Posted on 09/06/2002 8:17:16 AM PDT by BADJOE
History teaches some very good lessons. They are hard to learn but our forefathers did a great job.
From the beginning of time man has overthrown one form of centralized government only to re-establish another one in its place. Our forefathers understood this far better than anyone ever had. They said governments are the eternal enemy of free men. They said that in order for man to remain free it would take a bloody revolution every other generation, unless you bound down (bastard) government with the chains of the constitution.
On another site this week a poster asked if anyone else hated government as much as he did. I replied to him
"Hell !! I thought you were not a good American if you didn't love our country and hate our government.
At least that is how I have always felt about it"
I think our forefathers had the same attitude that I have now. And I think it is inherent in the average Americans attitude to distrust and have disdain for any government, including ours. One of the hardest conclusions I had to arrive at as a young man, after having been a product of the public school system, was that our government was not on our side. As James Forrestahl, former secretary of the Navy, who suffered a mysterious death, once said about our State Department's foreign policy, " Stupidity is never a mark of consistancy. If they were merely stupid, they would occasionally make a mistake in our favor".
Newt Gringrich put it in a humourous manner when talking about the attitude of Europeans. He related the following story. If you go to Europe and drive on the Autobahn, you feel pretty good cruising down the highway at 100 mph when some some German passes you doing 140 mph. Now he said if the Bundestag passed the 55mph speed limit law, every German would dutifully obey that law, untill the next election. They would vote the 55 mph crowd out of office and the no speed limit crowd in. In America Newt said "A speed limit sign is a benchmark of opportunity.
It is obvious that Yankees and Euros have entirely different attitudes about government's edicts. There are darn few Americans who do not break the speed limit laws everyday.
Now we come to the Free Republic. Once a free wheeling, joyful site for news and discussion of politics, economics, philosophy, ethics and morals. I could not understand the transformation that has taken place in the last six months. Camaraderie, the sense of family, and cooperation seems to have disappeared. Are the Freepers exhibiting the same disdain for the new FR as Americans have for our government?
paging Arthur
Jim already told you that they are doing what HE says; now, since he said that publicly to you more than once, if you've got a problem, it's with Jim, so stop blaming it on the moderators.
90 percent of us here are satisifed with them and how this place works.
What dipsticks.
foreverfree
This is what I don't understand, BJ. You make a post a few weeks ago that leads to an amiable conclusion between you and JimRob. Now, because JimRob hasn't released mods from duty- even with the 'new' rules, you are PO'd again?
I have a very simple question... who's forum is this? And is JimRob supposed to make everyone else miserable just to make you happy?
Perhaps its the drugs, but I am very confused as to why you would remain part of something that you obviously have very deep differences with. Is it to continue to foster discontent in hopes that FR will become what YOU see fit, or is it to continue to encourage division in the hopes that you will be the next martyr?
It is tough to understand why anyone would shoot their funding in the foot unless alternative funding was in place.
Has FR been bought by the GOP behind the scenes? Are the two gung ho GOP moderators the go between to oversee and direct FR to be the power internet arm of GOP politcos?
Is there any other explanation?
1 posted on 9/6/02 11:17 AM Eastern by BADJOE
Imagine insinuating that about Jim Robinson!
Have you tried holding your breath until you turn blue?
Tex .. I doubt it very much
Badjoe I thought that matter was settled
And isn't the point that BJ is using "inside information" to give the impression that HE is making demands on Jim?
Tell me the last time you saw a BUSH BOT post something like this crap we've seen for the last few weeks?
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