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What is it that has happened that has led to this reversal of rights, both here and in the US?

Does it all go back to an event that slowly started this?

nine inch nails starts to play, bbc archive footage plays in slow motion, adam curtis talks in hushed tones

Does it all go back to an event that slowly started this? The economic crisis of the 2000s? The gulf wars?

Toxic combination of low to zero entry cost mass communication delivered unmediated and unverified between individual to individual and the flattery of the individual ego that consumerism requires to generate desire.

A thousand "truths" all with the same authority...you deserve one that fits your pre-existing beliefs not one that raises uncomfortable doubts. After all, you're worth it.

What is it that has happened that has led to this reversal of rights, both here and in the US?

The far right realised that both systems depended on some sort of sense of honour and principle to work effectively; if those were ditched, they could be quickly and easily subverted. The left and centre, for all their sins, still have vestiges of principle. They didn't stand a fucking chance.

There's a really good series on BBC R4 about the origin of various limbs of the culture wars, I'll see if I can find it.

What is it that has happened that has led to this reversal of rights, both here and in the US?
Does it all go back to an event that slowly started this? The economic crisis of the 2000s? The gulf wars?

How far back do you want to go? Prez Bush 2 and his group’s corruption and ineptitude leading to an at best misguided ‘war on terror’ that led to a hastened militarisation of US policing. The Bush dynasty and their extended network’s shady dealings and ideology (Prez Bush 1 masterminded the Iran Contra; his dad Prescott Bush was a known white suprematist and political supporter). Reagan and his group’s stupid neoliberal ideology and economics. Nixon and his goddamned southern strategy pitting white working class against black people and foreigners. Ulysses S Grant and his failure as president to rein in the racist southern states he defeated in combat….