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		<title>FOCUS | The Perils of Blind Obedience to Authority</title>
		<description>Discuss FOCUS | The Perils of Blind Obedience to Authority</description>
		<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority</link>
		<lastBuildDate>Sat, 18 May 2013 10:06:34 -0800</lastBuildDate>
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			<title>yrral01 says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-219724</link>
			<description><![CDATA[This is all political oriented. I still support my ultimate authoritarian figure. They belong to the party known as PARENTS. Whether they were left wing or right wing until I started reading or puberty I was fine listening to their beliefs. They certainly knew better then a 4,6 or 8 year old would. They regardless of political belives would be the first great authoritarian figures a person would challenge. I think many people would become right or left wingers just to be the opposite of what their parents were. Its to find your own identity. You also like to be with others who share your believes to reinforce how you have become your own person instead of a copy of your parents.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>yrral01</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Sun, 09 Sep 2012 04:54:26 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>dkonstruction says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215946</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ Peace Anonymous, while it's certainly true that after the 1933 election the German people did not resist the Nazis as they should have. At the same time, it's important for people to remember that Hitler and the Nazis never got a majority of the vote and that in fact the German left as a whole (The Communist and Social Democratic parties combined) got nearly 2/3 of the vote in the last election. It was the Communist Party's "Social Fascist" line (which led them to declare better fascism than social democracy since fascism was the last gasp of a dying system whose life the social democrats were trying to prolong by propping up the dying system) that led them to decide not to enter into an electoral anti-fascist alliance with the Social Democrats (the socialists too share some of the blame here but the german CP line was a disaster). So, for those that say better the repubs (since they will make things so bad people will see the light) remember Germany 1933]]></description>
			<dc:creator>dkonstruction</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Aug 2012 09:56:58 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>sschnapp says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215796</link>
			<description><![CDATA[That's exactly the point. Romney does exactly what most wealthy families do: contribute as little as possible in taxes to the common wealth. He, however, is now the candidate for President representing a party with an ideology that believes that trickle down policies that leaves enormous wealth and power in the hands of a few, is the right path for the US. Obama and the Dems are not so different in their adherence to neoliberalism, just not as willing to mobilize around a blatantly racist, sexist, and jingoistic platform. But they are just as willing, as Greenwald so assiduously points out, to expand the security state to ensure that power will remain in the hands of the corporate and investing class.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>sschnapp</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Aug 2012 05:06:07 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Jim Young says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215696</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I agree, and am amazed as I listened to the GOP Convention that an interviewee said they learned from the 2008 election (claiming Obama spent twice as much as McCain). So now, they spend 7 times as much and try to muscle in at every local, state, and federal office they can. Yet they infer money doesn't corrupt or even create the appearance of corruption (Justice Kennedy). apparently they are willing to hedge their bets with massive, overpowering, money that they also said, let them fund the "grass roots" organizations they need to win. (Helps if you can sabotage as much of the opposition's real grass roots, and voters who haven't needed two forms of picture ID to bank, ride public transportation, 99.9% of normal things they do, or incredibly, to set up a corporation in Delaware. (They could be calling from Mars and have Delaware grant them a corporate charter with no ID of any type.)]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Jim Young</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:06:33 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Celeste says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215443</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Righ on!]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Celeste</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Aug 2012 08:26:52 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>BothSidesSuck says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215419</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Well, I'd you'd like to see some of them, the Boston Globe has official transcripts for Mitt and his wife's 1040's for the past 2 years, as well as their trusts I believe. And just from skimming over it, its no worse than what I would expect out if any wealthy family with kids; he's employing a number of shelters to put a lot of money away in his children's name, and started a charity as a tax haven. Not exactly a terrible thing to pay less money in taxes for, nor something I would fault anyone on. Now, as for the offshore accounts, well, why bother to go so far as Switzerland when Delaware is far more secretive. May he's getting a great RR at one of the Swiss banks.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>BothSidesSuck</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Aug 2012 07:41:59 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>sschnapp says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215415</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Thank you for expanding Greenwald's important analysis and reminding us of a set of trends that should not be overlooked if we are to understand and ultimately change present conditions. The economic rules in the US (and elsewhere) that contribute to the growing concentration of income, wealth, and power, which necessitate working longer hours, plus the manipulation of national narratives through sophisticated and well funded media strategies, and the debilitating attacks on public education funding and quality, combine to produce an ill-informed, insecure, and fearful populace. When we add several hundred years of white supremacist, patriarchal, and jingoistic American exceptionalism, our present situation should not come as a surprise.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>sschnapp</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Aug 2012 07:11:05 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>shawnsargent2000 says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215412</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Yes, all the Banksters should be in jail, I guess this Nation no longer prosecutes white collar crime. Opps, I almost forgot Bernie Madoff was their fall guy!]]></description>
			<dc:creator>shawnsargent2000</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Aug 2012 06:55:32 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>shawnsargent2000 says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215411</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Thankyou indian weaver, you have hit the nail on the head! There is a great number of morals and ideas in the bible, that could have only come from eastern philiosophies. I am so glad you have commented on this major truth. thankyou.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>shawnsargent2000</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Aug 2012 06:52:43 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>JSRaleigh says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215281</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ It's going to take a lot more than that. There were half a million or more present for the pre-Iraq War protest on January 16, 2003. The National Mall was shoulder to shoulder from 3rd Street to the Washington Monument. Do you think any of that ever showed up on TV news even a mile west of the Arlington Memorial Bridge?]]></description>
