The prevalance of secret societies in today's governments?

[Da Skinna]

I just watched an interview with Jeff Sharlet, he wrote a book about The Family that has a house on C Street, or known as C Street or something. His book looks really intriguing.

Sanford, Enslin and a few other Republican, Christian fundamentalist philanderers have recently brought a lot of attention to the Family. They themselves even refer to themselves as "The Christian Mafia".

They believe the more invisible an organization, the more influential it is. There is video of this even, and they admire figures like Mao, Hitler and even Bin Laden himself for their own paths in their quest for power and immortality in the face of history.

This leads me to the idea of organizations within organizations. Cliques within governments. Hierarchies within gangs within political parties.


How prevalent are these? It's nothing new for those with power to create an elitist circle to hold onto power, Skulls and Bones or something like that have been around for centuries.


Are these groups dangerous or ill-conducive to democracy?

[nopasties]

I saw him talk briefly with Maher on Friday. Some scary stuff he is uncovering. For the most part I think secret societies are about social networks and not evil plots. 'The Family' may be more political than some but for the most part these things are silly.

[Trey]

Are these groups dangerous or ill-conducive to democracy?

Are social fraternity/sorority organizations? Are families and friends? These are not people who are seeking to control the world. They are people who are use connections to advance themselves and others they are affiliated with. What's wrong with it? That's the name of business anyway.

[Da Skinna]

Are social fraternity/sorority organizations? Are families and friends? These are not people who are seeking to control the world. They are people who are use connections to advance themselves and others they are affiliated with. What's wrong with it? That's the name of business anyway.

A Devil's advocate approach and I agree.

Sometimes these things run parallel with democracy.

[Buddhababe]

There has always been "secret societies" through out history. Look at the Free Masons. It really depends on why the society exists. It it is to be elitist and to themselves, that is one thing. Think of "frats" here. But a society or group who wants to change our Democracy into a Theocracy, that's dangerous. The "Family" is exactly that type of group.

[Nouvelle Vague]

Don't worry, Tom Hanks will save us.