Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Our Republic and Our Free Republic
9-6-02 | Joe Phillips

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?


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 1,521-1,5401,541-1,5601,561-1,580 ... 2,801-2,806 next last
To: justshe
Well, if Beckie IS Fred and Niki, then I'd say the answer to your question is 'No.' ;0)
1,541 posted on 09/06/2002 10:13:09 PM PDT by Chad Fairbanks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1538 | View Replies]

To: harrowup; tpaine
tpaine is simply one of the most straight talking principled libertarians around.

If "principled" means making an ass of yourself 24/7 then you may have a point. Other than that TP is just the village idiot and he revels in it.

1,542 posted on 09/06/2002 10:13:13 PM PDT by Texasforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1440 | View Replies]

To: Amelia
Should I be insulted or relieved that MY 'up yours' was second?
1,543 posted on 09/06/2002 10:15:07 PM PDT by justshe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1536 | View Replies]

To: willide
C-YA
1,544 posted on 09/06/2002 10:15:48 PM PDT by Cultural Jihad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1510 | View Replies]

To: ladyinred
Why are you doing this again? I thought I saw a big make up thread recently?

You saw that too huh?

1,545 posted on 09/06/2002 10:15:48 PM PDT by Texasforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1527 | View Replies]

To: justshe
Well, I'd be relieved... but maybe that's just me... :0)
1,546 posted on 09/06/2002 10:15:50 PM PDT by Chad Fairbanks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1543 | View Replies]

To: justshe
First place is always best, I say. But the night is still young. ;-)
1,547 posted on 09/06/2002 10:16:41 PM PDT by Amelia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1543 | View Replies]

To: justshe
The one thing you don't want is seconds from Tpaine.
1,548 posted on 09/06/2002 10:17:12 PM PDT by Texasforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1543 | View Replies]

To: Texasforever
Ewwww....
1,549 posted on 09/06/2002 10:17:31 PM PDT by Chad Fairbanks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1548 | View Replies]

To: Howlin
My contribution to a drug thread today is that pot should be legal only for me. No one responded. :( Cheers.
1,550 posted on 09/06/2002 10:18:07 PM PDT by Torie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1472 | View Replies]

To: Torie
That's like me... I believe that everyone should be able to own the gun of their choice, but only I get ammo ;0)
1,551 posted on 09/06/2002 10:19:04 PM PDT by Chad Fairbanks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1550 | View Replies]

To: Cultural Jihad
See my post #1530. ROTFLOL.........GMTA, huh?
1,552 posted on 09/06/2002 10:19:21 PM PDT by Southflanknorthpawsis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1544 | View Replies]

To: Torie
Well, of course they didn't respond. They all want it just for themselves, too......LOL.
1,553 posted on 09/06/2002 10:19:26 PM PDT by Howlin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1550 | View Replies]

To: Torie
My contribution to a drug thread today is that pot should be legal only for me. No one responded. :( Cheers.

Is it true that those seeds in pot are really "tiny time pills"?

1,554 posted on 09/06/2002 10:19:49 PM PDT by Texasforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1550 | View Replies]

To: ArneFufkin
What discussion are you talking about? Do you have a link? You could be talking about anything or nothing.

I would guess BIOYA means "blow it out of your ass". If so, you missed an "O". I suppose you feel so insulated by web distances, you can let your natural self wing free of physical retaliation. Do you talk that way to people within arm distance?

1,555 posted on 09/06/2002 10:19:56 PM PDT by William Terrell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1458 | View Replies]

To: Howlin
BTW, I don't see how you could possibly claim I've used the "same old sorry line" on you before since I'm pretty sure I've never addressed you or your drug threads before.

Yep, same old sorry crap. If you are not part of the clique and don't agree with us your a pothead.

1,556 posted on 09/06/2002 10:20:01 PM PDT by niki
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1498 | View Replies]

To: Texasforever
"Other than that TP is just the village idiot and he revels in it."

..of course..there are some here at FR who view you as tpaine's alter ego...with the same claim to the 'village idiot' award.

(grin)

redrock

1,557 posted on 09/06/2002 10:20:02 PM PDT by redrock
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1542 | View Replies]

To: redrock
Yep but I don't hide it behind the "constitution". Grin.
1,558 posted on 09/06/2002 10:21:10 PM PDT by Texasforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1557 | View Replies]

To: tpaine
Why you're still here is amazing, Here is just a few examples of your "straight talk"

"punk"
"Asshole"
"Scumbag"
"Creep"
"Up Yours"
"Nasty Drunk"
"Jerk"

You need help grasshopper

1,559 posted on 09/06/2002 10:21:40 PM PDT by MJY1288
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1522 | View Replies]

To: one_particular_harbour
I 'mistook' nothing, clown. I always figured you for a weasel. But you're GOOD at being one. It took awhile to see the real you.

I'll give you another six months or a year around here, before you expose yourself fully to all.
1,560 posted on 09/06/2002 10:22:18 PM PDT by tpaine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1460 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 1,521-1,5401,541-1,5601,561-1,580 ... 2,801-2,806 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson