Our Republic and Our Free Republic

9-6-02 | Joe Phillips

[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?

[AppyPappy]

Have you ever noticed that the same 10 people post to these threads? We should throw them in a hole and let them fight it out

Can we please move this out of the news section? It's really not news.

[Neets]

Do you NOT tire of the "so-and-so has been banned", when they were either given a suspension, or a time out...and whether or not they choose to come back, it's entirely up to them. But this blanket mischaracterization of the term "BANNED" is really annoying.

[Admin Moderator]

Mail call. Thanks, AM

[Mudboy Slim]

"I think it is inherent in the average Americans attitude to distrust and have disdain for any government, including ours."

"Is Joe making a play to advocate new rule on FR?"

That's not how I read it at all...JimRob's a Benevolent Dictator but he's granted that authority and I don't arrogate upon myself the Power to challenge that premise. If it really bothered me that much, I'd find somewhere else to hang out.

FReegards...MUD

[tomkat]

speaking of the tailend of 2000, remember this ... ?

sure hope we eat all of our own and let the socialist bastards back in the WH.
haven't had a good 'stand out in the winter rain and hope our country doesn't implode' day in quite a while ...

[Physicist]

But no matter what, the right idea is NOT to just come apart.

I wouldn't say "no matter what", but other than that, I agree. I'm a pretty radical libertarian, myself, but I'm neither about to leave this place or vote against the Republicans, despite serious reservations about the latter. (But don't think that means I'll toe just any lines drawn for me by either the Admin Moderators or John Ashcroft.)

In fact, I'll go you one better in the "unity" department: right now, our most important enemies are not even on the left, but in the Middle...East, that is.

[AppyPappy]

I'd have to have a lawn chair, a bowl of popcorn, and a 12 pack for the spectacle.

Thrown in a dozen weather balloons and we'll pay for the beer. yukyuk...

[AppyPappy]

sure hope we eat all of our own

I hope we at least get to choose.

[HarryDunne]

[Roscoe]

JW Badge With Holder

Do they sell lock picks?

[BADJOE]

Yes.

[paulklenk]

And the caramel apples, don't forget the caramel apples.

[Interesting Times]

Have you considered changing your screen name to "Askel Wormtongue"?

[Mo1]

But this blanket mischaracterization of the term "BANNED" is really annoying.

YEP!!!

[Incorrigible]

For everyone hankering for the "old days", here you go:

 

*****ASH ALERT*****

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

I don't know why "hating the government" would be a badge of honor to anyone or any organization.

And Lazamataz replies: "It was a badge of honor to Germans who hated Nazism. It was a badge of honor to Italians who hated Fascism. It was a badge of honor to Russians who hated Stalinism and Communism. It was a badge of honor to Cambodians who hated Pol Pot."

Are you suggesting our country is as evil as the governments you just mentioned?

BTW, both of us LOVE this country!! If you and BADJOE hate it, then speak up now to us. We want to know!!

[dubyagee]

Wish I had been here in those days...I had nothing but the television to rant to.
Would have been interesting seeing Freepers being nice to one another. ; * )

[Lazamataz]

Have you ever noticed that the same 10 people post to these threads? We should throw them in a hole and let them fight it out

10 people plus everyone else, you mean.

I notice that the same 15 people post to Abortion. Into the Abortion Thread Hole for you!