Stossel: Fight Back

Newsmax.com ^ | 3-31-04 | Paige McKenzie

[Shane]

Stossel hits the nail on the head once again.

[7thson]

When I first say the title, I thought it meant fighting back hard in Iraq!

[marktwain]

Yes, he nails it. Stoessel actually thinks, unlike most reporters, who merely emote.

[martin_fierro]

The other side of the argument

[Wolfie]

Most Americans welcome the Nanny State with open arms. Even if they get upset about one particular bureaucratic dictatorship, they'll willingly accept it to preserve the ones of which they approve. Never underestimate the American compulsion for telling others how to live their lives.

[Glenn]

Brit Hume should send the squeaking Chris Wallace packing and give Stossel a shot at fame and fortune.

[upchuck]

One of my favorite quotes is appropriate here.

The Scottish Jurist and Historian Sir Alex Fraser Tyler published a collection of lectures in 1801. He advanced a theory of democracy based on historical observation:

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can exist only until voters discover that they can vote themselves largeses from the public treasury. From that time on, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.

"The average age of the world's great civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependency; from dependency back again to bondage."

Is Sir Tyler correct? Where are we are in Sir Tyler's progression?

[AD from SpringBay]

Amen John Stossel bump!

[panaxanax]

Great quote, thanks

[Shane]

"Where are we are in Sir Tyler's progression?" Unfortunately I think we know where we are, we are on the slippery slope into decline, led by the socialists, and the spineless Republicans in congress.

[Shane]

What a great idea!

[mc5cents]

One of my favorite quotes also. In fact, I have it posted in my cubicle here at work as a constant reminder.

I also have this one by P.J. O'Rourke:

"Freedom is not empowerment. Empowerment is what the Serbs have in Bosnia. Anybody can grab a gun and be empowered. It's not entitlement. An entitlement is what people on welfare get, and how free are they? It's not an endlessly expanding list of rights - the 'right' to education, the 'right' to health care, the 'right' to food and housing. That's not freedom, that's dependency. Those aren't rights, those are the rations of slavery - hay and a barn for human cattle."

[xkaydet65]

The obesity thing in kids is funny. Remember a few years ago (two? three?) when the real nutrition problem was anorexia in teen and pre teen girls. The fems were filling the airwaves with attacks on advertising for portraying the ideal female in a totally unrealistic and unachievable way. We thought our daughters were killing themselves. Now I guess they're Big Mac(king) themselves to death. But does anyone really hear John Stossel??

[cricket]

"Yes, he nails it. Stoessel actually thinks, unlike most reporters, who merely emote."

Is he still employed?

[tahiti]

"Most Americans welcome the Nanny State with open arms."

AMENDMENT XIX (Proposed by Congress June 4, 1919. Ratified August 18, 1920.) The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. (should have been "gender") Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Oh how I love the ladies and can't live without them.

But ladies, most of you do not have the temperment to live free and exert your the rights of liberty.

Subsequently, the ladies are 50% of the voters of which, weak, pandering male politicians pander to the ladies inherent need for socialism.

[MaryFromMichigan]

Brit Hume should send the squeaking Chris Wallace packing and give Stossel a shot at fame and fortune.

Best idea I've heard all day!

[EAGLE7]

It is not that we are giving our freedom away, or allowing it to be taken from us. Most people don't realize that this is happening. We are lulled to sleep by material comforts. It's like having your home burglarized while you are asleep. You won't discover what happened until you WAKE UP! The Romans knew this. That's why they gave the people Circus and bread. They become easier to control. You only see outrage when a luxury is threatened. An example is the smoking ban. It bothers me that conservatives can be so angry and active over the smoking ban (and rightly so) yet sit idly by while more important freedoms such as religious freedom (Christian) are threatened. Orwell was definately a prophet.

[EAGLE7]

It is not that we are giving our freedom away, or allowing it to be taken from us. Most people don't realize that this is happening. We are lulled to sleep by material comforts. It's like having your home burglarized while you are asleep. You won't discover what happened until you WAKE UP! The Romans knew this. That's why they gave the people Circus and bread. They become easier to control. You only see outrage when a luxury is threatened. An example is the smoking ban. It bothers me that conservatives can be so angry and active over the smoking ban (and rightly so) yet sit idly by while more important freedoms such as religious freedom (Christian) are threatened. Orwell was definately a prophet.

[StriperSniper]

Deluded by the myth of “protection,” we have become willing pawns in a joint partnership by the media, the trial lawyers and big-government politicians to perpetuate a cycle of fear that works to their benefit, as Stossel explained.

Ping!

[zeugma]

Bump of absolute agreement. We're rushing headlong into tyrrany with open arms.