August 03, 2005

Perception--Emotion--Reason
by Bob Wallace

Here is the way my brain is organized (and yours, and everyone else's on the planet since people first appeared): perception--emotion--reason. Know what that means? Perception goes through the more primitive emotional part of the brain first, to the more advanced rational part of the brain last. People always respond emotionally first, even the most egghead of "rational" intellectuals.

Those who control perception, control people. Perception is everything. I should really say they control "the masses" or the "herd," because people individually can't really be controlled all that well, although they can be pressured by the herd. But when you use propaganda techniques against the masses, baby, you've got a propagandist's dream come true. (Read the rest here)

The Sausage Factory
by Congressman Ron Paul - R - TX

Congress passed a multinational trade bill known as CAFTA last week, but not without a feverish late night vote marred by controversy and last-minute vote switching. Leaving aside the arguments for or against CAFTA itself, the process by which the bill ultimately passed should sicken every American who believes in representative government.

Late-night arm-twisting by House leaders to get votes is of course nothing new. We witnessed far worse when Congress passed the ruinous Medicare prescription drug bill in the dead of night two years ago. Yet even after months of unprecedented wheeling and dealing by corporate lobbyists, congressional leaders, and the White House, the Washington establishment still failed to pass CAFTA in the US House. That’s right, when the 15-minute voting period expired last Wednesday evening, CAFTA seemingly had been defeated. (Read the rest here)

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Libertarian Commentary on The News
By Nathan A. Barton © 2005

Well, the UK remains hot in our news today. The US is just plain hot, but too much fiddling around with our liberties to satisfy the likes of me! Time for things to get hotter for politicians, don't you think?

Decline and Fall of the UK (and related news)

UK: Suspect's tale of travel and torture
Guardian [UK]
"A former London schoolboy accused of being a dedicated al-Qaida terrorist has given the first full account of the interrogation and alleged torture endured by so-called ghost detainees held at secret prisons around the world. For two and a half years US authorities moved Benyam Mohammed around a series of prisons in Pakistan, Morocco and Afghanistan, before he was sent to Guantánamo Bay in September last year." (08/02/05)

His own journey was certainly a long and bad one - but I wonder how it compares to the 55 dead a couple of weeks ago, and to the fearful commuters of London, to say nothing of those the peelers are busy rounding up on a daily basis? Clearly the UK is not doing very well in protecting any of its citizens, is it?

Mama's Note: There is no excuse for "secret" prisons or "ghost detainees." Those are the tools of tyrants and should not be tolerated anywhere. (Read the rest here)

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