I don't sense *anything* is as tense in the country as it was during the late 1960's and early 1970's. Not saying it won't get there, but we're a long way off. The anti-war protests in the US in 2003 were poor imitations of what went on 35-40 years ago. For all the problems in Iraq and Afghanistan, for most Americans, those countries were very screwed up before so there's not much change. It's not like we invaded functioning, democratic countries. I agree that it would be different if there actually was a draft, or any credible evidence to say that there's going to be a draft. I don't think there will be. Since there's no draft, every American soldier who is there made a choice to go where he-she was sent. Not a cause for controversy. Patriot Act: Most people really don't know what it means. The administration has done a good job of convincing a lot of people that at least parts of the Act make sense, like allowing different branches of law enforcement to actually speak to each other. The parts that are controversial have only been applied to a few people. The few people who have been affected just aren't getting any sympathy from the media nor majority. For the public to give a damn, that has to change. It won't happen UNLESS there is some credible leadership that points out the abuses -- mbutt media, a lot of Democrats and at least a few Republicans. McCarthy-like behavior? The Dixie Chicks are still touring. Name somebody else who has lost a job for criticizing the government, or sympathizing with America's "enemies". There were thousands in the 1950's and the effects lasted for decades. Again, I'm saying that things couldn't go entirely to sh*t. But right now, I don't think so. -- "The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem." -- Theodore Rubin
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