The Noble Lie

Recession fueling right-wing extremism, U.S. says

According to this article, Homeland Security is concerned that the economic crisis and the fact that we have a black president is spurring  "recruitment and radicalization activity," lumping together "white supremacist groups, anti-government extremists, and militia movements" without naming any specific groups.

"Right-wing extremism" is probably very high at the moment, but this alert is a little too ambiguous for my tastes. While it's already irresponsible to lump these groups together, I think the net will be cast much further than what could be called "right-wing extremism." I'm concerned this is a net for all anti-globalists and anti-free traders, many of whom have some very valid gripes to say the least. The drumbeat is rising to connect domestic terrorism to patriot radio, alternative media, and the internet.

This is a vulnerable time for globalism because it is going public in a big way. This is also an increasingly tense time for people who speak out against it.

Through the magic of repetition during this Middle East conflict, the word "extremist" has become synonymous with "terrorist," which is a slippery enough term on its own.