Posted on 07/06/2002 2:31:54 PM PDT by B. A. Conservative
"Founded in 1996 by Jim Robinson, Free Republic is a loosely organized group of grassroots Americans who support our Constitution and look for honesty, integrity and honor from those in government."
What is our mission? "Free Republic is dedicated to reversing the trend of unconstitutional government expansion and is advocating a complete restoration of our constitutional republic." Jim Robinson has listed a great deal more worthwhile information and detail concerning the mission and a description of Free Republic. The current mission statement has been edited from an earlier version to account for past events. The original mission statement included language advocating the impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton, then President of the United States. Free Republic accomplished that portion of its mission statement by playing a central role in the events culminating in the successful vote in the House of Representatives to Impeach William Jefferson Clinton. For its role in the impeachment, Free Republic is an unequivocal and unqualified success.
However in evaluating and measuring Free Republic's performance with regard to the larger and by far the more significant role, "reversing the trend of unconstitutional government expansion and a complete restoration of our constitutional republic", I think the leadership and members of Free Republic need to refocus their thinking. By using any yardstick of your own choosing, there are few if any parameters in which conservatives can claim any improvement. And in any small victories that might have occurred, I would ask that you point out the role played by Free Republic in bringing it about. In short, I think that Free Republic has lost its focus on its most important reason for being.
Before offering my suggestions for getting back on track, I would like offer some thoughts on how and why we have become distracted from the primary focus as so eloquently stated by Jim Robinson:
The two courses of action most likely to offer a speedy and effective return to our Constitutional Republic are political and judicial. The left has used judicial appointments very effectively against the Constitution. Reagan advanced the task of recovering the federal judiciary, but we still have a long way to go in this area. Nevertheless, strategic use of the courts could be a very effective weapon in our arsenal. I think this should be the topic of some very serious discussions on how we can use the courts to attack existing unconstitutional government actions, laws and regulations. It takes someone to bring an action, and some legal thought to make such efforts productive. Forum shopping and plaintiff seeking are actively used by our opposition. I think this is an area where we can do much more than we have been doing.
And that brings us to the area of the greatest interest to us all. And it is in this arena that we are more likely to bring the quick results that we all desire. Well thought out, carefully crafted political activism can be effective. And each election offers opportunities to build on prior successes and to learn from prior mistakes. I will proffer that we have done little more than chat or indulge in wishful thinking. Our attempts at organized planning, coordination or unification of efforts, orderly assignment of tasks and delegation of responsibilities have been largely non-existent. All volunteer labor is hard to harness and effectively deploy. But it is not impossible.
Our computers and the internet provide the means to share and coordinate our efforts. It could also provide the means of choosing our leaders, delegation of tasks and responsibilities, and our most powerful weapon in recruiting new talents. Every human on the planet that has an internet connection has access to our materials and our efforts. It is a means to make our voices heard and to recruit more voices.
Everyone that frequents this site has visions of making their voice heard and making their vote count. Individually our voices are lost in the crowd noise. And even with our dismal lack of voter turnout, there were still more than 100 million votes cast in the last presidential election. It is difficult to know that your vote counted when it constitutes such a small part of the total vote. Political parties make a difference in the outcomes of elections by pooling the votes of like-minded individuals. Political candidates exercise power because each supporter transfers a portion of their individual power to the candidate. Coalitions gain power by pooling the individual powers of their members.
Free Republic can exercise the power of a coalition through uniting behind either common candidates or common issues or both. By acting as a unit, we can multiply our political effectiveness considerably. By recruiting and enlarging or attracting new members or supporters, we can multiply our effectiveness even more. We have proved that we can be effective. Ask the House managers and other members of the House how Clinton came to be impeached in spite of all the efforts of the media to prevent it.
We are approaching another election in a few months. Traffic on this site will increase progressively as we get closer to election day. Our political clout and power will increase exponentially as our viewing numbers increase. No matter what anyone wishes, the polls will be relatively close and the outcome of the election uncertain until the polls are closed. We will only have a good idea of the outcome when the exit polls and returns begin to come in. Before Election Day, the closer the polling data and the more uncertain the outcome of the election, the more our votes and our voices will matter. The more unified we are leading up to the election, the more our voices will be heard, and the more our votes will be courted.
We will have zero influence on Democratic voters or candidates. Any efforts directed at Democratic candidates will be a complete waste of our time and resources. Almost all directed at Democratic votes will have the same sad results. But our efforts directed at Republican voters and candidates can have a tremendous impact on the election and more importantly on the campaign leading up to the election. And surprisingly, our efforts in this election could have an even greater impact on the election of 2004.
FreeRepublic has the power within its grasp to achieve its mission and change the course of history. Organization, delegation, and unity of purpose are the keys to success. On another thread, I have offered what I believe to be one solution to the problem. There may be others. That is what the mission of this forum is about. Let's Roll!
Vermont Abolished Slavery in 1777. Pennsylvania in 1780. An act of 1787 prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory (now OH, MI, IN, IL & WI). New York Passed an Anti-Slave act in 1799. IN fact at the time of the decision every state North of Delaware had laws against slavery.
So much for your libertarian tactic of throwing up the slave issue, that tactic is more typical of the NAACP.
But then libertarians embrace many of the views of the NAACP, Anti-God, Pro-Abortion, Pro-Homosexual ect...
No, Free Republic is NOT a failure, but I think this thread is a very good example of just what Free Republic is ...
... an open forum where most anyone can post most anything they want.
And it is easy to post most anything under an anonymous screen name, like I am now.
I like FR the way it is, but I can see the value of another type of forum that you may like better ...
... one where all posters must have a true identity, more like a "letters to the editor" type of forum where posts are verified and posters have an active email address at least. That may help keep posts and topics more focused.
