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?
Don't Worry, Be Happy
Here's a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't Worry - Be HappyIn every life we have some trouble
But when you worry you make it Double
Don't Worry - Be HappyAin't got no place to lay your head,
somebody came and took your bed
Don't Worry, Be HappyThe landlord say your rent is late,
he may have to litigate
Don't Worry - Be HappyAin't got not cash, ain't got no style,
ain't got no gal to make you smile
Don't Worry - Be HappyCause when you worry your face will frown
and that will bring everybody down
Don't Worry - Be Happy
MM, your summary of what I missed was excellent. I'm afraid I'm out of the running on the Top 10 List Contest. I'm just not that clever. MM, your list was excellent, and I suspect you'll win.
Now as to the matter of the *sswipe List. I have one thing to say:
Any list of *sswipes that does not include me lacks any credibility whatsoever.
And, yes, I will have a martini, thank you.
I'll hold off speculating on what the internal struggle is here, and I can only salute all those who makes this wonderful site possible for all of us, and they can count on my support and donations. I think everyone here at FR does a great job. I have never seen any unfair treatment by the Mods, I know some of these pouting pitchforkers around here with the 18th century screen names can make us feel like we are dealing with a spoiled child who didn't get their way, but that's a minor irritation compared to all the great Freepers who contribute their thoughts here.
Free Republic is still the best damn website their is for we conservatives, I understand some of us don't muster with some of the so-called "True Conservatives" around here, But Hey, I don't think they muster with the voters, I want to further the cause of taking away the grip liberalism has on this country not further it by voting for some joker like Harry Browne or Alan Keyes, Sure they're good conservatives and I appreciate some of their views, Burt they should stick to OpEds and forget politics, THEY SUCK AT IT
My title would be "SHE WHO MUST BE OBEYED."
(Credit to H. Ryder Haggard.)
I hear that that will be the next major government pronouncement. Seriously. There was something on about it yesterday.
Yep, and didn't you tell me you were allergic to darts?
Here, have some gin. I am on my third, and am quite mellow.
A comment like that coming from you? Little Miss Catty with the childish white fonts.
*snicker*
I don't know if the FBI did it or not, but it looks pretty darn accurate. I bet "the princess bride" came mail-order, too.
Sheesh.
1653 posted on 9/1/02 2:30 PM Pacific by Amelia
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These guys get vaporized, and sneak back in under new handles. How dependent are they?
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