Is Free Republic a Failure?

vanity ^ | July 6, 2002 | B. A. Conservative

[B. A. Conservative]

"As a law enforcement officer.."

I was not going to attack you for your obvious stupidity. Stupidity is an accident of birth or failed education; it may not be your fault. Growing up in America accounts for a lot of the educational stupidity that exists on this site. But discovering that you are a law enforcement officer is frightening.

Do your self a favor: keep the mouse, but throw your keyboard away.

[philman_36]

We need to stop worrying about what "the GOP" is doing and work on the voters.
How is that to be accomplished Nick? When, as a voter, you're given a list of "approved candidates" that don't meet the muster what do you do?
And what is your opinion of the necessity of being "registered" to vote?
You're registered to vote.
Moooove on up here and pull that lever darken that circle with your #2, and only #2, pencil.
Now that is something to be proud of indeed!

There's something very, very wrong with us. /Stripes spoof

[Nick Danger]

I still contend your "vote" is worthless.

We're doomed, eh? Oh well, time to crawl in a hole and die then. They got us. I just feel so persecuted now. Woe is me.

[philman_36]

We're doomed, eh?
Did I say that? NO! Don't play me for the fool!
Oh well, time to crawl in a hole and die then. They got us. I just feel so persecuted now. Woe is me.
Not a very smart come back from a person of your "purported" intelligence.

[philman_36]

I believe more and more every day that you're nothing more than a party hack.

[B. A. Conservative]

"Politicians can count....There are not enough of us to elect anybody."

How did Reagan get elected?

Who elected the 1994 Congress and why?

Assume for a moment that you are right. If there are not enough conservatives to elect conservative Republicans, are there enough conservatives that by not voting at all it would keep Republicans from being elected? "Vote" can become "veto".

If conservatives want to move Republicans to the right, and are willing not to vote for Republicans who do not move to the right, how will Republican politicians respond?

I think if they can actually count, they will move to the right. If I am wrong, then we are not going to see a return of freedom until at least one state secedes. What will trigger the secession? Right now our largest denomination of currency that is printed is the $100 dollar bill. If I am wrong, in an another decade, the $100 will be the smallest denomination of currency that is printed.

[Johnny Shear]

Yeah, just like Vince Foster committed suicide because the Wall Street Journal said mean things.

Oh great! Another Conspiracy Kook who makes us all look bad. I respect you as much as I respect Cynthia McKinney and her "Bush knew" CRAP!

Just an FYI...

[steve50]

He/she/it did show up just about the time this turned into an unquestioning love fest for the neocons.

[WhiteGuy]

what do you call it?

None of your business.

[Neets]

Is Freerepublic A Failure??? Not by ANY stretch of the imagination...None of us were born with an anchor on our ass, so if YOU feel it is a Failure...hit the road jack.

[The Raven]

We will have zero influence on Democratic voters or candidates

I'm afraid we need to start acting like liberals with organized focus groups.

The BEST way is to have an organized tax-PAYERS strike [ ie - temporarily stop paying taxes], although I can't think of a way for us to do that.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

What are you going to do?

[B. A. Conservative]

"The BEST way is to have an organized tax-PAYERS strike [ ie - temporarily stop paying taxes], although I can't think of a way for us to do that."

I think there will come a time when this is likely and can be expected. First the disclaimer: I am not an attorney nor a CPA. Nor do I have any experience nor have I studied the problem. With that said, I have heard that it is a serious violation not to file a tax return. On the other hand, it is my understanding that failing to pay taxes is not a jailable offense. For most folks employed by others, stopping the payment of their taxes is not directly within their reach. For those in that category, they can curtail the amount that is taken out of their check in withholding by increasing the number exemptions claimed to the point that no income tax is withheld from their checks, but they cannot stop FICA. Employers and the self employed have more leverage. They can file the forms of the amount of income or FICA that is due, but not enclose the tax that is due. Eventually the IRS will take action to collect the tax. And it is predictable that they will use the most punitive avenue open to them. They will seize bank accounts first. This will be followed by seizures of financial accounts like brokerage accounts or mutual funds held outside of 401's or IRA's. Next they will seize property and post it for sale.

A genuine massive taxpayer revolt of simply stopping payment would overwhelm the IRS and very likely bring the government down. I have no idea how the subsequent anarchy would play out or what to expect in its aftermath.

As much as I want the present tyranny to end through peaceful restructuring by restoration of the Constitution, I am not sure that the time has come to risk anarchy just to end the present government. There is always the risk that an even greater tyranny would arise from the ashes of anarchy.

[habs4ever]

Yup.....instead of an opus vanity, why don't they just leave to greener pastures?

[Neets]

Maybe they are so shallow in their thinking that they need these boring diatrabes for the attention they seek...ya got me toots.

[JSloth]

Post 89:
I'm just getting through this thread. Good post(s), BDB.

I see more and more attempts to put everyone into categories, but very few "conservatives" agree with EVERY conservative ideal. The attempts to stereotype and attack different ideals (even the slightest deviation from the norm) drive people away from this forum and discourage posts (i.e., discussion).

We should be able to share thoughts and opinions without being attacked at every turn. I, personally, consider myself very conservative, but don't follow the mainstream conservative views on religion...does that mean I should be castigated while expressing my views?

[dcwusmc]

So you are now in favor of ending the War on some Drugs because you agree that the ends do not justify the means and that trashing the Constitution just to catch some druggie is plain wrong and evil? Congratulations! You have finally seen the light and are on your way to becoming a whole human being!

[Michael2001]

You can't expect one website to change the country. More than anything, the most important thing that FreeRepublic can do is influence public opinion. I hope that a lot of lurkers and libs have changed their minds due to what they have read on freerepublic.

[jammer]

Agree with all each of you says. But, really, I see less liberal disruption, DBToo, (course I can't read everything) than steve50's neoCon "disruption." Seems to me that, although we've always had dogmatism combined with ignorance, we have much more ad hominem arguments and wild-eyed dogmatism with much less reasoning and give and take. Of course, the government creep disruptors/apologists are just as, if not more so, prevalent. I definitely include ff578 in the wild-eyed category: he/she/it just throws out rhetorical bombs. Must be nice to not only have principles but to be so sure that one's intellectual opponents are all evil. Hmmmm...that description seems to describe most liberal thought today. Ironic!

[dcwusmc]

Do your self a favor: keep the mouse, but throw your keyboard away.

Great line. And so appropriate!