Is The UK basically a guinea pig nation for the US

Perseid

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Wed Nov-14-07 11:33 PM
Original message

Is The UK basically a guinea pig nation for the US

to test various psyops and numerous rights to privacy violations? Has the UK been used to test the vulnerability of people, as well as the ability of the government to impose fascistic laws on them?

Just a thought I had. Feel free to chastise me.

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Basileus Basileon

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Wed Nov-14-07 11:34 PM
Response to Original message

1. How Amerocentric of you.

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Perseid

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Wed Nov-14-07 11:38 PM
Response to Reply #1

4. Not intended

Edited on Wed Nov-14-07 11:39 PM by Perseid

It just seems that over the past number of years many things have happened in the UK that later on were implemented in the US. The UK has more observation video cameras than any country, per capita, on earth. Blair bent over backwards to cheerlead for every Bush idea that fell down the mountain.

Like I said, it was just a thought. Thanks for the chastising. I probably deserved it.

Again, just writing thoughts about some things, and trying to sort them out.

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marmar

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Wed Nov-14-07 11:35 PM
Response to Original message

2. Is the UK any more fascistic than this country?

At least in the UK, there's still a vigorous independent media.

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Perseid

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Wed Nov-14-07 11:41 PM
Response to Reply #2

5. good point

The Guardian is the one that comes to mind. I don't know of any others.

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cali

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Thu Nov-15-07 06:10 AM
Response to Reply #2

11. I suppose it depends on how you look at it: I'd say yes

The British system of survelliance is more intrusive. A woman was just convicted for possession of written materials that the government claimed supported terrorism. There are no first amendment rights in GB.

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rug

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Wed Nov-14-07 11:35 PM
Response to Original message

3. I thought Texas served that purpose.

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Gregorian

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Wed Nov-14-07 11:44 PM
Response to Original message

6. I think they're just "ahead" of us.

An empire in decline. But yeah, I've thought along the same lines. I think it's their ASBO law, and the CCT tv cameras all over the cities.

But they have a few things we don't have. Culture, and education. Although those are also in decline now.

It's odd how little common sense there is in the world. And lack of communication. Oh, and lack of humor. Those are the three things that contribute to the rotten situations we find ourselves in. Oh, and love of money and power. Now I'm starting to sound like the Spanish Inquisition skit.

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juno jones

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Wed Nov-14-07 11:58 PM
Response to Reply #6

7. None of us ever expected the Spanish Inquisition.

I just hope I get the comfy chair.

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Gregorian

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Thu Nov-15-07 03:03 PM
Response to Reply #7

15. That's TWO counts of heresy.

No, wait, THREE counts of heresy.

I'd be laughing if we had actually advanced from the dark ages. Damn you, Cheney! :)

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Blashyrkh

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Thu Nov-15-07 12:02 AM
Response to Original message

8. To a degree...

I think Zimbabwe (deliberately destroyed economy), Pakistan (deliberate, unncessary imposition of martial law) and the Australian Government's intervention regarding the Aborigines (use of Army and Federal Police in domestic matters) are "test runs" for the imposition of those things, at once, in the US.

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melody

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Thu Nov-15-07 06:00 AM
Response to Original message

9. No, sorry, the Americans are their first choice guinea pigs

You guys have a few laws to protect you. They come after us first.

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Cessna Invesco Palin

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Thu Nov-15-07 06:02 AM
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10. Yes, they're all just a bunch of lab monkeys over here.

Is it really so hard to believe that it's an independent nation with its own politics and culture? Have you ever traveled abroad?

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WritersBlock

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Thu Nov-15-07 06:23 AM
Response to Original message

12. Actually, I just hope that the mirror image of your theory isn't the case.

Because at least in the UK, I feel free to speak my mind. I don't get that feeling at all anymore when I go to the States; just the opposite, actually. The last several times I've been in the "land of the free," I've not felt free at all.

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H2O Man

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Thu Nov-15-07 06:31 AM
Response to Original message

13. No.

It's a partner in crime. Many of the tactics that the US is now embracing are the same that England used in it's war of occupation in Ireland.

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T_i_B

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Thu Nov-15-07 07:33 AM
Response to Original message

14. Actually it's the other way around

As our politicians over here love to nick policy ideas from the US.

In short the answer to your question is no.

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warren pease

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Thu Nov-15-07 03:18 PM
Response to Original message

16. Nah, Blair and now (unfortunately) Brown are members of the same club as BushCo...

I think Pakistan is more of a dress rehearsal for BushCo's dreams of totalitarian dynasty, all based on the sanctimonious hogwash they used to manipulate public opinion after "9/11 changed everything."

I just love it when mass media reports, uncritically of course, that the US has dispatched envoys to try and convince Musharraf to abandon his low-down dictatorial ways.

It's like a shark trying to use moral arguments to talk a barracuda out of eating an otter. There is literally no bottom to BushCo's capacity for hypocrisy.

wp

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treestar

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Thu Nov-15-07 03:41 PM
Response to Original message

17. No, but I think the cultures are converging even more

We are alike, and that country is smaller and has better trust in their government. I think they could get away with more - there is more of a social contract. In the US, everything has to be spelled out under the law. The length of time England has been in existence plus its relatively smaller size gives it a wider breadth for rules that just work without explicitly having to go to court over them and legislating them. There is more custom, so maybe they can trust the government with the cameras. Generally. The politicians would have to be careful not to be caught on camera at all, if it's them, it'll be a big deal (as in the U.S.)

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