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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:
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To: Texasforever
I don't remember. :) Seeds were bad things as I recall. Actually the quality overall sucked. If only I were young again.
1,561 posted on 09/06/2002 10:22:44 PM PDT by Torie
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To: tpaine
I forgot

"Clown"

1,562 posted on 09/06/2002 10:23:38 PM PDT by MJY1288
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To: Torie
I belive it was that great philosopher Cheech Marin that so wisely uttered, "Man, pot should not be legal...it should be mandatory".
1,563 posted on 09/06/2002 10:23:47 PM PDT by Texasforever
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To: MJY1288; ArneFufkin; Jim Robinson
"tpaine is simply one of the most straight talking principled libertarians around. He and I are probably very close in age and neither of us tolerates blowhards. I suspect if you've run crossways with tom, he probably gave you a good licking. Never-the-less, he still hasn't taught you to choke on your own hypocrisy...yet..."
# 1440 by harrowup


To: ArneFufkin

"principled libertarians"
Now!!! That's an oxymoron if I've ever seen one
# 1449 by MJY1288

*************************

Actually it's a true statement. A libertarian would never support a liberal candidate.

The same can't be said about Republicans. Republicans will support anyone who claims the title "Republican," even if they are liberal.

As Jim Robinson said earlier today, "...what I am after for the coming years is to elect as many Republicans as possible, especially conservative Republicans..."

A libertarian doesn't say "especially conservative..."

A libertarian just says "I'm going to vote for a conservative."

I am a consevative, I am a libertarian, and I will never vote for a liberal.

1,564 posted on 09/06/2002 10:23:55 PM PDT by exodus
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To: tpaine
I'll give you another six months or a year around here, before you expose yourself fully to all.

Will there be photos?

1,565 posted on 09/06/2002 10:24:37 PM PDT by Chad Fairbanks
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To: niki
Yep, same old sorry crap. If you are not part of the clique and don't agree with us your a pothead.

Do you usually have this much trouble understanding plain, written English? Is it your mother tongue?

Exactly what part of I'm pretty sure I've never addressed you or your drug threads before. don't you comprehend?

Personally, I'd rather you didn't agree with me on anything. You sound like a rather sour, grumpy person.

1,566 posted on 09/06/2002 10:25:29 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: ArneFufkin
Typical. Bet you just can't help but take sharp breaths when you think of bombs on Baghdad.
1,567 posted on 09/06/2002 10:26:43 PM PDT by Ragin1
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To: exodus; harrowup
Is ArneFufkin's comment against tpaine a violent personal attack?
__________________________________

Naaa, is just the ravings of a sicko. -- Let it go.

But thanks fellas
1,568 posted on 09/06/2002 10:26:45 PM PDT by tpaine
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To: William Terrell
No "of" in that declaration. My acronym was perfect. Yeah, in your case, my commentary at arms length would be unchanged. I don't like people who root on cop killers. Ya dig? That rankles me something fierce and visceral. I think I suggested where you could relocate that insipid blue apple once before.
1,569 posted on 09/06/2002 10:26:47 PM PDT by ArneFufkin
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To: Chad Fairbanks
So, what, exactly, has got your panties in a wad tonight?

Gee Chad, I would've answered that but I saw your other posts and realized your just being a jerk.

1,570 posted on 09/06/2002 10:26:50 PM PDT by niki
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Comment #1,571 Removed by Moderator

To: exodus
Libertarianism by nature adheres to humanist moral-liberalism. They have more in common with the Greens Party, the DNC, or the Trotskyite Spartacist League than they do with the Republican Party.
1,572 posted on 09/06/2002 10:27:09 PM PDT by Cultural Jihad
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Terilyn has a really good post on the JimRob thread. #264 HERE
1,573 posted on 09/06/2002 10:27:25 PM PDT by justshe
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To: Texasforever
Here's a hint, the key words were SOME discours.
1,574 posted on 09/06/2002 10:27:42 PM PDT by Ragin1
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To: exodus
I'm glad you have it all figured out, thanks for clearing it up.
1,575 posted on 09/06/2002 10:27:56 PM PDT by MJY1288
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To: niki
I'm just trying to make the top 10 list of asswipes, and well, you were handy... so, what HAS got your panties in a bunch? ;0)
1,576 posted on 09/06/2002 10:28:02 PM PDT by Chad Fairbanks
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To: exodus
You forgot to ping the Admin Mod.
1,577 posted on 09/06/2002 10:28:18 PM PDT by Southflanknorthpawsis
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To: exodus
Actually it's a true statement. A libertarian would never support a liberal candidate.

Libertarians are NOT conservative, they have NEVER been conservative. Libertarians are liberals that don't want to pay for the mess they create i.e. SELFISH LIBERALS.

1,578 posted on 09/06/2002 10:28:23 PM PDT by Texasforever
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To: Texasforever
Exactly, numbnutz, that was his word.
1,579 posted on 09/06/2002 10:29:08 PM PDT by tpaine
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To: Howlin
Yea, nice try. Twist, Twist away.
1,580 posted on 09/06/2002 10:29:45 PM PDT by niki
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