Actually Fascism is quite definable and a good definition is easily accessed on Wikipedia. A quick summary: Strong Nationalism, Racism, State Controlled Industry, Extremely Strong enforcement and judiciary branches of government (a Police State). Use of violence & propaganda to maintain or increase power of the Military / Industrial complex. Anti-Socialist Check it out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascist
A few years ago I lived in the US and the previous owner seeing the decline in the neighborhood took a couple of simple steps that in hindsight made a lot of sense.
Out of sight out of mind: He closed in his carport so you couldn't see his car
Inconvenience potential burglars: a pet fence around the back yard (with the gate locked), storm windows and storm doors extra locks on widows and doors.
A thorny defense: All the windows had holly bushes growing under and around them.
looking like you have nothing to steal: The house wasn't the best in the neighborhood or the worst and all the improvements were either invisible to the casual observer or common place.
In summary the house was the least attractive target on the whole block with many inconveniences visible from the street, where presumably the potential burglars case the property.
You know with the existence of Google & Wikipedia, you could check your facts instead of sounding foolish and indignant. Checkout Fascism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facism you'll see that nationalizing industry and commerce is not a required activity of a Fascist state. Fascists can easily enjoy the control they require by and abundance of legal regulation & oversight of industry without inconvenience of state ownership of industry.
You also a bit late on your comment about the US going socialist, one could argue that the US has slowly becoming a socialist democracy since the '60's and the Great Society ideas. Forty or so years later the US is shifting away from those ideals and favoring ideas such as reducing personal rights & freedoms, increasing police and judicial powers, unilateral military actions against sovereign states, encouraging the increase of nationalism and an increasing the propaganda they spread (although now it's called "spin"). All of these (if you'd care to have a look) are hallmarks of a fascist state.
It's funny you mention North Korea, but I don't think they are the example you were looking for. North Korea isn't loosing technology they are remaining stagnant why the rest of the world passes them by. So each day they become more and more irrelevant (until have big explosions or ridiculous news statements). Their stagnation is caused by a national policy dictated by ideology and not much else (ie facts or science) and that sounds much like John Ashcroft and many other members of the current US administration. So sure right now the US is on par with the rest of the world in Science and Technological matters but given a continuation of current administration suppression of scientific analyses of federal agencies to bring these results in line with ideological based policy and the widespread appointment of scientific advisors and advisory panels who have no technical or scientific expertise but who do pass an ideological "litmus test" and the US will begin to be unable to compete with more open societies, due to the hallmarks of a fascist society.
It sounds like you've never been out of the US; in many parts of the EU "American Culture" is given as a primary example of an oxymoron, and ironically enough "American Culture" is sort of ubiquitous but morphed into something more local, so much so, if you brought it back to America it would seem sort of strange and not make sense.
A couple of years ago I moved from the US to central Europe (I still work for the same company). In the US we were expected to use PTO to cover any days like this (like the one time in 7 years it snowed) and if you didn't have PTO you didn't get paid. Here in Europe I am still expected to use PTO but I am given something like 3 or 4 days a year (on top of the 4 weeks holiday time) for incidents like this and if I didn't have the time accrued no big deal it will work itself out in the wash.
So last year was the first time in my life I had seen more than a couple of inches of snow I was terrified to drive in more than 1 meter of snow. So my boss swung by to pick me up and we were both an hour or so late to work because he gave me an impromptu snow driving lesson.
My point is that it is a shame workers rights issues come up at times like this (blizzards, hurricanes, &tc.) when it's so easy to be decent to your employees and make it a win - win situation.
Re:yet another worthless article about IPv6
on
An Introduction to IPv6
·
· Score: 0, Offtopic
Having had the majority of a bottle of wodka I must say that I agree. I have family that are clueless but I make sure they use OS X and therefore not part of problem just the part of the scenery.
I can't help it man, I'm a knee jerk anti-authoritarian but have sufficient education and experience to make me difficult to replace (No one is irreplaceable!).
Besides the head of IT security & I are long time acquaintances (from the MicroVAX days) and I'm not using a wireless network, which is cause for instant dismissal!
Actually, I had an interesting conversation (here on/.) with a young Russian who was busy running a software startup, vigorously objecting this very topic extolling the efforts of his companions in their capitalistic pursuits
He did not appear to grasp the delicious irony in his position given the history of his homeland.
But I digress... I say capitalism is failing as evidenced by it's inabiltiy to use anything but profits as a metric for success, when there are many, many other metrics to measure the success or failure of a social system. Capilatists ignore all the failings of the system they suport and unfortunatly make no attempt to address, them much like the communists on this side of the pond. That ended in collapse, chaos and anarchy pity that the Americans don't seem to be learning from this and capitalism is nearly a thing of the past (fortunately).
hmmm... perhaps I should listen to you, but I fear my co-workers would take up pitch forks and torches and assault me "who are you and what have you done with our storm crow" as I have been doing this routinely for over 16 years.
