German, US Acceptance of Torture

This is depressing:  the BBC conducted a worldwide survey on how open people are to the use of torture in certain circumstances.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised that 36% of Americans support torturing prisoners.  In Germany, the situation is brighter, as only 21% of Germans would support the use the torture. 

The percentage of Americans who condone torture corresponds roughly to the number of Americans in recent polls who continue to support President Bush.  This is the "authoritarian minority" which is susceptible to the fear-mongering of the Republican Party, and are eager to give up any and all constitutional rights if they are promised security against the "evildoers".  The Republican Party stands to lose big in the upcoming mid-term elections, but the party knows it can limit its losses if it can mobilize this "authoritarian minority".

Comments

[erphschwester]

ich bin auch noch über 21% entsetzt. aber ich sehe die entwicklung auch in deutschen blogs.
hat´s mit der sinkenden bildung und dem fehlenden unrechtsbewusstsein zu tun? oder neigen wir eher zu rigisen methoden, sobald wir uns persönlich bedroht fuehlen.
jedenfalls entspricht das nicht meiner vorstellung davon, wie man probleme loesen kann.

[Omar Abo-Namous]

that's very interesting! Iraq post Abu Ghraib: 42(!!)% not opposed to torture.. (opposed to 25% in egypt) of course for some US-republicans the mere viewing of "24" already counts as being pro torture.

thnx for the link

[David]

@erphschwester,

es hat mit Bildung nichts zu tun - eher Angst - denn Israel - ein hochgebildetes Land - liegt an erster Stelle.

[Fry]

Perhaps "fearful minority" is more accurate?

One has to wonder how the base is going to react now that even Bush seems to be admitting that his master plan has gone off the rails.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1926809,00.html

[name]

"Israel" ist zwar ein hoch(ein)gebildetes Land aber auch die Weltzentrale des Rechtsextremismus und Rassismus, deshalb auch erster Platz beim Foltern.

[Dr. Dean]

I think we can take the numbers for a "civilization index"...

(Of course, not! But i believe they are really good indicators for the political climate in a country.)