			<dc:creator>JSRaleigh</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:30:40 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>phrixus says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215265</link>
			<description><![CDATA[“There's a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious—makes you so sick at heart—that you can't take part. You can't even passively take part. And you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop. And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it that unless you're free, the machine will be prevented from working at all.” ― Mario Savio]]></description>
			<dc:creator>phrixus</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:58:16 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>JSRaleigh says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215256</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I could accept the equivalence between questions about Obama's Birth Certificate and Romney not having paid taxes for 10 years IF ROMNEY HAD RELEASED TAX RETURNS SHOWING THE TAXES HE PAID. Questioning the validity of official documents released by both the Obama campaign & by the State of Hawaii is a lot different than questioning the veracity of Romney's self serving statements about documents he refuses to reveal.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>JSRaleigh</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:56:02 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Sappho says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215166</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I believe the problem is hierarchy. If we replace vertical power structures with horizontal power structures, there are no authorities to oppress us. Lack of hierarchy is called anarchy. It doesn't mean lack of rules, just lack of hierarchy. I believe authoritarians encourage sexism, racism, child abuse, etc. to further hierarchy. People raised in an egalitarian manner reject false authority and think for themselves.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Sappho</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:20:13 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Sappho says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215163</link>
			<description><![CDATA[http://www.prisonexp.org/ The Stanford prison experiment, perpetrated by Prof. Zimbardo, although to his credit he ended it early when his girlfriend talked sense into him.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Sappho</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:16:12 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>WolfTotem says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215131</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Thank you for the kind words, Celeste, but I hasten to assure you that I'm using the word man/men here according to its primary acceptation (see OED and Webster, both of which quote David Hume "All men, both male and female" - 1776): a member of the human race. I think there have been a lot of misunderstandin gs about this recently, but that the gender misinterpretati on is a projection often made by both MCPs and feminists. I won't claim authority in this matter... but I am a wordsmith by trade. Main thing: we agree wholeheartedly when it comes to substance and the need to right the gross imbalance in our world. And I'm at a total loss for words when it comes to expressing my reverence for the feminine.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>WolfTotem</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:34:01 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Celeste says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215065</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I'm with you, Gordon. Apart from party loyalties as extension of the power of brand recognition in a culture of consumerism (on Steroids), there is also a marked failure of imagination. And here is what I mean: Once we get beyond Obama, who, in spite of pursuing policies of naked aggression (the Drone Wars added to the insidious items you've mentioned) seems collected and sane, one day those SAME arrogated powers (like a 007 license to kill) will go to a Nixon or McCain or Palin "type." What fun for all then! People don't see past the day's events and thus show a piss poor capacity to take in the bigger picture.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Celeste</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 08:15:47 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Celeste says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215062</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Great post... however, rather than say "I wondered whether men with this quality, true guides, existed" it's more inclusive to say persons. Men implies only one gender, and that gender has held the wheel navigating mankind's vessel straight towards the abyss. It's time for The Round Table and a plethora of OTHER voices to be seen and heard... as was the case at the Occupy Wall Street camps.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Celeste</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 08:08:53 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Celeste says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215060</link>
			<description><![CDATA[You are totally correct apart from leaving out the central component of these top-down, "Father knows best," authoritarian homes. It's that they fit the model of patriarchal orthodoxy; and ironically, this particular arrangement is found in Orthodox Judaism, Fundamentalist Christianity, and it's also a fond aspect of... The Taliban! In other words, it has its roots in the Bible. The strict father/conserva tive prototype comes direct from the oldest of religious teachings, and since it regards women as property (or under the authority of their fathers/husband s) it's both antithetical to a democratic society, and to women's rights, in particular. This explains why there IS a war on women being engineered by the Christian Right. It's hardly just about abortion as it now takes aim at: birth control, teachers--a predominantly "female" occupation, Head Start, and anti-poverty programs (where there is a high percentage of women on the rolls), plus Planned Parenthood (which provides breast exams and other health services for women).]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Celeste</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 08:06:03 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Celeste says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215054</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Grover, Paul Ryan, Rick Scott, Newt, and Scott Walker are all Ebeneezer Scrooge clones. A sane nation would put them on a paddy wagon and drive them into the nearest inner city ghetto or Apalachian village of obscene poverty, and THEN ask them if they still think it's moral to shrink government so that no force can stand up to the corporate behemoths who profit from war, have "succeeded" in turning much of our food into toxic time bombs, burned, pillaged, and plundered the web of life by eviscerating countless ecosystems, and STILL ask for more profit and a greater claim to The Commons. The behavior of this sect of sociopaths reminds me of a program done by Phil Donahue (many years ago) on child molesters. What happens is that if a community forms that validates despicable behavior, its members jointly lend it the imprimatur of normalcy. The Repugs are 21st century Sickos who have no shame, neither empathy. A cartoonist should depict their mores through a sketch of Ryan taking the cane away from the old lady while she crosses the busy street. And these walking examples of human excrement are not only taken seriously (being well-funded by the corporations who are set to profit most from their dastardly policies), they are actually respected... as they hide behind religion and the flag. It is insane!]