Posted on 08/17/2010 12:56:33 PM PDT by WildSnail
Many people don't understand what's been happening to the country in the last hundred years. You tell them we are losing our liberty. They say that the U.S. is the freest nation on earth. They say that we haven't lost any liberties, or very few. But between federal state and local, we've lost quite a lot!
Is anybody interested in coming up with a list? I'll start with a few off the top of my head:
Add more to the list!
Can’t build on your property if a rain filled depression is deemed a wetland.
The problem is that if I do not feel or see such losses of freedom, if my life is no different from one year to the next, then what am I losing?
You say my ancestors had more freedoms? Good for them, I didn’t live in their time.
How can I miss that which I never had?
The above is the argument that I have gotten more often than not and frankly it makes a sort of melancholy sense.
I can see their point of view. I grew up rural, hunting and fishing. I still hunt and fish. About the only freedom that I have lost is the freedom to drive down the road without a seat belt on and not get hassled by the cops.
It will be fenced and close at dark. If you don't get out you and your vehicle will be locked inside, and you WILL be fined and arrested for trespass.
No Swimming
No wake
No alcoholic beverages
No fishing (without a license)
No firearms
No parking, pretty much everywhere
No, No, No! Everything is forbidden, otherwise, do what you like!
Must wear life jackets (I do anyway, but don't MAKE me do it).
Lakes used to be just lakes.
I know, it's not the cops fault it's your idiotic meddling neighbors who have not met a restrictive code they wouldn't support.
It’s more than that, though. I see a loss of freedom emanating just from observing the popular mindset that the “government will take care of me”, and “it’s ok if the government gets to decide how much health care I receive”,; as well as the lack of outrage by the populous about the takeover of banks and the automotive industry. People don’t even realize they are no longer in charge of themselves anymore.
We’ve lost so much freedom.
Can’t carry a Bible to a public school. 1st Amendment violation.
Folks in Fairfax Co., VA charged with disturbing the peace while openly (and legally) carrying a firearm. - 2nd Amendment violation.
Roe v. Wade - 10th Amendment violation.
It’s a really big list.
Was speaking with a liberal friend of mine who wants to do away with the Constitution explaining it’s outdated.
I asked him if he’d ever read the Constitution. He said no.
Scary times we live in.
Case in point, I just had to have a water heater replaced. No new wiring, no special work on the plumbing, it was in the garage so very easy to get to, just replacing- it required a special permit from the city ($50.00) and inspection after it was done ($75). It took the plumber a whole 15 minutes to replace and I probably spent 2 hours on the phone and at the city office getting the permit and the approval inspection....and this is in a fairly Conservative, East Texas town.
You cannot express a political viewpoint without reprisal anymore. The reprisal can include civil suit, loss of job, attack against your person or property, visit from law enforcement.
Also forfeiture laws - confiscation of property without due process and compensation. Drug war for example.
Loss is a poor choice of words. Perhaps restricted would be better.
Can’t pray in school.
Can’t call someone a “retard” or a “fag” without risking suspension.
Can’t pray at a city council meeting or sporting event.
Can’t shoot the rabbits in your yard that are eating your rhododendrons.
Can’t buy high-octane unleaded gas for your 440 Roadrunner.
Can’t sell lemonade on a busy streetcorner.
Can’t buy a Thompson submachine gun through mail order.
Can’t go out to the lake and throw in a line without asking the Gestapo’s permission.
Can’t ride your motorcycle without a helmet.
Can’t burn your trash or your lawn waste.
Can’t plink cans off fence posts in your back yard.
Can’t sell your homegrown sweet corn at the end of your driveway.
Can’t take a crap, a trip overseas, or a wife without asking Uncle Buttinsky first.
“the popular mindset that the government will take care of me
And they are outraged when the govt. doesn’t. Latest idiotic expectation: the road race where 8-12 were killed. They were mad that the car hit people and mad that there were no barriers. On an off road race! And the idiots were standing within 15 feet or less of the vehicles! But it’s not their fault, it’s the fault of the govt. and of course the driver(s) who no doubt will be sued. I just feel like giving up when I see such stupidity.
Why didn’t you just buy the heater and install it?
Expecting to be “protected” is the ultimate welfare dependency.
In hindsight I should have. It was one of those things I thought it would just be easier and worth paying someone to come out and take care of it.. but add in the big brother factor and it became a PITA.
I live in AZ. We don't believe in that crap...like Daylight Savings Time. I carry anywhere I please, concealed, no permit.
Yes Sir!
I was sitting at a traffic red, at a “T” intersection to an industrial park. It was red, red, red. No cars coming any direction. This was at 6:30ish p.m. Probably had been no traffic since 4:30. So I sat. Long light, seemed like 2-3 min. But, I recognized that I was not smart enough to just go. I was en-capable of making a decision in my best interest without being crushed. So I sat and waited for the green. Waited a long time. After all, a cruiser was sitting in the industrial park, motor running. He was looking out for me. Making sure that I didn't injure myself.
Thanks Mr. Policeman. I'm sure glad you were there to help me make the right decision.
Your Az firarms thing is the only thing I like about AZ. But I like it alot!
Every dependency government can create gives them more power.
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