"If you can't put a fence around it or put chains on it, it does not belong to you"
Do you realize how depressing what you've said is!
I realize you're trying make a point... but still... There's a lot of ideas that would disagree with you, after all people don't last as long as land does. Communism has failed, capitalism is having paranoid delusions and failing in just an ugly way. Might I suggest technological based anarchy such as Eco Anarcho-syndicalism?
I think that local republicans still look to the loony christian right for support. It may not be a prominent part national platform but it's still there. Consequently the republicans have things on there platform specifically for the loonies or worded in a way to avoid loony offence. To paraphrase a Saudi reporter railing on muslim extremists: All republicans are not right wing christian loonies but most (if not all) christian loonies are republican. I'm not sure if the democrats have a radicalized group like that (they may and just not offend me as regularly, so they don't have my attention) I have thought it has something to do with evangelical traditions.
This election is a strange one for me. Never have I been so offended by the current administration, never have I felt so strongly that neither the democrats nor republicans have anything but their own interests in mind. Now that I live in the EU I am disconnected from the daily barrage of stupidity that is the political adverts. I'm starting to think that we should all vote for Homer Simpson
On a side note I just don't understand what it is with the American's (and Brits to a lesser extent) and the speed, frequency & willingness with which they will trot out the Hitler comparisons, it's like some morbid fascination with the cult of the persona.
Hey man this guy may be delusional but let it get to you so much. Count to a hundred and then rethink your reply. Think he's spread falsehoods call him out, think he's ignorant tell him, but I think you owe it to yourself do it eloquently. Now if you're like me and sometimes post while drinking, well I completely understand, he is a tool.
this political section on/. will prove to be most contentious!
You're both right & wrong (in my view). America is the number one arms manufacturer and seller in the world. The US continues to develop, manufacture and sell arms and weapon technology that most of Europe has abandoned or will not sell. For example land mines, missiles and poison gas. As a consequence of this long term policy over 90% of the conflicts in the world in the last 2 years have been fought with arms either made or sold by the Americans, supplanting the temporary glut of soviet weapons available on the market after the fall of the Soviet Union
Worse, over the past 5~10 years various events have uncovered America's moral posturing and have effectively revealed a very different goal of American foreign policy.
You are right by in that no country has the right to "act moral" and sell arms at the same time but the Americans are making the most money by far.
Actually I don't care much about (using your example) France's involment in Iraq. Foriegn investment to build industry is a good thing, selling weapons is a bad thing. I'm not French, I am not approached daily by people objecting to French foreign policy. The vast majority of arms sales world wide are American manufacture (with Russia being a distant second) why voacalize objections to minor sales when the contry I'm a citizen of is the worst offender?Actually I don't care much about (using your example) France's involvement in Iraq. Foreign investment to build industry is a good thing, selling weapons is a bad thing. (It's not that complicated) I'm not French, I am not approached daily by people objecting to French foreign policy. The vast majority of arms sales world wide are American manufacture (with Russia being a distant second) why vocalize objections to minor sales when the country I'm a citizen of is the worst offender?
Sure a US military base brings lots of money to local governments it's one of a very few ways to get Americans to spend money: military action, natural resource extraction, and cheap labor exploitation (with the inconvenience of restrictive labor laws). Have you been there? The way you talk I doubt you've been out of the state you where born in. Why do you feel that you have the right to profiteer on (by the creation of) other people misery?
Slashdot Mirror
Actually Fascism is quite definable and a good definition is easily accessed on Wikipedia. A quick summary: Strong Nationalism, Racism, State Controlled Industry, Extremely Strong enforcement and judiciary branches of government (a Police State). Use of violence & propaganda to maintain or increase power of the Military / Industrial complex. Anti-Socialist Check it out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascist
Out of sight out of mind: He closed in his carport so you couldn't see his car
Inconvenience potential burglars: a pet fence around the back yard (with the gate locked), storm windows and storm doors extra locks on widows and doors.
A thorny defense: All the windows had holly bushes growing under and around them.
looking like you have nothing to steal: The house wasn't the best in the neighborhood or the worst and all the improvements were either invisible to the casual observer or common place.
In summary the house was the least attractive target on the whole block with many inconveniences visible from the street, where presumably the potential burglars case the property.
You also a bit late on your comment about the US going socialist, one could argue that the US has slowly becoming a socialist democracy since the '60's and the Great Society ideas. Forty or so years later the US is shifting away from those ideals and favoring ideas such as reducing personal rights & freedoms, increasing police and judicial powers, unilateral military actions against sovereign states, encouraging the increase of nationalism and an increasing the propaganda they spread (although now it's called "spin"). All of these (if you'd care to have a look) are hallmarks of a fascist state.