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Celeste</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 07:56:37 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Celeste says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215051</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I don't think most are terrified of backing a 3rd party, it's more that they are told it's: 1. A wasted vote 2. Not pragmatic, since one of the two established beauty pageant (political equivalent) contestants will win the race And add to this the invisibility factor: that is, how many 3rd party candidates are allowed to voice their platforms in major event venues or over the MSM (mainstream media complex)? Most people are left to believe that choice comes down to Coke or Pepsi.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Celeste</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 07:45:34 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Celeste says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215048</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I'd encourage you to add Wilhelm Reich to your list. His books were so radical that many remain banned. Essentially, Reich came to recognize that the suppression of healthy spontaneous sexuality (due mostly to Biblical creeds carried over to define alleged "civilization") placed persons at war with themselves. Divorced from authentic instincts, they turned to outside authority figures for direction... thereby forfeiting their autonomy. Since it's not "politically correct" to pick on religion, the roots to so much in the way of conformity, conditioning, sexism, racism, and obedience to often sickening creeds are kept under the radar or otherwise in the dark. Therefore the tree of disaster continues to send out branches.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Celeste</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 07:40:30 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>HowardMH says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215043</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Agree SM, but it is not the politicians we need to be concerned about as much as it is the millions of Idiots in this country that do not have a clue as to what is really happening to them. As Forest said, "Stupid Is as Stupid Does" and we got a whole lot of stupid out there just letting this crap happen. Until there are two hundred thousand really, really pissed off people on Capital Hill (all at the same time) raising some serious hell absolutely nothing is ever, ever going to happen to these totally bought and paid for by the richest 50 people in the world that are becoming more and more powerful with each passing rigged election thanks to the stupid people.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>HowardMH</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 07:35:54 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Celeste says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215042</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Chris Hedges wrote a scathing, brilliant article on how academe, in homage to the growing rites of football, sacrifices much in the way of The Arts to funding the all important macho team sports. This same article also exposed the disgusting side of Fraternity rites and how the hierarchy is born (and perpetuated) through the rituals of reciprocal humiliation. For years I 've noted how the virtual worship of football leads seamlessly into the make-war state, pushes a great many males to identify with force as proof of manhood, and also embeds further--into the collective consciousness-- this idea of teams. It's quite useful in politics, even when (due to the absolute corruption of our election-system , thank you "Citizens United") both have been essentially forced to work for the same fiscal donors.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Celeste</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 07:34:33 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Celeste says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215038</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I read that book, and I knew it served, along with Enron's "business model" added to th Arthur Anderson brand of accounting, as the economic Petri-dish for the Derivatives frenzy that's made a mockery out of any sound basis for global banking, trade, and authentic bases for economic measures (and metrics). Also, to Indian Weaver, I am well aware of the Council of Nicaea and how the mystical records were expungd. It's also true that The Vatican, composed of the same kind folks who burned women healers and those of knowledge--as witches--mainta ins the largest Occult library in the world. If the belief in karma--as based on the plan for the evolution of souls (a journey hardly satisfied within the parameters of a single lifetime) were widely taught and understood, flagrant wars and the class war that has allowed vast sums of wealth to aggregate to smaller and smaller groups of persons (at direct expense to others) would never be allowed. HIS-story repeats because the authoritarians have falsely used "god" as their witness to foreclose on all other more spiritually unifying teachings.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Celeste</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 07:25:58 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>futhark says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215033</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Getting at the truth about 9/11 is essential if we are to realize a free and democratic society. There is a criminal element out there who pulled off a major coup against this republic, invaded our privacy, restricted our liberties, killed hundreds of thousands of people, and stole untold billions of dollars in consequence of the 9/11 attacks. A compliant media propaganda machine has helped cover their tracks and get off without any legal penalties. Evidence and reason call out for a full investigation by a panel of non-partisan skeptical experts, not a "bi-partisan" commission of government insiders and Wall Street corporate board members, as in the Kean-Hamilton Commission. Those who seek the truth about these crimes ought to be celebrated and supported, not marginalized and denigrated. Thanks, RSN, for keeping me logged in and not shunting me off tho "Invalid Token" limbo land.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>futhark</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 07:15:51 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>joedeane says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215015</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Sometimes open eyed obedience to authority is even worse than blind obedience. Think of the European Jews who understood perfectly well that the Nazis were their enemies, but obeyed them because it seemed like less trouble than disobedience or flight. How many Americans know perfectly well that Obama is a murderer and war criminal but obey his authority any way. How many off us obey the TSA even though we know they are petty tyrants?]]></description>
			<dc:creator>joedeane</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 06:27:33 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>666 says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215013</link>
			<description><![CDATA[and what about the experiment with "guards" and "prisoners" I forgot who did that]]></description>
			<dc:creator>666</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 06:23:32 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>666 says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215011</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Three - before overt oppression, there are several other strategies used to aid group-think/act ion: 1) overwork - leave no time (otium) for thought 2) underpay - more worries, a 2nd job, less time to think; less willingness to act 3) under-educate - teach people not to think 4) instill more fear - (see #2 above)]]></description>
