DailyKos has become an intolerant, close minded, verbally violent and censorship site reminiscent of the days in 1920's Germany. In the early days of the Nazis rise to power opposing views were met with physical attacks. They would demonize and silence their opponents. Their followers would mindlessly support the actions of the party and it's candidate. There was no open political discourse and those that attempted it paid a price. The Nazis were and remain the extreme example of what happens when good people don't pay attention. This is not to say that the DailyKos has become like the Nazis but it is in the very early stages of approaching the entrance of the highway to censorship which is never a positive thing.
The most troubling aspect on the DailyKos site is that the Obama supporters don't see their own tactics as abusive. We have seen many examples on the news of what 'Internet Violence' is capable of doing. In the extreme it has led to death. Politcal bullying on the Internet has replaced 'physical intimidation'. Otherwise 'good individuals' become something else when in a group as if the personality of the group replaces the individual's personality. DailyKos would be an excellent study in group mentality and it's effect on individual minds. Indeed even Kos himself has been infected perhaps with a 'perception of power rather than real power', (ie. the darkening of Obama's photo). Above all the barrier of the Internet itself lends to individuals 'expression of thought with no consequence'. The anonymity of the crowd has led to some of the most grotesque abuses in the world. Today we have the 'anonymity of the Internet'.
The DailyKos is free to follow whatever course it will but if the purpose is free and open political dialogue, the train has jumped off the tracks. Of course political campaigns in our nation have always been 'spirited'. It is when free and open political discourse is replaced with 'Internet Intimidation', physical violence, censorship or mindless, unquestioning loyalty that the warning bells should sound. It is only when a party or a candidate's ideas are weak and fraught with deception that censorship or intimidation become acceptable to the supporters.
Disclaimer: I don't support Clinton or Obama. For having expressed my views on DailyKos I have been censored.
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