When will you be scared?

Zed Snardbody · Post by **Zed Snardbody** » 2004-12-15 06:52am

In our time being alive, and on the internet, we’ve all encountered those who have feared the coming of the national ID card, and other numerous things that I can’t think of at the moment. Most if not all have been chalked up to the slippery slope fallacy and it has been generally concluded that most government actions are not to be feared, but questioned from time to time.

My question to you all is, what will your government have to do, what will it have to allow for you as a individual, a citizen, to be genuinely afraid for yourself and your family’s safety or lively hood. Or to consider as more than a passing thought of making a run for the boarder, or purchasing a weapon.

When will the slope actually become slippery for you?

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2004-12-15 07:34am

Weaker stance on crime, less police.

Beyond that, the only people that have anything to fear from the government are crooks

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2004-12-15 07:37am

Solauren wrote:Weaker stance on crime, less police.

Beyond that, the only people that have anything to fear from the government are crooks

Agreed. Live how you know your damned supposed to live (Dont steal, don't kill, etc. basic moral shizzles) and you have nothing to worry about. My fear is when they outlaw something which infringes upon basic human rights. Like homosexuality. When stuff like that happens, I will be frightened, because it means they HAVE gone 100% batshit. And to be completely honest with you....I fear something like that might not be all that far off.

The Third Man · Post by **The Third Man** » 2004-12-15 07:41am

I'm halfway there with ID cards anyway

Not exactly afraid, but very pissed off.

Other things that would worry me:

Sending the army to remove peaceful demonstrators (this was actually threatened during the UK fuel blockades, but didn't happen)

Implementing the policies of racist parties such as the BNP

Restricting suffrage / blatantly cheating in elections

InnerBrat · Post by **InnerBrat** » 2004-12-15 09:44am

Restricting suffrage is up there for me.

Censorship, as well. I guess I can live with the restrictions now on age and graphic sex/violence, but political censorship would cross the line for me.

Post by **Broomstick** » 2004-12-15 09:52am

I hesitate to state "this one thing will send me fleeing" because there are several potential triggers for me, and many little nibbles on freedom can be as bad as one big one.

As an example - if they outlaw homosexuality and start rounding them up into camps I don't think I'd flee - but it would be something I'd be willing to protest against at some risk to myself, even if I am a heterosexual. Or take part in an underground railroad type operation. My staying might make a positive difference.

On the other hand, if they started incarcerating a group I belong to I'll make a run for the border because I wouldn't be able to fight it.

Maybe that's it - can I stay and try to make a difference, or is all hope lost and it only remains to save myself? Propose a scenario I might be able to give you an answer... but meanwhile I'm trying to remain as flexible as possible.

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2004-12-15 02:11pm

I *like* national security cards.

that said, theocracy goodness will make me twitch.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-12-15 02:13pm

Letting the Liberals have their cake and allowing them to eat it.

Post by **Zaia** » 2004-12-15 02:21pm

Off to N&P with you.

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2004-12-15 02:31pm

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:Letting the Liberals have their cake and allowing them to eat it.

plz, that would make such a good christmas present

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-12-15 02:34pm

Enforcer Talen wrote:
Spanky The Dolphin wrote:Letting the Liberals have their cake and allowing them to eat it.
plz, that would make such a good christmas present

No! You pinko commie faggots have ruined things enough as they are.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2004-12-15 02:36pm

Scared? I've been scared for twenty years....

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2004-12-15 02:40pm

I'm quite intimidated now, thank you. All the happy-shiny talk about how the whole corrupt edifice of Neocons+Christian Right is bound to fall, any second, honest, is lacking this hard stuff of evidence and thus, I'm quite intimidated.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-12-15 03:03pm

there are several: Theocracy accompanied by political and religious censorship. Or one, or any combination of these things.

If creationism were ver allowed to be taugt in public schools nationwide, I would leave as well

Prozac the Robert · Post by **Prozac the Robert** » 2004-12-15 03:16pm

The government stiring up hatred against a particular country or group would worry me very muchly.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-12-15 03:28pm

The fact that Constitutional rights and freedoms are currently the subject of heated political debate rather than being respected as the guiding principles of our society is quite troubling to me.

I expect people to debate issues based on the rights and freedoms alloted to them in the Constitution. It is worrisome to me when people start debating the Constitution itself, and attacking those very rights and freedoms.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-12-15 03:46pm

events that're taking place already are enough to make me worried. but i won't start hitting panic buttons until they start to seriously talk about outlawing porn and get a bill up for the vote. then it's time for me to get the fuck out.

Post by **Broomstick** » 2004-12-15 05:13pm

Darth Wong wrote:The fact that Constitutional rights and freedoms are currently the subject of heated political debate rather than being respected as the guiding principles of our society is quite troubling to me.

That's happening in Canada, too?

President Sharky · Post by **President Sharky** » 2004-12-15 06:11pm

No, he's addressing the USA's current debates. Canada is still in great shape constitutionally.

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2004-12-15 06:37pm

Either I am content with the government, or I am in armed rebellion against it. Ultimately one does not change their nation by fleeing, after all, and I like to think I come from a good tradition of dying for higher concepts. Since I am an extremely fatalistic person I do not think I would ever be scared. "Hope" or "optimism" are concepts I have not felt in a good number of years.

Post by **Coyote** » 2004-12-15 08:03pm

Openly imposing a Christian government (or actually any religious based gov't) would send me into a very defensive stance, thats for sure. That I think I can reasonably see some of that creeping on the edges is not lost on me...

Universal gun control would send me to the battlements. If any segment of our society, homosexuals, whatever, were rounded up and jailed just for being who they are as people would also put me there.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2004-12-16 12:06am

I'll be scared when people start 'disappearing'. Not before.

But I live in Australia; we'd just get it wrong and apologise to those involved if we tried anything like that

America has scared me since I was old enough to understand politics.

Skelron · Post by **Skelron** » 2004-12-16 01:00am

Darth Wong wrote:The fact that Constitutional rights and freedoms are currently the subject of heated political debate rather than being respected as the guiding principles of our society is quite troubling to me.

I expect people to debate issues based on the rights and freedoms alloted to them in the Constitution. It is worrisome to me when people start debating the Constitution itself, and attacking those very rights and freedoms.

Indeed from the outside looking in, the fact that the Worlds only Super-Power is at that stage... Well...

For the UK, I'm unsure, like the Third Man I'm against Compulsory ID cards of any shape or form. I can see how they 'Might' be useful but compulsery makes me Pissed off/Nervous. (In fact the first thing I am doing when I graduate is Volunteering with Liberty. I will not just stand back and say, 'Oh thats a Bad Idea' I want to actually do something even if in all likely hood it would be useless).

Actually in the UK the thing that would make me most afraid is if Blair continues his 'Must be America' attitude, and continues to bend over and ask Bush to kindly be gentle this time... (Note by 'Must be America Attitude' I really mean Must be like Bush rather than insulting all Americans...)