			<dc:creator>666</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 06:20:00 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Trueblue Democrat says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-215009</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Obama didn't make 557 MAJOR campaign promises. (I very much doubt he made 557 minor ones either, but you can have that point.) Holding Bush accountable. NO Obama didn't. Ending illegal wire taps. NO Obama didn't. He even pushed for and signed expost facto law to let AT&T off the hook for illegal wire taps. Ending Bush tax cuts for the rich. NO Obama didn't. He and his Democratic-cont rolled Congress extended them in 2010. ALL heath care reform options on the table. Obama personally saw to it that no one from the single-payer crowd had a place at the table. See, Caballero69, what I'm talking about. Major, important, critical issues. And you've helped me make my original point -- Obama supporters can't admit they were wrong. They are for him no matter how often he kicks them in the teeth.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Trueblue Democrat</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 06:17:07 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Caballero69 says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214996</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Trueblue Democrat, I would take your remarks much more seriously if you did not close with "Now watch all the slavish Obama supporters rush out of the woodwork to assail me." You stated a proposition, i. e., a statement that is either true or false. Is it slavish to present evidence for one way or the other? I don't think so. PolitiFact, a fallible, but well-regarded third party source, has two Meters that rate promises by the President and Congressional Republicans. They have rated 557 presidential promises. 85% of these are either kept or at least unbroken. They also rated 40 Congressional Republican pledges since 2010. 73% of these are either kept or at least unbroken. If "almost every one of his stated major campaign promises was a lie," as you propose, why are 85% kept or unbroken? When we make assertions, others are entitled and even obligated to check them against evidence. If the evidence is present or absent, it is in noway slavish to say so.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Caballero69</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 05:31:16 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Trueblue Democrat says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214973</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Agreed about rMoney. Now how about Obama's serial lying? Almost every one of his stated major campaign promises was a lie? PS Now watch all the slavish Obama supporters rush out of the woodwork to assail me.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Trueblue Democrat</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 03:21:50 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Anarchist 23 says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214960</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When Glenn questions the orthodoxy of the 911 myth-maybe he can join the resistance for real. As we approach the 11th anniversary, the myth is still pervasive. No wonder we have fallen so low as a people and a country when we won't even bother to tear apart the flimsy shreds of a preposterous story-or perhaps Muslims really can suspend the laws of physics because hydrocarbons like kerosene cannot melt steel -or why did we need all those blast furnaces when we still produced it?]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Anarchist 23</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 00:04:13 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>cabotool says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214959</link>
			<description><![CDATA["Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it" No one has successfully conquered the Afghans... starting with Alexander the Great of Greece. And in the meantime, we visit unspeakable horrors on the civilians of Afghanistan. I wish that our government would use the same technology that is used to target the "presumed to be a terrorist until proven otherwise" to show the results of the missile strikes.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>cabotool</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 23:59:53 -0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214959</guid>
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			<title>cabotool says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214957</link>
			<description><![CDATA[excellent comment! Being 76, I have the perspective to see what is going on from a political and environmental point of view.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>cabotool</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 23:49:55 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>WolfTotem says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214950</link>
			<description><![CDATA[No, Dion Giles. Probe. Go deeper. I wept when I read these words in the original German: "HUMAN DIGNITY SHALL BE INVIOLABLE. TO RESPECT AND PROTECT IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF ALL STATE AUTHORITY." Article 1 of the German Basic Law (constitution). I wept that so many millions had to die, to give birth to such a simple, essential principle. Americans, too, died for this. It would be wise if they - and all the world - were always to respect that principle, and not pervert it. An authoritarian is motivated by the will to command and control - a severe character defect. True authority is a quality of genuineness, at the service of mankind. It implies respect, and self-respect. I fear people won't understand what I write, because they may never have encountered the real thing, either in a person or an institution, only abusers and abuses of authority. When young, I wondered whether men with this quality, true guides, existed. Or only charlatans, enchanters. Both do exist. Authority serves. Charlatans may have real gifts but their motivation's flawed, making them self-serving authoritarians. There's something genuine in every one of us. That's what we must seek out, bring out, in ourselves, in others. I think that's what authority is really about.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>WolfTotem</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 23:02:45 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>futhark says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214945</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Funny, I received notices in my email about followup comments, but when I looked for the comment I made this morning, it wasn't there!!]]></description>
			<dc:creator>futhark</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:48:42 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>jimbo says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214927</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Except for one little detail: god. republicans for the most part are blindly religious, essentially the ultimate authoritarianis m. A (former) friend (who thought so little of me he tried to talk me into creationism) told me he doesn't have to know about williard and lying ryan because he believes in god. This person is very smart, but doesn't understand the concept of ignorance. In addition, I find many of President Obama's priorities abominable, willard's lying is even more of a turn off. The republicans know they can't win without lying, and so have strategized around the lies. You can talk all you want about partisanship, and they all do it, but willard's blatent serial lying puts him and his masters in a singular position, anti-American. These people are creeps, masters and follower alike.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>jimbo</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 20:31:42 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>BothSidesSuck says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214913</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A badge and a title do not erase basic character flaws. Those we elect aren't benevolent angels when we elect them, with only the common good in mind; why then do we expect them to change after? A taste of power will do odd things to people. There have been a number of studies showing that if even the memory of empowerment is elicited in individuals, they become more inclined to bend the rules to their liking, be harsher in their judgement of those they don't agree with, and are more willing to stretch justification for willfully unethical actions. The trick now is this: We've given up so much of our own power to those in authority, on false pretense. How then, do we get it back? Police brutality and generalized abuse of police authority is at a height not seen since the race riots of the 70's, with the judiciary branch (in a number of states) making the submission of evidence of it a felony. What actions can we reasonably take, if we gave them all the slack we are now hanging ourselves with? Protesting is illegal if even one person with Secret Service protection in the area thinks its disruptive. How do we change that exactly; protest it? I'd be happy if I saw a representative or two dedicate a large portion of their time to just making motions to repeal some of the absurd laws we have on the books. It'll never happen though.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>BothSidesSuck</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:33:25 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Gordon K says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214911</link>
