RE: Mencken said Confederates fought for self-determination, not Lincoln’s Union side....
That is a profound post. You brought up something I never read from H.L. Mencken before.
Did you ever happen to read anything by Robert J. Ringer? Wrote Looking Out For #1, Winning Through Intimidation and Restoring the American Dream? Libertarian author.
He said John F Kennedy’s “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country” speech was the opposite of personal freedom for Americans. We all are busy paying taxes, working, giving up rights for our country, paying still more taxes-—to the government we are all working for, directly or indirectly. “for your country.” Not for our family and personal lives and goals by individual freedom. Interesting thought.
I appreciate your post. Will think about it today.
“Did you ever happen to read anything by Robert J. Ringer?”
I don’t think so, but I remember seeing “Looking Out For #1” and “Winning Through Intimidation” on the shelf.
“He said John F Kennedy’s “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country” speech was the opposite of personal freedom for Americans.”
As old as I am, and as much as I despise JFK, I never thunk that thought before.