ABB

There are some stunning examples of this. The Bush adminstration has plans formulated for a national mandatory national mental health screening program that includes involuntary drugging, detention and electro-shock - totally barbaric and potentially suppressive. One would think that all Dems would be opposed to this, yet the APA has come out in support of it (after extensive money and lobbying from the pharmaceutical companies) and many Dems are seeing a national program to address the supposed mental health crisis as emlightened and progressive, and are ready to get in bed with the neo-cons on this. Wedges like that are how the fascists get in the door and compromise Democrats and co-opt them. Mental health would be an avenue that would allow liberals in good conscience to stand by while the regime eliminated progressives "for their own good" because they were mentally ill. The seeds for this can be seen on the boards when ABB people try to impugn the character of dissidents who argue against the Dem party and the Kerry candidacy, and subtly imply mental health issues. I saw that happening to Bill Todd at DFA - "what kind of monster would say those things?" was the message.

ABB people don't argue that their positions are right, they argue that no other positions - or even anything that would lead to or imply another postition - is even considered. They say that the position is "vote for Kerry" but that is a lie.  No political discussions are permitted that do not lead to their conclusion, even if the discussion has nothing to do with their conclusion. You can tell them that you will vote for Kerry, so enough already, but that doesn't stop them from jumping on every discussion about anything other than voting for Kerry.