			<description><![CDATA[While it seem apparent that Republicans are quite inclined towards participating in cults of personality, Democrats are by no means immune. I have repeatedly tried to raise concerns among my fellow Democrats (echoing Glenn Greenwald) regarding Obama's authoritarian policies, especially his signing of the NDAA with its provisions for the indefinite detention without trial of American citizens, and his expansion of executive authority to include assassination of American citizens overseas. Most of the Dems do not want to hear about it. It's easier, I guess, to assume that given Obama's intelligence and articulate oratory, he would never abuse these powers. But history teaches us to be wary. My best guess is that this comment will receive numerous "thumbs down," thus proving my point. I hope I will be disappointed.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Gordon K</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:24:04 -0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214911</guid>
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			<title>ghostperson says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214910</link>
			<description><![CDATA["Post law" what a phrase. For those who really want a breathtaking vivisection of the meltdown that produced the "post law" world read Steve Pizzo, et eux Inside Job. Not only will you see, blow-by-blow, the pitched fight for and against deregulation of savings and loans use of brokered accounts in the Reagan administration, you will see the flashing warning signal that the authors gave to Congress against deregulating the financial services sector and eliminating the Glass-Seagel [sp] act. What happened in 2007-2008, the effects of which we are still living with today, was forecast for all to see. There should be banners flying high and bumper stickers on every car calling for life imprisonment for those involved in financial crimes totaling (you fill in) the figure. China exec.utes financial crooks and defrauders. We can't do that but we should make them wish they were dead]]></description>
			<dc:creator>ghostperson</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:17:20 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>ghostperson says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214909</link>
			<description><![CDATA[John Dean addresses the cult-like fealty of subservients to authoritarians in "Conservatives Without a Conscience." It is well worth the read. Dean also dissects and examines at length why the right claims as its unique prerogative mendacity,vicio us/insulting/co ntemptuous words and vile conduct. "The Wrecking Crew" describes the contemporary right wing's belief that civility denotes weakness, a disbelief in the res publica or common good and, inter alia, one congressman claiming that his highest accomplishment bringing an end to Americans' trust that the government will be there for them. I read the last one several times because I could not wrap my head around the existence of such a mindset. For those who want to kill government, let's start with the 501(c)(4) groups (lobbying groups) tax exemptions that are in reality "tax code expenditures." See "The Party's Over" by Mike Lofgren. Lofgren says the government foregoes $1.1 trillion in revenue annually in "tax expenditures" or uncollected revenue.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>ghostperson</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:07:24 -0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214909</guid>
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			<title>Dion Giles says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214904</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ The Stanley Milgram experiment was widely hailed as exculpation of Germans who tortured people during their grab for world conquest. It was thought to show that normal Americans are no different. But the experiment had a fatal design flaw which could not be avoided in a civilised community: The "interrogators" would have known that the "victims" were volunteers hamming it up for the experiment.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Dion Giles</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:43:50 -0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214904</guid>
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			<title>Dion Giles says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214901</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It all comes down to recognising that respect for authority is a character defect, as is LACK of respect for other people.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Dion Giles</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:19:00 -0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214901</guid>
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			<title>Jim Young says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214883</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Might I suggest Viktor Frankl, who was essentially an amazing suicide counselor in Nazi death camps. If you know people who have been helped by him personally, you will appreciate his "Man's Search for Meaning", as few others can. In searching to verify the spelling of his name, I came across progress on his proposed "Statue of Responsibility" as a West Coast complement to the "Statue of Liberty." See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Responsibility]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Jim Young</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:59:24 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Carbonman1950 says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214880</link>
			<description><![CDATA[George Lakoff has written about the psychological origins of high levels of compliance with authoritarian leaders. So too has Professor Bob Altemeyer in decades of research. Both and particularly Mr. Lakoff, conclude and argue that the people most likely to comply and bond with authoritarian leaders were born into and raised in "Strong Father" homes. In such homes the "man of the house" makes all decisions about essential matters especially about procreation, familial association, income, and spending. The women who live in such homes cooperate and collaborate, which produces women who oppose pregnancy control and vote for politicians who oppose abortion under any circumstances (because they believe that procreation is something that MEN not women should control) This is a very short summary of a small part of what they say. Lakoff has written several books on the subject. Authoritarianis m was Altemeyer's academic specialist subject. He researched the issue for decades. A non-academic synopsis of his findings, entitled "The Authoritarians" may be downloaded at no charge from http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/ I recommend the writings of both.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Carbonman1950</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:44:45 -0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214880</guid>
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			<title>Jim Young says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214879</link>
