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?
Nah......she's like that every day.
Since the moment Lombardi passed on, my FRiend...I grew up on Coach George Allen, Sr. and now I'm breaking bread with his son, Senator George Allen, Jr....reckon that makes me part of the "Over-the-Hill Gang"!!!!
#48 Skins FReegards...MUD
Are you saying that a former Sec of Def, a man who now has an aircraft carrier named after him, was pushed? I hope you're not talking about that weird "roswell" rumor.
Go to your room!and don't come out 'til the judgins' done...
No...the message is all that counts and if yer message survives yer misspellin's...well, kewl!!
"Question 2: What if I say something bad about somebody else and it turns out you like them?"
Why must you always speak ill of my FRiends, my FRiend?! Can't we all just get along?!
"Ok, this is simple: I promise to hate everyone equally when judging (in the apparent spirit of this thread), but why would something bad be funny? Can't speak for Mudboy, but Three Stooges weren't ever that funny for me."
You are obviously a chick.
"Question 3: Is this an official Free Republic contest? Nope -- sorry didn't clarify that in my original contest announcement. This is just little 'ole me and Mudboy. But the books are real and will be mailed."
Ain't nuthin' official about FreeRepublic...we're just groovin' along, makin' things happen...MUD
That's anarchy.Anarchists suck.920 posted on 9/6/02 6:59 PM Eastern by ArneFufkin
Hey, I got to use it again.
I had to chuckle at the self-proclaimed anti-World afficianado who identified himself by a number!!!
The centrally issued registration and enumertion of the AntiWorld folks just seems to defeat the whole purpose of their anonymous, borderless, stateless existence.
Ma...seriously, I don't wanna go into it here, but I'm too old fer you to send me to my room!!
FReegards...MUD
Darn, I thought they all got banned!
The most primitive tribes of Africa and Micronesia don't worry about covering up their proud personal fixtures, but they have precise tribal leadership hierarchies and clear societal rules and sanctions.
It's an empty discussion.
Hmmm... as long as MY faucet ain't dripping, I'm happy ;0)
too tempting, and nobody else got to it yet ...
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