For half of America... is politics just "pro wrestling"?

[OddBeMe]

That half also seems susceptible to "deep state" and 2020 conspiracies.

[DrPepper12]

YES!!! ITS THE NIKÁ RIOTS ALL OVER AGAIN!!

Some sociologists have posited that the decline of organized religion and the rise of sports & politics as the new civic religion that does not have the dogmatic & theological constraints of religion. This theory, IMHO BEAUTIFULLY EXPLAINS the violence & zealousness of modern fans & party members AND the decline of religion very well. We moderns are not the first to do this. Now, back to our story...

The Blues and Greens were influential chariot racing factions in Byzantine Empire in Constantinople that significantly impacted the city's political and social dynamics. Initially sports teams, they evolved into powerful social entities with political influence. (Try to imagine team / class / party rolled into one). The Blues were associated with the ruling classes and religious orthodoxy, while the Greens represented the common people and popular heresies.

The Nika Riots occurred in January 532 CE in Constantinople, during the reign of Emperor Justinian I. Sparked by political tensions and the botched execution of members from rival chariot racing factions, the Blues and Greens united in protest. Their chant "Nika," meaning "victory," escalated into widespread violence, resulting in approximately 30,000 deaths and significant destruction, including the burning of the Hagia Sophia. The riots culminated in Justinian's* military response, which brutally suppressed the uprising and restored.

*His wife Theodora does NOT get enough credit here. When advised to flee the city Justinian couldn't pack fast enough but his BADASS COMMONER WIFE Theodora simply replied said:

"My opinion then is that the present time, above all others, is inopportune for flight, even though it bring safety. . . those who have worn the crown should never survive its loss. Never will I see the day when I am not saluted as Empress.

For one who has been an Emperor it is unendurable to be a fugitive. May I never be separated from this purple.

If, now, it is your wish to save yourself, O Emperor, there is no difficulty. For we have much money, and there is the sea, here the boats.

However consider whether it will not come about after you have been saved that you would gladly exchange that safety for death. As for myself, I approve a certain ancient saying that royal purple is a good burial-shroud."

This is the BEST "Grow a pair and man up" speech EVER given by a woman. It PAINS me that women like this are barely included in world history curricula.

[Juxtapose]

I found this to explain the deep state to you:

"Edward Snowden said he was part of the deep state, "the deep state is not just the intelligence agencies, it is really a way of referring to the career bureaucracy of government. These are officials who sit in powerful positions, who don't leave when presidents do, who watch presidents come and go... they influence policy, they influence presidents."

The best description I found comes from the Daily Dot, What exactly is the ‘deep state,’ and is it even real?

“The so-called “deep state,” sometimes also known as “shadow government,” is often used to describe the bureaucracies of the military and spy agencies and their top secret inner-workings. The roots of the deep state’s creation date back to the end of World War II and the expansion of what President Dwight Eisenhower deemed the “military-industrial complex.” Former congressional staffer Mike Lofgren is the author of Deep State: The Fall of the Constitution and the Rise of Shadow Government and offered up the following definition of the deep state on Bill Moyers:

“(The Deep State) is a hybrid of national security and law enforcement agencies: the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, the Central Intelligence Agency and the Justice Department. I also include the Department of the Treasury because of its jurisdiction over financial flows, its enforcement of international sanctions and its organic symbiosis with Wall Street.”

President Eisenhower warns of military-industrial complex:

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/eisenhower-warns-of-military-industrial-complex

It is actually hard to imagine that some form of a deep state wouldn’t develop in a country like the US where there exist powerful career government figures who see Presidents and administrations come and go and construct the system not only to stay in control but to guide policy in their favored directions, as manipulated by Wall Street and big corporations.

So, sure, it exists."

[OddBeMe]

Except there's absolutely no evidence of a deep state. The intelligence agencies were working under order from public officials voted in or appointed.

[Juxtapose]

Actually that's wrong because eyewitness testimony is evidence that warrants further investigation. Edward Snowden can tell you all about the deep state, he was targeted by them for telling the truth (when it is illegal to point out a crime you are ruled by criminals).

I'm not saying this to be cute or insulting, but that is naive of you to say. They don't work for public officials who come and go, they're the ones with more authority. Look at what happens when people go after the CIA too much.. JFK.

[OddBeMe]

It's the worst type of evidence. But did you even ponder Snowdens agenda? Hint: where is he currently living?

[Juxtapose]

He's literally only there to not be arrested. You don't have evidence otherwise.

Edward Snowden had evidence of criminal activity and was prosecuted for revealing it.

