Our Republic and Our Free Republic

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.

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?

" Can you agree? "

Of Course, My FRiend! We all are in agreement on that point!

States rights have indeed suffered greatly. This is what I am talking about when I said that the issues we agree on are basically being covered up by inuendo and words that cannot be retracted.

I view the conservative movement as a family. We argue at the dinner table and discuss many issues. A few of them are emotionally charged. We must allways keep in mind the the very next day we must sit down at that table together again for more discussion. The words we used the day before must be measured and respectfull if the family is to stay together.

Separately, we can achieve little or nothing. Hell, if 9/11 could not bring us together, What is it going to take? A alien invasion from the dark universe?

At the end of the day, like a family, we must still be mindfull that we have common goals to achieve. The only hope that we have to achieve those goal is the strength of that family's convictions and respect for each other!

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.

BadJoe, I fear for the republic. By that I do not mean FR, I mean the republic for which it used to stand.

I came running back in here to restart my puter, cause I wanted to make a serious comment.

I think Jim Robinson is wonderful. He afforded many of us a place to come, when we thought we were going to explode with frustration during the Clinton years.

Thank you Jim. We pray this website lives on for a long time. Allowing people to "come together" to fight for common causes. There is no better forum on the internet, no better format to date. So again, thanks for all you do, and all you've given to us.

Bad Joe is also WONDERFUL!!! My husband has had the pleasure of being a guest in his home, and Joe has been a dear friend to us (I've only gotten to speak to him on the phone, but he has been very generous to me, and a great friend). He is hilarious, intelligent, talented, devoted to FR, and has done a ton of work for this site.

I have a wonderful Chair of his (I can HIGHLY recommend it for ANYONE with back problems) and cup holders and other items that "he" buys to promote FreeRepublic. He is always promoting this site, and works his behind off for it!!

I made light of this thread, because it needed to be hosed down. I haven't spoken with BadJoe regarding this thread, but since I got mad at the "hate our government" statements made by some, I wanted to clarify, that we still think the world of BadJoe, and ALWAYS will.

I also KNOW (because of things Joe HAS said to us) That he LOVES JimRob and FreeRepublic. That is a fact.

I don't know exactly what is going on here, but I'm with those who feel both men are vital to this forum. Our prayers are that this will be totally resolved.. the sooner the better.

Considering the upcoming anniversary of 9/11 and the things our country is facing (war) I pray this disagreement is over soon, VERY SOON!!

There is a post by a person named "wirestripper" that kind of says how we feel in this house.

I hope he doesn't mind me posting part of it, but here goes as it says better than I can, how we should all "unite" rather than be "divided".

FRegards, Vets

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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.

This is fundamentally wrong headed and damaging to our causes, which we generally have consensus on.

The conservative label, like the liberal moniker is a very broad and all encompassing term that cannot be narrowly defined, yet that is precisely what you are trying to do. It would be better to use your cogent arguements and influence to help guide the party's direction rather than attack it! (especially during election cycles)

Can we not agree to disagree on some issues while at the same time develope consensus on those things that are most important? Can we not elect a republican majority in both houses to achieve all of our goals, or at least to make it possible to do so.

I am a Happy Freeper because....

10. Just knowing there is a place like FR makes me smile..

9. I learn more truth on this Forum in 5 minutes than an hour spent reading the lefty press...

8. The people who post here are sometimes smart; often sassy and always opine....

7. I like the lyrics doug from upland writes to his song parodies...

6. FR is the only place I can reveal without shame that I spit at the TV everytime I see x42...

5. I like Daily Dose of Dubya thread because I can see pictures of GWB with real Americans that my liberal newspaper won't print....

4. I like the FR Finest thread where I can meet & learn about other Freepers...

3. Thanks to FR I learned HTML from another Freeper and I enjoy posting graphics like this....

2. I'm glad that I have place on the WWW where I can find for news, help, advice, prayers, humor, information, ideas, and friendship....

And the #1 reason I'm a Happy Freeper is......

1. I love to FREEP.....in a protest, via email, letters, or polls!

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