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Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
What's disturbing to me about the Mother Jones article is that this concern for preparedness hinges on the issue of martial law. If the Obama government were to do so for any particular reason, it seems this group would construe that as some sort of excuse of the government for taking its "socialist totalitarianism" to some kind of "Phase 2." It's as though they view Obama's option for martial law as the one significant move that would enable him to galvanize his Stalinesque rule over America, placing people in concentration camps and perhaps executing those who become too resistant.
Though I don't doubt the existence of facilities for detention centres for both federal and military use, I can't think of a single nation who'd I suspect doesn't have these sorts of things. It's not that the concept of law and order is new or anything.
All of this to me is simply ludicrous. What makes it more so is the fact that these people are members of the armed forces, both military and civilian. To serve and protect, right?
What's funny to me, in the end, and no matter how sardonic, is the connection all of this has to the Tea Party movement and how it views the Obama administration as a socialist machine gearing up to take its agenda to Nazi-like proportions if necessary.
I don't know what to think anymore. At first the Tea Party movement just seemed like a bunch of whiny conservatives upset because their guy lost the election. Now I think the group under which the Tea Party flag flies is far too fragmented and multifaceted to apply any one value to it.
My greatest fear is that it's being co-opted by extremists: the kind we should be far more concerned about than anything that would come out of a decidedly centrist president. And it all starts with propaganda, as did most things to be ashamed of in our human history.
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I think the problem is people are getting hung up on the words of a vocal minority that's bouncing around the usual conspiracy theories that always seems to permeate this culture (militia/survivalist) The vast majority of conservatives, while holding a strong disdain for Obama, don't really hold these view they simply disagree with his policies for better or worse. A very loud vocal minority is using the Tea Party movement (which is all over the map with its platform) as a means to get its message out, unfortunately its the one everyone is hearing. In turn the whole thing gets blown out of proportion by the media and becomes the only thing associated with a group. Its in some way similar to the 9/11 truthers getting all wrapped up and confused with any left wing group that opposed Bush.
I grew up in a place where these militia type groups were very active and it was rather common to see policemen, firemen, military members, town council men, pastors, ect all being involved. They view it as a patriotic duty to defend their freedom against a "tyrannical"govt...So I guess in a way they are protecting and serving. Honestly these people and groups have been around for ages and I just don't see this group as being any different than the countless others we've been hearing about for decades (complete with the usual conspiracy theories about concentration camps, confiscating guns and martial law.) Judging from recent history I just don't see much here to worry about.