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?

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

I just found out via FReepMail that I failed my drug test--too many FReepin' steroids--and have been disqualified...LOL!!

DANG!!! And all that time I though you just excercised a lot!! :o)

[justshe]

You ARE the FREEPARIAN IDOL!!!!

Can you sing too?

[Slip18]

I am sick of this place.

BADJOE, take my one dollar a day donation and shove it where the sun don't shine.

Jim, shame on you for letting this happen.

[Neets]

Oooo Oooo,, I'll have one of those, two olives tho please?

[FreeTheHostages]

CONTEST, CONTEST!!! WITH ACTUAL REAL WORLD PRIZE!!

I am sponsoring a contest in this thread. Person who wins gets me to mail to them Lynne Cheney's new book, "America: A Patriotic Primer." Here's the contest: Come up with your own top ten list (and be sure to ping me with it) of

TOP TEN REASONS WHY (and here you have an option of themes)
(1) I'm Still Posting in This Thread
(2) I'm Still A Happy Freeper
(3) This Thread Scares Me

Contest closes at 5 p.m. EST Saturday, winner to be announced by 10 p.m. I am the sole judge.

Remember, this is a top ten list contest. Humor counts.

[Joe Driscoll]

Alacrity. Acrimonious.

You must be watching reruns. Telly said the letter of the day was "D".

[Taliesan]

That little mathematical exercise with Askel's name and the character from Tolkein is brilliant and easily the most frightening thing on the thread. You have A Beautiful Mind.

Is that little girl playing jacks distracting you from your studies?

:-)

[Cold Heat]

Thank you for the RATIONAL, TRUTHFUL post! It's about time!

I appreciate it! Although I find it difficult to find the word to describe what I am seeing, I find it upsetting that the debate has grown to be so, so sour and unproductive.

We must realize what the priorities are and how important the loss of majority status is to our country.

We must continue our debates within the conservative movement but never attack each other personally for our diverse views. This is the only healthy way to achieve our goals and bring our dreams to fruition.

We must accept the fact that although we have differing feelings on some issues we are but a family that has the collective goal of a better, smaller government and a moral and freedom loving society that is fair and generous, and aware of our importance and influence to the rest of the planet.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

You ARE the FREEPARIAN IDOL!!!!

ROFL!!!! Yes, I CAN Sing!!! (Does this mean I have to sob and wipe the snot off my face again?)

:o)

OK.. I am really and truly OUT of here!!! I'm never going to get on that treadmill sitting here. But my abs did get a good workout!! LOL!

[Lazamataz]

So the solution to too much government is...more government. You are a good Republican, aren't you?

Personal civility differs from government and governing bodies in many ways.

[Joe Driscoll]

Alacrity. Acrimonious.

You must be watching reruns. Telly said the letter of the day was "D".

[tpaine]

Those of us who believe in the two party system and are attempting to elect the best and brightest as well as the most likely to win candidates in order to maintain and/or achieve solid majorities in the house and senate are being chastised and insulted as traitors to the Constitution of these United States of America.
_________________________________

Our "two party system" is allowing our constitution to be violated. The following outlines a position on the matter ALL of us could, and ~~should~~ rally behind, imo. Can you agree?


"We the People have granted our federal government limited powers to oversee certain things, such as national defense, interstate commerce, the postal service, the coining of money, and the operation of a court system. Most other powers now in the hands of the federal government were illegally usurped from the states and from the people."

"Somehow, over the years, our guiding principles of law, as set forth in the Constitution, have been eroded to the point that the federal government now has total control -- leaving the states impotent and the people as captive servants to the federal government."

[Hemingway's Ghost]

The multicolored litany of damnation:

[dubyagee]

With any luck, this'll keep these morons occupied for the entire weekend, and the rest of us can freep in peace for a coupla days.

Heh he heh...great reply. If I hadn't already nominated one for post of the day, this would be it. ; * )

[Mo1]

are you driving????

[tpaine]

Those of us who believe in the two party system and are attempting to elect the best and brightest as well as the most likely to win candidates in order to maintain and/or achieve solid majorities in the house and senate are being chastised and insulted as traitors to the Constitution of these United States of America.
_________________________________

Our "two party system" is allowing our constitution to be violated. The following outlines a position on the matter ALL of us could, and ~~should~~ rally behind, imo. Can you agree?


"We the People have granted our federal government limited powers to oversee certain things, such as national defense, interstate commerce, the postal service, the coining of money, and the operation of a court system. Most other powers now in the hands of the federal government were illegally usurped from the states and from the people."

"Somehow, over the years, our guiding principles of law, as set forth in the Constitution, have been eroded to the point that the federal government now has total control -- leaving the states impotent and the people as captive servants to the federal government."

[Lazamataz]

So the solution to too much government is...more government. You are a good Republican, aren't you?

Personal civility differs from government and governing bodies in many ways.

[Constitution Day]

No fair! You can only nominate ONE. ;^)

[Admin Moderator]

Removed your duplicate per request. Thanks, AM