			<description><![CDATA[You might appreciate the fact that Neil Armstrong described himself as a Deist, a believer in God, but not unquestioned religious orders.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Jim Young</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:38:46 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Jorge says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214875</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Go along, come along. True in Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and now the U.S. My Republican friends/acquain tances take the lazy path-- ingest the propaganda of Rush/Fox News and then go back to watching football or American Idol. Even most Democrats are clinging to the rhetorical Candidate Obama rather than the reality of President Obama (Wall Street Corporatist). So, it appears it is time to invest in the emerging third parties (Justice Party with Rocky Anderson or the Green Party.) The longest journey begins with a single step.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Jorge</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:08:39 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Jim Young says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214870</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I hope I understand, and I will hold my nose and try to avoid the potential catastrophe of the Grover Norquist pledge signers, or ALEC stooges getting elected at the many local, state, and federal positions they can hamstring our democracy from. I believe they are the greatest danger, no matter who gets the top office. I do know and respect many Republicans (I was one from five generations spanning the creation of the party until the time Elizabeth Warren came to much the same conclusion I did). We both left the party near the same time, though I became fiercely independent. I may vote for some honest agent Republicans I still respect, but definitely will not vote for any that signed Grover's pledge. Even the one I might respect over all others, still won't get my vote until the stranglehold on the party is broken.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Jim Young</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:43:12 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>beeyl says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214869</link>
			<description><![CDATA[IMO, the excessive obedience to authority that Greenwald has been writing about since 2006 is not just a problem for Republicans. If you read comments following most articles that criticize Obama (for his abysmal record regarding civil rights, due process, gov't transparency, accountability to the rule of law, capitulation at the outset of negotiations, protection vs persecution of whistleblowers, etc., you'll see myriad examples of Democrats displaying blind obedience and support for this president. In my opinion, what's missing from this article (but emphasized in many other articles by Greenwald) is the key role that tribalism plays in our relationships with authorities. While the most undeveloped Tea Partier blindly accepts practically every idiocy uttered by Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann, he will be violently non-compliant to anything said by a Democrat in a similar position of authority; and comparing the average Democratic voter's vehement disgust for Bush's worst behavior to that same voter's acceptance of the same behavior from Obama, one is forced to admit the two-way street: excessive subordination is a problem for Repubs and Dems, and practically anyone who is overly obedient and compliant to authorities on their own team is equally overly resistant and non-compliant to authorities on the other team.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>beeyl</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:39:47 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>sameasiteverwas says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214865</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Sorry, but once again there is a false equivalency, used, I suppose, in the pursuit of "fair and balanced." There was NEVER any real proof of WMDs, but Obama DID show his birth certificate -- and to equate either of these, the unverified meme that took us to war, or the lie that has a full third of conservatives still repeating the birther creed, with a statement about Romney's tax returns, is a real reach. All Romney would have to do to quell the skepticism about his income taxes, would be to SHOW the proof. We don't "automatically" believe Harry Reid -- but why would we NOT? The difference is that, if Romney did present his taxes, most progressives would accept it as evidence and move on, while a birth certificate handed down from On High still wouldn't convince a birther.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>sameasiteverwas</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:16:23 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>indian weaver says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214859</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Chritianity is basically a genocidal religious cult, a most horrible regime bent to power and killing. Christ himself was certainly a real person and great saint. 100s of such humans have existed, and several exist now, the greatest of humans. However, Christianity is not about him. The Second Council of Nicea, 2nd century a.d., excised all of Christ's lessons learned in India. All mention of reincarnation was excised from his words. Why? The Bishops thereby put all of the power into their hands and took it out of Christ's. Because, if it were up to us to determine our lives and afterlives - the actual situation, then the Bishops / Popes have no power or authority. Very simple, it's all about power and obfuscation, lies really, than about our spirits. In fact those 13-17 years Christ spent in India are never discussed, and this is the main reason - the so called church would be gutted of power upon knowing Christ and his words, instead of believing the "church fathers". So many sheep, so far to go ... guns in hand to kill the heathens.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>indian weaver</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:54:02 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Peace Anonymous says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214858</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In the 1930's the German people were compliant too. The right's of the individual come first....as long as, as an individual, you do as you're told and think like a sheep. Out of all Americans I think I have the most respect for Muhammed Ali who searched his soul and made his decision knowing full well there would be a cost attached. And if we continue as we are....there will be a cost attached. A price I do not wish to pay.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Peace Anonymous</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:53:40 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Jim Young says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214854</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Along the lines of blind followers. It disturbs me that Grover Norquist (on 60 Minutes last night) wants to return our Government to the size it was when inland transportation was by horse and wagon, mule drawn canal boat, or monopolized railroads. That was not our peak growth period, or anywhere near what a broader, more sustainable, view was able to achieve after better lessons were learned. Grover claims his preteen (as a 12 year-old) idea of getting politicians to sign a pledge to the American tax payers can't be revoked by him, since it was to the taxpayers. As a taxpayer, I revoke any such pledge, and will in fact vote against any and all who hold themselves to such an un-American pledge, putting his pledge above duty to God and country. How many others are prepared to tell Grover where to go with his extortion scheme?]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Jim Young</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:36:12 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Susan1989 says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214853</link>
			<description><![CDATA[This is how our culture views age and experience and wisdom...but it is not truth.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Susan1989</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:35:46 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Vardoz says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214852</link>
