That literally happened. Security beat up a guy who was protesting the rape of his daughter, he was then arrested and prosecuted, he was smeared as a 'terrorist', and this was cited as 'terrorism' in that infamous letter.
But even if you were right, what then? Your defense is that you're a free country because they only tried very hard to destroy people for protesting the RAPE OF THEIR DAUGHTERS? It's like saying that Ukraine in 2005 was democratic because they only tried to steal the election.
and a significant chunk of those parents taking over the school boards and instituting their will
Again, the fact that something led to a backlash is not really proof that it's a free country. Actions have backlashes even in totalitarian tyrannies.
That literally happened. Security beat up a guy who was protesting the rape of his daughter, he was then arrested and prosecuted, he was smeared as a 'terrorist', and this was cited as 'terrorism' in that infamous letter.
Yes, that was Loudoun County, Virginia. The direct result of such a harsh reprisal was to have the entire county school board be taken over by people like the father, the father becoming a vocal advocate in local politics, and served as a significant issue that ultimately swung the election to a Republican state government that, while squishy on some issues, has been steady on this one.
Your defense is that you're a free country because they only tried very hard to destroy people for protesting the RAPE OF THEIR DAUGHTERS?
No, its that their attempt to do that not only failed, it resulted in a direct backlash that took away their power and gave it to the people pushing against them.
Again, the fact that something led to a backlash is not really proof that it's a free country.
The fact it lead to change is what makes it a free country. And we were able to do it with a vote, instead of having to shoot someone or overthrow a government. I guess if you want to get technical, we did overthrow it, just by largely peaceful means.
No, its that their attempt to do that not only failed, it resulted in a direct backlash that took away their power and gave it to the people pushing against them.
Merrick Garland is still there, and he is still persecuting critics of the regime. Some low-level functionaries were thrown to the wolves.
The fact it lead to change is what makes it a free country. And we were able to do it with a vote, instead of having to shoot someone or overthrow a government. I guess if you want to get technical, we did overthrow it, just by largely peaceful means.
Thing is, 'change' is a constant. Do you think there has never been an occurrence in a country you and I agree is unfree, which led to a backlash and change - without shooting someone? That doesn't automatically mean that it's a 'free' country in some absolute sense. Of course the US is 'more free' than North Korea, but that it can be classified as 'free', in my view, is quite an absurdity.
And I'm not just picking on your country! I don't live in a free country either. Hell, I can be arrested and gulag'ed for 'hate speech', so you're definitely more free than I am. Free in an absolute sense? Absolutely not.
Merrick Garland is still there, and he is still persecuting critics of the regime.
As much as he can, yes. But his power is effectively limited to shaking his fist at the sky in rage because he actually doesnt have all that much power to do anything major. He can get away with the J6 stuff because of the optics propped up by the media, and even that they are losing ground on. Other than that, there is very little they can actually do, because the US is so decentralized in terms of power that states can just give the Feds the finger and keep doing their own thing. And there have already been a few cases of states arresting or driving out Federal agents attempting to enforce laws that are not popular locally (like the ATF agent that got arrested by an Ohio sheriff).
Of course the US is 'more free' than North Korea, but that it can be classified as 'free', in my view, is quite an absurdity.
Then it seems like your stand of 'free' is unattainable in reality. In practical terms, the US is still the closest that exist to a free country, even with the current shenanigans by the Feds. Because when people start trying to fuck with the system to make us more like Europe with a centralized government, the states can just say "naw" and as long as they actually fight it (spoiler: they are) then it will ruin all of their plans. And then as political power shifts due to that, like how power is currently shifting away from California and New York and toward Texas and Florida, that trend will continue. And while the old Powers like Biden may not acknowledge it, they will have no power so they will be left to just Ree in the corner. Much like how Boston and Philadelphia went from being the centers of American political power to places people barely even remember exist.
That literally happened. Security beat up a guy who was protesting the rape of his daughter, he was then arrested and prosecuted, he was smeared as a 'terrorist', and this was cited as 'terrorism' in that infamous letter.
But even if you were right, what then? Your defense is that you're a free country because they only tried very hard to destroy people for protesting the RAPE OF THEIR DAUGHTERS? It's like saying that Ukraine in 2005 was democratic because they only tried to steal the election.
Again, the fact that something led to a backlash is not really proof that it's a free country. Actions have backlashes even in totalitarian tyrannies.
Yes, that was Loudoun County, Virginia. The direct result of such a harsh reprisal was to have the entire county school board be taken over by people like the father, the father becoming a vocal advocate in local politics, and served as a significant issue that ultimately swung the election to a Republican state government that, while squishy on some issues, has been steady on this one.
No, its that their attempt to do that not only failed, it resulted in a direct backlash that took away their power and gave it to the people pushing against them.
The fact it lead to change is what makes it a free country. And we were able to do it with a vote, instead of having to shoot someone or overthrow a government. I guess if you want to get technical, we did overthrow it, just by largely peaceful means.
Merrick Garland is still there, and he is still persecuting critics of the regime. Some low-level functionaries were thrown to the wolves.
Thing is, 'change' is a constant. Do you think there has never been an occurrence in a country you and I agree is unfree, which led to a backlash and change - without shooting someone? That doesn't automatically mean that it's a 'free' country in some absolute sense. Of course the US is 'more free' than North Korea, but that it can be classified as 'free', in my view, is quite an absurdity.
And I'm not just picking on your country! I don't live in a free country either. Hell, I can be arrested and gulag'ed for 'hate speech', so you're definitely more free than I am. Free in an absolute sense? Absolutely not.
As much as he can, yes. But his power is effectively limited to shaking his fist at the sky in rage because he actually doesnt have all that much power to do anything major. He can get away with the J6 stuff because of the optics propped up by the media, and even that they are losing ground on. Other than that, there is very little they can actually do, because the US is so decentralized in terms of power that states can just give the Feds the finger and keep doing their own thing. And there have already been a few cases of states arresting or driving out Federal agents attempting to enforce laws that are not popular locally (like the ATF agent that got arrested by an Ohio sheriff).
Then it seems like your stand of 'free' is unattainable in reality. In practical terms, the US is still the closest that exist to a free country, even with the current shenanigans by the Feds. Because when people start trying to fuck with the system to make us more like Europe with a centralized government, the states can just say "naw" and as long as they actually fight it (spoiler: they are) then it will ruin all of their plans. And then as political power shifts due to that, like how power is currently shifting away from California and New York and toward Texas and Florida, that trend will continue. And while the old Powers like Biden may not acknowledge it, they will have no power so they will be left to just Ree in the corner. Much like how Boston and Philadelphia went from being the centers of American political power to places people barely even remember exist.