Violence has always been an extension of politics - it can be from nations in the form of traditional war, resistance organisations in the form of guerilla attacks for example, the PLO, French resistance, ANC. Al Qaeda (recognising one man's freedom fighter is another's terrorist), or it can be from small groups or individuals as in Norway and Oklahama.
The use of political violence does not mean the individuals executing it are mentally ill. Was Truman mentally ill when he authorised the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which killed more than 250,000 people, nearly all civilians and including thousands upon thousands of innocent children? The Norwegian guy may not be mentally ill, he may believe this is an extension of his political aims, just like Truman.
Since I have been an adult, most of the terrorism around me had been initially left wing - Baeder Meinhoff (sp?) and similar in Europe or nationalistic/ religious such as the IRA and ETA. This seems to have gone away to be replaced by islamic terrorism and right wing/christian fundamentalist terrorism such as in Norway, McVeigh and the Palin cross hairs shooting.
I think some of the recent commentary such as Jones on throwing Gillard in the ocean etc is going a step to far and do risk inciting individuals to commit acts such as this. Also comparing the current government to North Korea or the Nazis when we live in a prosperous democratic nation is ridiculous.