It's funny you mention North Korea, but I don't think they are the example you were looking for. North Korea isn't loosing technology they are remaining stagnant why the rest of the world passes them by. So each day they become more and more irrelevant (until have big explosions or ridiculous news statements). Their stagnation is caused by a national policy dictated by ideology and not much else (ie facts or science) and that sounds much like John Ashcroft and many other members of the current US administration. So sure right now the US is on par with the rest of the world in Science and Technological matters but given a continuation of current administration suppression of scientific analyses of federal agencies to bring these results in line with ideological based policy and the widespread appointment of scientific advisors and advisory panels who have no technical or scientific expertise but who do pass an ideological "litmus test" and the US will begin to be unable to compete with more open societies, due to the hallmarks of a fascist society.
It sounds like you've never been out of the US; in many parts of the EU "American Culture" is given as a primary example of an oxymoron, and ironically enough "American Culture" is sort of ubiquitous but morphed into something more local, so much so, if you brought it back to America it would seem sort of strange and not make sense.
I find that I have to get much further from the problem, in fact it happens to me so often that I hike with an ultra-portable, just in case.
I use OS X, Win XP, SuSE Linux and NetBSD at home. I would have to say that XP comes in distant third when it comes to drives & driver installation.
Actually I thought it was spelled with a 'i' not a 'y' or 'Czeczenia' if you are from around here.
Been done... and it's been on /.
Your talking to Little Green Footballs!?
So last year was the first time in my life I had seen more than a couple of inches of snow I was terrified to drive in more than 1 meter of snow. So my boss swung by to pick me up and we were both an hour or so late to work because he gave me an impromptu snow driving lesson.
My point is that it is a shame workers rights issues come up at times like this (blizzards, hurricanes, &tc.) when it's so easy to be decent to your employees and make it a win - win situation.
Calvin Coolidge is rolling in his grave!
To each his own!
What exactly about a globalized economy do you think is not so good?
So you are a very interesting diesel engine which is commonly used in marine & rail applications which can't spell but sounds really cool...
I'm confused.
Besides the head of IT security & I are long time acquaintances (from the MicroVAX days) and I'm not using a wireless network, which is cause for instant dismissal!
He did not appear to grasp the delicious irony in his position given the history of his homeland.
But I digress... I say capitalism is failing as evidenced by it's inabiltiy to use anything but profits as a metric for success, when there are many, many other metrics to measure the success or failure of a social system. Capilatists ignore all the failings of the system they suport and unfortunatly make no attempt to address, them much like the communists on this side of the pond. That ended in collapse, chaos and anarchy pity that the Americans don't seem to be learning from this and capitalism is nearly a thing of the past (fortunately).
I wonder when we'll give something else a try...
hmmm... perhaps I should listen to you, but I fear my co-workers would take up pitch forks and torches and assault me "who are you and what have you done with our storm crow" as I have been doing this routinely for over 16 years.
See wasn't that shorter!
I work for a rather large firm and recently I was in a spot of trouble my assertion that we were not serious on security because we still us MSIE.
Do you realize how depressing what you've said is!
I realize you're trying make a point... but still... There's a lot of ideas that would disagree with you, after all people don't last as long as land does. Communism has failed, capitalism is having paranoid delusions and failing in just an ugly way. Might I suggest technological based anarchy such as Eco Anarcho-syndicalism?
If you'd like a interesting although american capitalist centric read try: http://marshallbrain.com/robotic-nation.htm
This election is a strange one for me. Never have I been so offended by the current administration, never have I felt so strongly that neither the democrats nor republicans have anything but their own interests in mind. Now that I live in the EU I am disconnected from the daily barrage of stupidity that is the political adverts. I'm starting to think that we should all vote for Homer Simpson
On a side note I just don't understand what it is with the American's (and Brits to a lesser extent) and the speed, frequency & willingness with which they will trot out the Hitler comparisons, it's like some morbid fascination with the cult of the persona.
Hey man this guy may be delusional but let it get to you so much. Count to a hundred and then rethink your reply. Think he's spread falsehoods call him out, think he's ignorant tell him, but I think you owe it to yourself do it eloquently. Now if you're like me and sometimes post while drinking, well I completely understand, he is a tool.
this political section on /. will prove to be most contentious!
I've seen shanty towns all over the world... the TV antenna thing is universal.
That is the so, so true!
Worse, over the past 5~10 years various events have uncovered America's moral posturing and have effectively revealed a very different goal of American foreign policy.
You are right by in that no country has the right to "act moral" and sell arms at the same time but the Americans are making the most money by far.
Sure a US military base brings lots of money to local governments it's one of a very few ways to get Americans to spend money: military action, natural resource extraction, and cheap labor exploitation (with the inconvenience of restrictive labor laws). Have you been there? The way you talk I doubt you've been out of the state you where born in. Why do you feel that you have the right to profiteer on (by the creation of) other people misery?