None that I know of. But some of them made sure themselves and about 80 of their fellow-followers (Including children) were burned to death in Waco a few years back.
All religions have their "Freaks".
Yes. And just as disgusting.
Squirt.
Also, its just that Ive spent time in the liberal campuses and Ive been exposed to some of the type of paranoia that goes down there. Good luck trying to have a rational discussion with the professor with a pony tail about free market economics without getting a "Smash the Patriarchy!!!" lecture. I guess I just dont want FR to start getting like that.
FReegards, CM.
Somehow, I don't recall Jesus beating down people's doors and saying, "Join me or die!" In fact, I don't recall him forcing anyone to come and listen to him. But, whatever, I'm sure the re-education camps you must want will help me in any point I'm hazy on.
Tuor
Give me liberty or give me death.
I dont' know why, but I doubt that you are...And you can answer for yourself...If you're interested...
Are you of the opinion that anyone who doesn't agree with your strict intrepretation of scripture is destined to spend eternity in Hell?
ie...Mother Theresa and Gandi???
You can take it from there...
Thanks for your reasoned appreciation of the subject.
A few days ago, on a rather lengthy thread, I posted my opinion that, I thought the day of reform via the ballot box had passed. Jim Robinson and several others upbraided me for even suggesting or considering the idea of a revolution. One does not have to be an advocate of anything to have an intellectual discussion.
In my short time here at FR, I have come to know quite a few of the older people and over a period of time, one can make an assessment according to what the individuals post. In that vein, I think my one third factor would hold water.
No. Obviously not. Not by a long shot. Before this forum, opportunities for conservatives and anyone that wasnt left of center to have rational and intelligent discussions were few and far between.
But bigger isnt always better. As time goes on and this forum grows, we are bound to get more people who arent necessarily interested in the same issues.
You have to deal with it as it comes, but we've been doing okay for now. We do lose however if we allow this to become less an outlet for unheard viewpoints and stories and issues that normally wouldnt break the mainstream. But the fact remains, this forum is still one of the best resources for information and ideas out there.
Others have said it better than I could, so I guess Ill just let them tackle it from here.
Jesse Sharpless ... John Haines . .. George Haines ... John Steel . . . Ephraim Martin . . . and --- Mayo . . . designing, contriving, and intending the morals, as well of youth as of divers other citizens of this commonwealth, to debauch and corrupt, and to raise and create in their minds inordinate and lustful desires . . . in a certain house there . . . scandalously did exhibit and show for money ... a certain lewd ... obscene painting, representing a man in an obscene ... and indecent posture with a woman, to the manifest corruption and subversion of youth, and other] citizens of this commonwealth . . . offending . . . [the] dignity of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The defendants have been convicted, upon their own confession, of conduct indicative of great moral depravity. . . . This court is ... invested with power to punish not only open violations of decency and morality, but also whatever secretly tends to undermine the principles of society. . .. Whatever tends to the destruction of morality, in general, may be punished criminally. Crimes are public offenses, not because they are perpetrated publicly, but because their effect is to injure the public. Burglary, though done in secret, is a public offense; and secretly destroying fences is indictable. Hence, it follows, that an offense may be punishable, if in its nature and by its example, it tends to the corruption of morals; although it be not committed in public.
The defendants are charged with exhibiting and showing . .. for money, a lewd . . . and obscene painting. A picture tends to excite lust, as strongly as a writing; and the showing of picture is as much a publication as the selling of a book. . . . If the privacy of the room was a protection, all the youth of the city might be corrupted, by taking them, one by one, into a chamber, and there inflaming their passions by the exhibition of lascivious pictures. In the eye of the law, this would be a publication, and a most pernicious one.
Although every immoral act, such as lying, etc., is not indict able, yet where the offense charged is destructive of morality in general ... it is punishable at common law. The destruction of morality renders the power of the government invalid. . . . The corruption of the public mind, in general, and debauching the manners of youth, in particular, by lewd and obscene pictures exhibited to view, must necessarily be attended with the most injurious consequences.. . . No man is permitted to corrupt the morals of the people; secret poison cannot be thus disseminated.
You make it sound like life in Early America was terrible, the fact is morality was something that was held in high regard, and Christianity was considered part of the common law.
Tell me, why was America wrong for From 1789-1960?? Then all of the sudden Right from 1960-Present?
What is this new enlightenment that Washington, Madison, Hamliton and the other founders did not have?
right on! ;)
Libertarians Endorse Homosexuality, Abortion, Sex Outside of Wedlock, Drug Use, Pornography, Blasphemy, Prostitution, Gambling.
The libertarian party platform specifically promotes and allows each one of these items. They are all items that liberals endorse.
The Social agenda of the Democrats, Greens and Libertarians are identical.
The only difference between the Libertarians and Liberals is the 2nd Amendment (The only social policy issue that the Libertarians get right) and Economic Policy.
If any man and woman, not being married to each other, shall lewdly and lasciviously associate, bed and cohabit together, they shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor:
(1805, c. 684, P.R.; R.C., c. 34, s. 45; Code, s. 1041; Rev., s. 3350; C.S., s. 4343; 1969, c. 1224, s. 9; 1993, c. 539, s. 119; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
Any man and woman found occupying the same bedroom in any hotel, public inn or boardinghouse for any immoral purpose, or any man and woman falsely registering as, or otherwise representing themselves to be, husband and wife in any hotel, public inn or boardinghouse, shall be deemed guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
(1917, c. 158, s. 2; C.S., s. 4345; 1969, c. 1224, s. 3; 1993, c. 539, s. 120; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia also prohibit fornication.
Your Scum infested Socialist pit called Kalifornia does allow these acts, so stay there, because decent states do not allow that behavior.
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