[OddBeMe]

Snowden denigrates the US spying whilst living in one of the most repressive states. And evidence is what Snowden refuses to discuss: Ukraine.

[Juxtapose]

Ukraine has nothing to do with him and if I was fleeing from a 1984 style government I would even go to North Korea if they would hypothetically treat me even halfway decently. It doesn't really matter where I go to, and I will criticize my home country for criminalizing telling on criminals.

When pointing out a crime is a crime, you are ruled by criminals. End of story.

[Juxtapose]

Eisenhower tried to warn us of this but people didn't fucking listen.

"Before and during the Second World War, American industries had successfully converted to defense production as the crisis demanded, but out of the war, what Eisenhower called a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions emerged. This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience Eisenhower warned, "[while] we recognize the imperative need for this development... We must not fail to comprehend its grave implications we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence…The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist." Eisenhower cautioned that the federal government’s collaboration with an alliance of military and industrial leaders, though necessary, was vulnerable to abuse of power. Ike then counseled American citizens to be vigilant in monitoring the military-industrial complex."

[OddBeMe]

You got serious blinders

[Juxtapose]

"Eisenhower cautioned that the federal government’s collaboration with an alliance of military and industrial leaders, though necessary, was vulnerable to abuse of power. Ike then counseled American citizens to be vigilant in monitoring the military-industrial complex."

That's the deep state right there.

[Juxtapose]

You're the one that refuses to see it.

[OddBeMe]

So the deep state is the billion dollar corporations I've been bitching about. Great thanks. Sigh

[Juxtapose]

Part of it, yeah.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately often conspiracy theories turn out to be true.

Politicians talk a big game b4 they get elected but they've no intention of following through. Politicians do whatever their corporate sponsor tells them.

[Tamera952]

Only at TrumpTard white trash racist rallies! Have ya seen when they interview ‘low information voters’ like them, that think OramgeTURD gives two shits about them?

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Not just for USA, though this antique concept of politics being an arena with just two challengers seems more vivid there. It talks to the masses like that, it makes sense, it strikes right. People, in general, have no time to look at political philosophy, their minds are swallowed by a long list of schedules, bills and concrete considerations. When political philosophy is ignored, when there is no time to think, then politics come into play.

A simplified play. It needs to be staged, to create a powerful emotional response. As emotion drags people out of their own lives for a moment, just enough to pick a champion, not enough to think really, just to feel. This is exactly how advertisement works, and sells. This is "the art of the deal".

[Juxtapose]

Edward Snowden said he was part of the deep state, "the deep state is not just the intelligence agencies, it is really a way of referring to the career bureaucracy of government. These are officials who sit in powerful positions, who don't leave when presidents do, who watch presidents come and go... they influence policy, they influence presidents."

[OddBeMe]

@Juxtapose and everything coming outta Russia is 100% correct

[Juxtapose]

What a stupid line of reasoning.

[OddBeMe]

@Juxtapose yeah it is. Shouldn't believe anything outta russia

[Juxtapose]

Of course, whenever somebody calls out the government you just say they are a Russian agent instead of owning up to how badly this country has fucked up.

Go ahead and close your eyes, the NSA spying program surely can't be true!

[OddBeMe]

Whomever wrote art of the deal should be credited

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Tony Schwartz, for 250k. A fascinating story.
en.wikipedia.org/.../Trump:_The_Art_of_the_Deal

[OddBeMe]

@Juxtapose in case you missed it, the nsa was raked for it after Snowden said svidaniya. Honestly I'd have him back with immunity. If he manned up Obama may have pardoned him like he did Chelsea.

[NaultD]

My analogy is employee of the year used cars men manipulation.

[NaultD]

I'm also thinking from undecided voters who live under a rock in battle ground states.

[Sevenpointfive]

i don't think so. i think half or more are clueless. a quarter more are aware and the rest aren't privy to what happens and has to speculate. so stop calling it conspiracies

[gatixek710]

“There is no deep state” from the guy who watched his presidential candidate replaced with the worst VP in history without ever casting a vote for her.

[OddBeMe]

If that's the deep state it wasn't very deep. It happened in the open. And... they turned out to be right.

[gatixek710]

How could they be right? You’ve been telling us for years that Biden’s sharp as a tack.

[OddBeMe]

I was against biden being replaced and I hated donors making waves about him. But now in hindsight... with Dem victory on horizon.. they were right

[gatixek710]

Imagine being happy you got fucked over, lol.

[OddBeMe]

So kamala is on verge of winning and I feel fucked over? I think you feel that way

[msc545]

Yeah except it's not really pro wrestling because it's for real and it's actually really dangerous not just faked injury.

[In_Trance]

Not half - All