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?
Yes, indeedy...I've not read every post, but has anybody else professed a belief--or evidence--that JimRob's a "SellOut"?!
Lemme at 'em...LOL!!
FReegards...MUD
Next time I need an original thought or concept, I will contact you.
As a matter of fact, I had not.
Do folks call me such names behind my back when I harp on hypocritical posts and/or posters on this site and elsewhere ... as if I were limited to taking exception with only the One Side OR the Other concerning the yin yang of perpetual conflict between the Cults of Personality which sprang up around FReepers of yore and JimRob?
I'm happy to consider it but I'll admit I'd like something with a little more snap than "Wormtongue". Plenty of prurient sorts around here who'll be tempted to take that sort of handle and run with it. I certainly don't want to leave myself open to that sort of cheap shot. I get enough as it is.
Innuendo is the only way you can speak 'freely' on FR about certain subjects, as we ALL well know.
Certainly nobody would ever be allowed to post a thread suggesting that Jim and FR have been "bought by the GOP behind the scenes"...
I love the New American Magazine and enjoy reading every issue that I receive.
Whats hominy got to do with anything?????
(LOL, just trying to bump this stupid thread to 500, I think someone has money riding on it getting there by 3pm Eastern) :o)
College my butt.
Cut TP some slack. He's not known for getting it right away.
FYI, I probably would never give you the time of day.
2. Conspiracy thought is just a subset of cognitive dissonance. What you know to be true you cannot manage to wrap your brain around. So you hallucinate. Such is your innuendo in your first post. There is no need to posit a behind-the-scenes buy-out of Free Republic when what you see right in front of you is consistent with what we know happens to some minds over time.
That JR used to think the Bush family was involved in drug-running but now supports George Bush enthusiastically might make your mind hurt, but don't let the hallucinations in just to take the pain away. You will never find your way back to Occam again.
Jobless Rate (Unexpectedly) Falls
Feinstein Attacks Bush on Iraq
Hooters Chairman Makes Bid for Vanguard
Millions in Negative Ads Send Davis Backwards
These are just four examples I pulled. There are lots of other things happening, including Blair arriving tomorrow, Congress in New York, and all sorts of issues from Homeland Security to Martha Stewart. All of this whining and backbiting is a waste of time.
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