			<description><![CDATA[http://www.onetermmore.com/video_subtitles.html We stand by Obama!]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Vardoz</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:28:43 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>natalierosen says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214850</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Glenn Greenwald does it again -- he writes the most captivating opinion. He is morally incorruptible. I truly believe that. My problem is that I know I cannot measure up to his moral scrupulousness and I wish I could. I always thought years ago in the Vietnam protest years that I would NEVER commit a morally compromised act and to me the Holocaust and the Nuremberg trials were at the heart of my political thought. I would say NO to violence I was commanded to do IF I thought the cause corrupt. Since then I have been known to compromise. When one gets older perhaps one sees the realities of the life and one makes at least I make the lesser of the two evils choice. When Ralph Nader, a man whose politics I agree, ran against Bush and Gore although in agreement with his views I thought voting for him was a vote for Bush and I thought he lost the election for Gore. Hundreds of thousands of deaths later by the know nothing Bush that probably would not have occurred if Gore were president. Where does it get one if one does not realize the realities of life and that is there is NO system, NO nation, NO government that is morally perfect because man is a flawed being who many of us realize we must work with what we have no matter how sometimes onerous it may be.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>natalierosen</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:11:34 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>CL38 says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214839</link>
			<description><![CDATA[See www.thrivemovement.com]]></description>
			<dc:creator>CL38</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:41:07 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>cordleycoit says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214838</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Over and over we se the failure of the academics and the press.Slavish reporters and dithering academics dominate both fields. Americans feel they are free as long as money will pay for their desires. The right will provide them with things but not ideas. Look at the reification in both education and the recouping of history by the mercantile class. Fact and cause and effect are discarded for color and emotion. The cult of political correctness gives way to 'necessary' force, example the war in Iraq and the lost war in Afghanistan. A huge well equipped army is defeated by poorly armed tribesmen and the generals keep pouring troops in. Nothing is gained except broken lives and unspeakable horrors of war visited on civilians.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>cordleycoit</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:39:31 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>CL38 says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214832</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Wanting to understand Republicans, I read Dean's book a number of years ago and was impressed. Excellent book. It helped me see them more clearly. Made my hair stand on end, when I thought about the character traits of extreme Republicans and what they're up to here in US.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>CL38</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:34:30 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Jaysson Brae says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214831</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Thanks in no small part to decades of manipulatively self-congratula ting political & commercial mass media ads concocted largely by Madison Avenue's professional liars, average Americans now typically fancy themselves to be the most independent and individualistic -thinking people on earth. One very telling proof of America's mass-delusion in this regard, is that, unlike Western Europeans, most Americans are utterly terrified of supporting any sensible Independent or 3rd Party candidates in political elections, even as the same mass of Americans simultaneously admit that their two major parties [the Duopoly] are now hopelessly corrupt, fugged-up, and ruining the country. This sad state of affairs at least does tend to prove one old adage: If you're hypnotized deep enough, you don't even suspect it.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Jaysson Brae</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:32:33 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>in deo veritas says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214827</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Nazi Germany-nuff said!]]></description>
			<dc:creator>in deo veritas</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:26:58 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>WolfTotem says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214822</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In principle, I'm neither averse to nor disrespectful of authority. That, however, is not the problem. The problem's impostures - the absence of any real authority, which has become a rarity. Power has become a cuckoo's nest, a place for usurpers and charlatans. And,as with so many other things, no one seems any longer able to distinguish the real thing from the fake. I'm not claiming there are no true leaders among all the minnowshit, but what's for sure is that there are plenty of people only pretending to lead. The blind leading the blind. "Most people are too busy with their lives to find the time or energy to scrutinize prevailing orthodoxies and the authorities propagating them." I used to see youth as rebellious and old age as conformist. But youth's on the breadline or on the treadmill. No experience, and how to think when you're struggling to survive? I'm old now. I've seen plenty. I've the time and the space to think and to draw the lessons from what I've seen and done.I've seen many things coming before they came, and hope that I'm wrong now in what I foresee. But who cares what elders think? As Malraux wrote, "you don't need nine months,you need sixty years to make a man, sixty years of sacrifice, of willpower, of… of so many things! And when this man's made,when there's nothing left in him of childhood or adolescence, when he really is a man, he's good only to die".]]></description>
			<dc:creator>WolfTotem</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:21:45 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>pagrad says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214820</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The most notorious was the fascist tyranny of Mussolini and Hitler. Erich Fromm’s books explains the psychology. However, Americans have the same abuses, today, at every level.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>pagrad</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:18:31 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>CL38 says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214819</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Hits the nail on the head. Clarifies why so many republicans remain silent and the Tea Party takes the lead in supporting the right, when GOP policies will never benefit most of them.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>CL38</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:16:13 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>ritaague says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214816</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Glenn G., thank you so much for this, your great 'looksee' into how the greed and power addicted are capable of and do enslave us all. Yes, hard and then some to get folks to take off the blinders, leave La La Land behind, and effectively bring about such needed, real McCoy CHANGE. Especially hard it is when the evil rulers brutalize and torture, via Police State Ain't Great, those who do not merely "...follow, venerate and obey..." Great spirit (a.k.a. courage) and determination it's gonna take, in today's world, taken over by greed and power addicted, evil villainaire rulers (a.k.a. the 1%ers) to overcome such evil and... OCCUPY LIBERTY and JUSTICE FOR ALL!]]></description>
