Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Where Were You When the Republic Died?
American Thinker ^ | 03/22/10 | Matt Patterson

Posted on 03/21/2010 10:48:23 PM PDT by American Dream 246

In November 2008, Americans elected a socialist as their president. In March 2010, they woke up stunned to find themselves living in a socialist country.

Health insurers - once private companies - are now organs of the federal government. Every citizen is a ward of the state, which can now compel you to have insurance; punish you if you don't; determine if your insurance is acceptable; punish you if it isn't. Thousands of new federal bureaucrats will soon spill from the D.C. Beltway and flood the country, scrutinizing our finances to verify compliance with this new law.

A government that grants itself this kind of power over us can conceivably do anything to us. For our own good, of course. Such a country is in no meaningful sense "free."

And this is only the beginning. Liberals are salivating in contemplation of all the fanciful window trimmings that can in the future be hung from this legislative framework. Public option will soon appear as prelude to single payer, as was the intent all along. Soon, Americans won't even have the illusion of a choice - the government will move from subsidizer to provider, and it will be the only game in town.

So what's next? Some look to the states as possible saviors. Please. The states long ago surrendered their sovereignty, and are now junkies on federal monies, which they need for schools, roads, Medicaid, and much else. If the citizens are now wards of the federal government, the states long since preceded them in that sorry servitude.

The individual? What are we going to do, not pay the taxes to support this beast? Oh, they'll take that from you before you ever get your check; we gave them that power to them long ago, remember. March on Washington, en masse? Lot of good that's done thus far.

The Republicans? Assuming the GOP can take back both houses of Congress and the White House in the next couple of elections (by no means a sure thing), can you name one gigantic entitlement enacted by liberals that Republicans have successfully repealed? Or even made serious effort to repeal? Ever? Anyone?

The Courts? Sure, maybe Obamacare will work its way through the courts, and maybe the Supreme Court will finally take up the case (there is no guarantee of that, remember), and maybe the Court will not have tilted left by then, and maybe the Justices will declare it unconstitutional. Then what? Who will enforce this decision? Obamacare is already unconstitutional on its face, and yet is the law of the land. Do you think the Democrats will say, "Oh, all-right, never-mind," and cheerfully strike it from the books after their successful five-decade long crusade?

And even if a court challenge is eventually successful, how much of the bureaucracy will by then already be in place, how many of the thousands of new regulations already in effect, how much of the billions in new taxes and fines collected, how many jobs killed, how many middle class families addicted to the entitlement?

There's a reason Democrats were desperate to ram this through at all cost - once enacted, such things are all but perpetual. Former freedom-loving peoples begin to tell themselves it's really not so bad. Sure, government is forcing you to eat state-approved gruel, but hey, at least they hold the spoon, and they even pour a little sugar on top when you're good.

The worst part of watching the proceedings unfold on Sunday was the endless stream of commentators and pundits calmly discussing this bill as if it were just one more piece of bad legislation we will have to live under. In fact, what has transpired is nothing less than an overthrow of the old Constitutional order.

In 1776, the American Republic boldly announced its birth with the Declaration of Independence. In 2010, it quietly expired with a declaration of dependence - on government, on entitlement, and on the Democratic party.


TOPICS: Government; Health/Medicine; Military/Veterans; Politics
KEYWORDS: fascism; military; obama; obamacare
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121-132 last
To: American Dream 246
Where Were You When the Republic Died?

Well, that was way back on February 12th, 1999, when the Senate declined to convict Bill Clinton - just because it would inconvenience the Powers That Be. This latest bill was just another consequence.

121 posted on 03/22/2010 7:17:17 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ( "The right to offend is far more important than any right not to be offended." - Rowan Atkinson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DuncanWaring

Yeah, I did. Future history, now becoming present fact.


122 posted on 03/22/2010 7:41:52 AM PDT by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 114 | View Replies]

To: Travis McGee

Disagree. A Constitutional Convention does not open up for a complete rewrite. That is not the purpose. Two-thirds of the states can call for a Constitutional Convention to address one issue and can determine who the delegates are.

So they can place one item on the agenda and one item only, socialized medicine. Whatever comes out of the convention would still have to be ratified by the state legislatures. I doubt if an “ACORN” amendment could make it.


123 posted on 03/22/2010 12:05:34 PM PDT by Patrick1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 113 | View Replies]

To: Patrick1

Wrong. Once a con-con is called, CONGRESS runs the show. Read Article V.

And once it’s begun, there will be no containing it, as any and all amendments could be offered from the floor, with CONGRESS making up the rules as they go.

Read Article V.


124 posted on 03/22/2010 7:11:01 PM PDT by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 123 | View Replies]

To: gigster
Living in Michigan with Granholm, Stupak, Levin, McManus, and Conyers doesn’t inspire me to want to fly my state flag. So, hoisting the Gadsden.

Wow! Poor you. Can't argue with your logic. Maybe the Lone Star, North Provence?

125 posted on 03/22/2010 9:05:16 PM PDT by April Lexington (Study the constitution so you know what they are taking away!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 108 | View Replies]

To: This Just In
It hurt like hell to pull our flag down this morning. But down it is until I have some sense that our Federal government is interested in protecting my rights and civil liberties. I KNOW my state is interested in protecting me and my freedoms. So my state flag is flying. No disrespect to anyone. I'm just doing what I feel is right, given the fascist dictatorship now in power in Washington... Again, no intent to create hard feelings here...
126 posted on 03/22/2010 9:16:13 PM PDT by April Lexington (Study the constitution so you know what they are taking away!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: Travis McGee

You are correct. My point was that the states threaten to have a Constitutional Convention to restore liberty to its citizens by protecting it from socialized medicine. The threat of a convention should be enough for Congress to propose the amendment itself to the states for ratification.

By the way, this is how we got direct election of Senators.


127 posted on 03/22/2010 9:33:11 PM PDT by Patrick1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 124 | View Replies]

To: PugetSoundSoldier
Outside of this Commie takeover of our Country, don't we live in an amazing age that someone could be FReeping from a beach in Thailand?

If only Obama would move there.

128 posted on 03/22/2010 9:35:36 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative (Obamunism, the fatal cure for Bush Derangement Syndrome.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: Kickass Conservative

Even better, I’m off to Shanghai tomorrow (I FReep from there, too) where their health care is now more capitalist and open than the US. Imagine that...

ChiComs? Screw that term - they’re ChiCaps compared to the USSA anymore...


129 posted on 03/23/2010 6:37:54 AM PDT by PugetSoundSoldier (Indignation over the Sting of Truth is the defense of the indefensible)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 128 | View Replies]

To: April Lexington

How about an American flag from 1776 instead of the current one along with your state flag? 13 stars. The “concept” of American liberty would be represented and it would be a hat tip to the 13 states who filed suit against this abomination.

I agree with you about the current American flag btw.


130 posted on 03/23/2010 1:19:17 PM PDT by Natural Born 54
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: This Just In

I almost posted the same article, and I’m no Newby, but admit to only being recently involved in discussions. My take on that article is 180 degrees different than yours... This is an article that Calls To Arms!!! NOT to lay down your principles and your weapons! Hell you take that attitude, and there;s nothing left - ANYWHERE in the world - and this Marine doesn’t buy that...
SEMPER FI!!!!!!!


131 posted on 03/23/2010 1:19:39 PM PDT by CanGyrene (CanGyrene)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Natural Born 54
Excellent idea. Let me ponder that. Maybe the circle and stripes on top with the state underneath. Hmmm...
132 posted on 03/23/2010 7:29:31 PM PDT by April Lexington (Study the constitution so you know what they are taking away!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 130 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121-132 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson