Erosion of the 6th via demand to satisfy “the narrative”

[txpitdog]

It occurred to me that the 6th Amendment may be at risk. The extremely polarized political environment, which has been made worse by an increasing demand for an authoritarian approach has a looming potential secondary impact to juror impartiality. Before crimes make it to the court, the propaganda machines of each side work feverishly to manipulate the message to form ranks and incite anger. Mostly though, they incite an assumption of guilt by the opposing side for the crime of dishonesty. I think we’re a few years into it at this point but I don’t know that it’s infected our courts. We can still reasonably rely upon the courts to be fair and the system of appeals and other mechanisms to provide a check on mistakes made by a lower court. This demand to win the narrative instead of impartially determine the truth is marching towards the courts though, and it will be too late before we realize it. Remember when we first observed it infecting journalism? If we don’t figure something out soon, a fair, non-politicized trial will not be possible. Once that happens, it won’t matter which party is in power because we will have inflicted tyranny upon ourselves.

The echo chambers of each side have sunk their claws in deep. The norm has become an assumption that the left is trying to destroy the country or that the right is actually fascist/racist. What used to be the wacky fringe is growing, both in numbers and in the intensity of distrust and hatred. We are in a civil war that hasn’t fully spilled over yet. What can we do to stop it?

[E.TX.BOWHUNTER]

Nobody knows what Fascism really is. Even the internet intentionally miss defines it. It is refered too as far right when it in all reality is far left. Authoritarian/dictatorial control is sought by the left. This is why they subvert the US Constitution. They hate it. There is no common ground with these people. Remember, Reagan said Fascism would find it's way to America disguised as Liberalism. It is not and never has been right wing. For further information on this subject search Adolf Hitler (he is another leftist aka. socialist).

[ThisLadyHunts]

I'm a little embarrassed that I had to look up the 6th Amendment; for that reason alone, I'm glad you've introduced it as a topic of conversation.

Like you, I, too, have watched, with increasing alarm, this juggernaut of liberalism/socialism/marxism overtaking our country. There are those that subscribe to the "pendulum" theory of political ideologies and social movements and have convinced themselves that, at some point, this pendulum will eventually swing the other way. Like the proverbial ostrich who buries his head in the sand in avoidance of something that frightens him, it is a comforting thought but, in reality, flies in the face of evolutionary science. No, I think this movement is here to stay, until and unless something cataclysmic alters its course.

I was having dinner with a group of (like minded) friends recently, and this very subject came up. When I mentioned thinking that the roots of American Liberalism (i.e., socialism) having taken root in the late 60s and early 70s, another friend told us that, in fact, it started much earlier (as a formal movement, in fact!). He referred to a community activist and community activist named Saul Alinsky (sic?) who wrote a book, Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals--frequently referred to as the primer (not a primer) for creating a movement for "social change"--and commented that everything the author outlined in the book has happened, and it's happened in the order prescribed.

Here's an excerpt from inside the jacket cover: "... with the goal to create a guide for future community organizers, to use in uniting low-income communities, or "Have-Nots", in order to gain by any means necessary social, political, legal, and economic power." Parenthetically, it's the "by any means necessary" part I find particularly chilling.

So, as I've watched the deliberate corrosion and perversion over the years of the very values and ideals upon which this country was founded (and which also form the foundation of the way we treat each other...The Golden Rule), I constantly find myself wondering, "How do you create a movement?" In fact, this question has been posed, wittingly or unwittingly, over and over again in this very forum each time a member issues a call-to-arms, saying that "we shouldn't just sit here, we should DO something about it!" But what, exactly? How do you create a movement?

I don't have the answer yet but I figured a good place to start would be to "know thine enemy" (this tenet comes from another book, The Art of War, which I think might also have relevant implications in this context), so I've ordered Mr. Alinsky's book and hope it arrives soon. And if, after reading it, I manage to crawl out of the depths of despair I will have fallen into, who knows? Maybe I'll start a movement of my own...

...just as soon as my nails are dry, of course.

[OldRiverRat]

I'm a little embarrassed that I had to look up the 6th Amendment; for that reason alone, I'm glad you've introduced it as a topic of conversation.

Like you, I, too, have watched, with increasing alarm, this juggernaut of liberalism/socialism/marxism overtaking our country. There are those that subscribe to the "pendulum" theory of political ideologies and social movements and have convinced themselves that, at some point, this pendulum will eventually swing the other way. Like the proverbial ostrich who buries his head in the sand in avoidance of something that frightens him, it is a comforting thought but, in reality, flies in the face of evolutionary science. No, I think this movement is here to stay, until and unless something cataclysmic alters its course.

I was having dinner with a group of (like minded) friends recently, and this very subject came up. When I mentioned thinking that the roots of American Liberalism (i.e., socialism) having taken root in the late 60s and early 70s, another friend told us that, in fact, it started much earlier (as a formal movement, in fact!). He referred to a community activist and community activist named Saul Alinsky (sic?) who wrote a book, Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals--frequently referred to as the primer (not a primer) for creating a movement for "social change"--and commented that everything the author outlined in the book has happened, and it's happened in the order prescribed.

Here's an excerpt from inside the jacket cover: "... with the goal to create a guide for future community organizers, to use in uniting low-income communities, or "Have-Nots", in order to gain by any means necessary social, political, legal, and economic power." Parenthetically, it's the "by any means necessary" part I find particularly chilling.

So, as I've watched the deliberate corrosion and perversion over the years of the very values and ideals upon which this country was founded (and which also form the foundation of the way we treat each other...The Golden Rule), I constantly find myself wondering, "How do you create a movement?" In fact, this question has been posed, wittingly or unwittingly, over and over again in this very forum each time a member issues a call-to-arms, saying that "we shouldn't just sit here, we should DO something about it!" But what, exactly? How do you create a movement?

I don't have the answer yet but I figured a good place to start would be to "know thine enemy" (this tenet comes from another book, The Art of War, which I think might also have relevant implications in this context), so I've ordered Mr. Alinsky's book and hope it arrives soon. And if, after reading it, I manage to crawl out of the depths of despair I will have fallen into, who knows? Maybe I'll start a movement of my own...

...just as soon as my nails are dry, of course.

if everyone read rules for radicals they would understand what we are actually up against and how far along these twits have moved.