Monday, September 23, 2002

Germany Tried Democracy Interesting how opposition to Bush is enough to get otherwise-unpopular foreign leaders re-elected these days. Tony Blair, take heed! And shame on the German Justice Minister for comparing the tactics of the Bushies to those of Hitler. It was, in fact, Goering who best articulated the strategy, not old Adolph: "[I]t is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." --Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering Thanks to Wayne for the quote. 4:22:38 PM    Emphasize This! []

Fellow Traveller The Raven's mention of the Irish Travellers in connection with the world's most famous case of public child abuse has spiked his traffic something fierce today. I haven't heard much about this angle of the story, but it might explain - if more explanation is needed - Madalyn Toogood's frantic pleas that the child remain in the custody of the family. Perhaps consequences await her for the unwanted attention she's brought to a clannish and secretive subculture. The authorities in this case have taken a beating from pundits on the question of why you'd put a child into the usually-awful CPS system if there are family members available. If the Irish Travllers really have the reputation that Rave imputes to them, perhaps the state suspects some kind of rampant pathology not limited to the single instance of abuse. 11:38:03 AM    Emphasize This! []