			<dc:creator>ritaague</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:01:00 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>reiverpacific says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214815</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Interestingly enough, although I disagree with most Libertarians this is one common crossroads, the desire for freedom to live as one wishes -within a certain constitutional latitude and without oppressing or bullying others, especially in the performing and visual arts and humanities -which is probably why schools and even some colleges, especially at the community level, are increasingly closing down these programs which tend to encourage incisive and critical thinking outside "The box" the authoritarians would like to have us all shut up (literally) in. However, Libertarians tend to be conformist to certain authoritarian principles, pro-military and hostile to other cultures with a few exceptions such as Ron Paul, whom I'd hate to see elected to the highest office but who at least sticks to his guns, including refusing to endorse "Twit" and his Randy sidekick thereby being refused a speaking spot at the Rethug' convention, for which I respect him. I'm glad that the article addressed academia, which is being more and more bought by big corporations and thereby obliged to do research on issues and items that will ultimately profit themselves (as people???) only. Be as weird as you are comfortable with folks (but don't play at it -it will look stupid and insincere). "They" hate that -and laff hearty at 'em also; you will feel better too. "And in all their promises of Paradise, you will not hear a Laugh" Bob Dylan, "The Gates of Eden".]]></description>
			<dc:creator>reiverpacific</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 12:58:50 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>fredboy says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214810</link>
			<description><![CDATA[To best reference the impact of blind obedience, read The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. Then visit the National Holocaust Museum.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>fredboy</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 12:45:09 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>noitall says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214809</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Thereby the phrase "Ignorance is bliss". Since religions, for the most part, acquiesce to the powers that be and these days see the benefit to their staying in the good graces with those powers (one hand washing the other), ignore their tenets of the errors of greed, racism, murder through war, etc. they, like the journalists, educators, judges, are not a check for society either. People are left to think and judge for themselves and given the failure of education to teach critical thinking, the journalists to provide objective information, and the judges to judge unbiasly and fairly, the collective "we" are lemmings rushing to the precipice. Basically, the evils have their bases covered: their armies in line, their surveillance technology in place, and the People have only their numbers. This article is about how the EVILS sway the numbers and the majority's rewards (and the price)of their blissful ignorance. They give up their future for their faux peace of mind today.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>noitall</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 12:43:25 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Doubter says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214801</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I have advised rebellious (it ain't FAIR!) minded teenage grandsons to decide between becoming full time dedicated revolutionary rebels willing to die for the cause, or CONSCIOUSLY adapt and compromise in order to live more or less in harmony with the (artificial) environment. Most of us soon grow out of our teenage sense of rebellion and outrage at what the 'powers that be' are doing. I propose Assange and Bradley for the United Nations highest condecoration for service to humanity. (should they have one)]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Doubter</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 12:13:41 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>Celeste says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214792</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Mr. Greenwald deserves MASSIVE kudos for his relentless pursuit of justice in a land defined by Chris Hedges as being "post law." And while I recognize the powerful implications of a nation where a potential 70% will "Just follow orders," the article fails to hit the root of the problem. That root is organized patriarchal religion; for it is this idea of obedience to creeds (purportedly direct from God, the father) that must not be challenged which conditions the behavior that is deferential to authority, in general. Because I've always been a firebrand-rebel , I cannot imagine being among those who administered the would-be lethal shocks even when others' screams were heard. It's no accident that the rise in Christian Fundamentalism within the U.S. is seeing a parallel rise both in authoritarian government structures AND wars.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Celeste</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:47:57 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>DaveM says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214787</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Stanley Milgram had the last word on obedience to authority more than a generation ago. His experiments and the results should be required study for every American. Unfortunately, I think far too many have forgotten, or did not learn the lesson. It's easy to "go along with the crowd". It's easy to "listen to whoever is in charge". But to do nothing else is to become a robot. And the risk is grave that the person who will end up "in charge" will be someone who, if you thought about it, you most definitely would not want in charge of your life.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>DaveM</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:35:24 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>tswhiskers says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214785</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Thank you so much, Mr. Greenwald. I have been commenting on the authoritarian bent of Americans, esp. the Reps. for a long time. A friend told me of 2 bumper stickers she once saw in traffic. The first said "I'm a Democrat, therefore I think." The second said "I'm a Republican, therefore I don't need to think." Here in a few words is the terrible dichotomy between the 2 parties. With Fox News as the propaganda arm of the Conservative movt., Republican voters get all the information (?) they seem to need and apparently vote accordingly. The Democrats are incapable of the kind of organization that works so well for the Reps. I honestly don't know how we Americans can overcome our huge political divisions. The only hope I see for the present is that as the Reps. continue to roll our their real agendas for antiabortion, for who will get the vote, for taxing income, for public education, that more of them will see the true nature of Republicans and their conservative donors and come to their senses. For the 2d or 3d time I would like to recommend John Dean's book CONSERVATIVES WITHOUT CONSCIENCE as an excellent description of the authoritarianis m rampant in the Republican Party. He BTW is a Goldwater Republican.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>tswhiskers</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:26:02 -0800</pubDate>
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			<title>SMoonz says:</title>
			<link>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214779</link>
			<description><![CDATA["One of my first posts when I began writing about politics back in 2006 was an examination of the blindly loyal, cult-like veneration which the American Right had erected around George Bush; as Paul Krugman was one of the first to observe, that same disturbing thirst for leader-worship then drove followers of Barack Obama..." This is why it is important to always question what our leaders do. It does not matter whether you like that person or voted for them, always question their acts. We can not place our blind trust and assume that leaders have our best interests.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>SMoonz</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:08:59 -0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/276-74/13143-focus-the-perils-of-blind-obedience-to-authority#comment-214779</guid>
		</item>
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