[Hank Kerchief]

PHILOSOPHY PING

(If you want on or off this list please freepmail me.)

Hank

[rdb3]

But, "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem," Ronald Reagan eloquently stated. The freedom enjoyed by American citizens in the first one hundred fifty years of this country were not the result of the kind of government we had, but the fact there was so little of it. We have essentially the same kind of government today, but do not enjoy anything like the kind of freedom American citizens enjoyed as little as a hundred, of even sixty, years ago.

And this was written with a straight face, of course.

$710.96... The price of freedom
VII-XXIII-MMIV

[headsonpikes]

I was a Gulcher in the '70s, convinced that society was about to collapse. At least, I missed disco. ;^)

As Disraeli said, "There's a lot of ruin in a nation."

[clintonh8r]

bump

[John_7Diamonds]

The surest way to work within the system is to change our tax system to encourage accountablity. There is no accountablity now in our tax system because only 5% of the population pay almost half the load, while 50% of the people (democrats mostly) pay NO tax.

How can we control the cost of goverment if we don't share the burden so that everyone is intested in how it is run? When this happens we start electing people interested in running an efficent government. Right now our taxes are so high because only a small minority pay significant taxes.

John

[EveningStar]

Clair Wolfe sounds like another self-important space cadet.

[BraveMan]

Some percentage (probably not large) of posters to Free Republic really do want freedom and know what it is. The rest think freedom means freedom from temptation, or risk, or worry, or responsibility—which is how most Americans today think of freedom.

This assertion makes me believe the author is viewing a markedly different version of FreeRepublic than the one I'm viewing . . .

[B4Ranch]

Hank, this needs to be in bold because too many folks don't read the entire article.

There are the conservatives—who may or may not be for freedom, depending on whether they ever figure out what it is.

There is an extremely successful conservative forum, Free Republic which is very active and has over 100,000 signed members. They say in their welcoming page, "Free Republic is an online gathering place for independent, grass-roots conservatism on the web. We're working to roll back decades of governmental largesse, to root out political fraud and corruption, and to champion causes which further conservatism in America."

So far so good.

In a personal statement of the founder it says, "In our continuing fight for freedom, for America and our constitution and against totalitarianism, socialism, tyranny, terrorism, etc., Free Republic stands firmly on the side of right, i.e., the conservative side."

If that is what "conservatism" is, we applaud it. The problem is, most "political conservatives" are not for freedom at all. In most cases, they defend "economic" freedom, but otherwise have an agenda which includes some set of moral behavioral standards they believe ought to imposed on everyone by force of law. What they mean by, "conservative," is "Republican," and actively defend anything a Republican administration does, however outrageous, oppressive, or tyrannical.

Some percentage (probably not large) of posters to Free Republic really do want freedom and know what it is. The rest think freedom means freedom from temptation, or risk, or worry, or responsibility—which is how most Americans today think of freedom.

[KC_for_Freedom]

I emphasize most people do not really want freedom. What most people want is safety and guarantees. Most people do not really even know what freedom is, and anyone born in the last 35 to 40 years has no firsthand experience with what it is like to be truly free. If freedom is ever going to be restored, or at least the march of encroaching government oppression and tyranny halted, we need all the freedom fighters we can get.

A friend wanted to expand his trailer park, and got licensed to add additional septic field. He was told by the county that he would have to pay a fee of $2000 for each additional trailer hook up. His comment was that we no longer live in a free country.

Bruce Willis was just fined over $20000 and had to restore an island in a pond on his acreage because he sodded it. (Thus changing the wetland nature of his land.) We no longer live in a free country.

Being mobile, I live freer than many, but look at the rules and regulations around us. Think about this the next time you allow a vote for more seatbelts, madatory insurance, or no smokeing zones. I believe that voting for democrats is moving in the wrong direction. Republicans are only a shade better. Voting for various fringe candidates who really support freedom also is not the answer. And the revolution, if it comes, will not be the answer. (Revolutions tend to feed on themselves if they win, and if they lose, well, they lose.)

[Cold Heat]

but otherwise have an agenda which includes some set of moral behavioral standards they believe ought to imposed on everyone by force of law. What they mean by, "conservative," is "Republican," and actively defend anything a Republican administration does, however outrageous, oppressive, or tyrannical.

Where do I start to rebut this?

I would say first that very often, moral values are the correct and true way. Why should they be condemned simply because they are moral or even religious?

Secondly, I would not participate in anything tyrannical, outrageous, or oppressive. Well, maybe the oppressive part if what I was oppressing was a danger to my family or my country.

These words are just hyped up criticism of drug controls and that is all it is.

I can go on, but why................................

[stuartcr]

There is no solution to the problem..it's just the natural progression of our society. You can either take care of the individuals, or the group...not both.

[shield]

bmp....how funny JUST SHOOT THE BASTARD...for later reading!!!