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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
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Comment #1,601 Removed by Moderator

To: Texasforever
"If we believe in the individual rights of life, liberty and property; if we believe in a Constitutionally limited federal government; if we believe in freedom and liberty for all who do not use their freedom and liberty to bother others; we are Constitutionalists.

This may help...

Rest of article can be found HERE

redrock

1,602 posted on 09/06/2002 10:41:47 PM PDT by redrock
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To: exodus
You don't see threads criticizing Republican President Bush's support of official murder under the cover of the drug "war," like you did when Clinton was President.

Yes you do

drug raids

And yes you lie.

1,603 posted on 09/06/2002 10:42:07 PM PDT by Texasforever
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To: MJY1288
Was that a great rant or what?
1,604 posted on 09/06/2002 10:42:44 PM PDT by justshe
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To: FatherTorque
The only True Conservatives according to the moral-liberal ideologues:


Sacco & Vanzetti

1,605 posted on 09/06/2002 10:42:54 PM PDT by Cultural Jihad
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To: Mudboy Slim
clarity?
1,606 posted on 09/06/2002 10:42:54 PM PDT by Bob J
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To: MJY1288
Straight talk to a bunch of twisted souls. -- It's my duty.
1,607 posted on 09/06/2002 10:43:26 PM PDT by tpaine
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To: justshe
LOL, sure was
1,608 posted on 09/06/2002 10:44:29 PM PDT by MJY1288
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To: justshe
Yes, ma'am, he is The Master. LOL
1,609 posted on 09/06/2002 10:44:31 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
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To: Cultural Jihad
LMAO
1,610 posted on 09/06/2002 10:44:48 PM PDT by Texasforever
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To: Cultural Jihad
LMAO
1,611 posted on 09/06/2002 10:44:49 PM PDT by Texasforever
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To: FatherTorque
In case you missed Jim Robinson's message to all tonight you can see it HERE
1,612 posted on 09/06/2002 10:44:52 PM PDT by justshe
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To: exodus
I'd join with you in this quest, exodus, but
I'm a libertarian.  That means one foot
in the forum and the other on a banana
peel.  I don't want to go into the read-only
mode, if you know what I mean, and
I'm sure you do.
1,613 posted on 09/06/2002 10:44:57 PM PDT by gcruse
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To: Chad Fairbanks
Photos? -- We can hope....
1,614 posted on 09/06/2002 10:45:03 PM PDT by tpaine
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Comment #1,615 Removed by Moderator

Comment #1,616 Removed by Moderator

To: Kevin Curry
Excellent data!

And yes, very telling!
1,617 posted on 09/06/2002 10:46:33 PM PDT by justshe
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To: Kevin Curry
 
I'll leave it to others to draw conclusions from these data.

A lot of people are exploring other venues is one conclusion.

1,618 posted on 09/06/2002 10:46:48 PM PDT by gcruse
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To: one_particular_harbour
Got about 6 more hours to do on Sunday to finish my back. If I wasn't so tired I'd digi cam some pics.
1,619 posted on 09/06/2002 10:46:58 PM PDT by FatherTorque
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To: FatherTorque
"...because the Repubs have much more in common with Dems than they do with conservatives."

..ain't that the truth.

redrock

1,620 posted on 09/06/2002 10:47:07 PM PDT by redrock
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