

Trump is attempting it in America, but even there, the checks and balances of (what they claim is) a democratic society will prevent overt dictatorship.  He may get another 4 years, but he’ll be finished after that.

Following Castro’s death, even Cuba is opening up more and more.

I reiterate - if you believe more and more control is being imposed, you have to look for the reason - then objectively test that reason against reality - i.e. is what you believe the purpose of the control is, actually possible or even plausible in the society where you believe such control is being levied?