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?
You are assuming too much.
I agree with that
Change "Bush" to "Clinton" and it's exactly the opposition FR had back in '98-'99.
Let us hope that in becoming obsessed with an enemy, that we have not become the enemy.
Oh we agree!
Thank you kindly, ma'am! (tipping hat)
Oh Beckie
Check out #121...he did.
"This thread will stay, and his sycophants will beg him to stay..."
BADJOE's got sycophants?! WOW...how come I don't get any sycophants?! LOL!!
"FRILLIONS of EXODUS-threatening FREEPERS..."
ROFL...aren't those "ExitRants" a hoot?! I've wisely refrained from posting one 'cuz I didn't want to put up with the razzin' that I'd have earned when I wouldda inevitably returned!!
"...will post infinite posts of accusatory "ASS KISSING", "BUSHBOT'ing" slams..."
Nothing like the BushBackers slammin' the "BushWhackers" and "EX-GoPatGoers"...that krap getsa slung both ways and FR.com would be a better place if both sides got over it!!
"Joe will sit in his Freeper Creeper, watching the threat evolve and take form; then it will be posted over on LP and they will laugh about it, and make fun of posters and hurl personal insults in Jim Robinsons direction; and in about two or three days Joe will show up...and lob another stink bomb."
I disagree that Joe either this devious--or the AFer's Useful Idiot--although BJ knows I think calling JimRob a "SELLOUT" is stepping over the line.
FReegards...MUD
Does pee in koolaid stop "Chronic Screech Syndrome"? If so, please drink a lot of fluids and continue.
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