Because ideas don't hurt America. Ignorant voters hurt America. Corrupt politicians hurt America. Lying journalists hurt America. Not enforcing existing laws hurts America. But discussing ideas hurts no one. I worry more about people who are afraid to discuss alternative viewpoints than people who do. I firmly believe that if your viewpoint stands on its own merits, it will win the day. But if you must lie or repress competing viewpoints to support it, than you have a losing position being kept alive on a phony foundation. You are essentially living a lie. I trust America and Americans. Given the facts, the people of this country make the right decision everytime. So give them the facts. All the facts. And don't silence folks who disagree. If their arguments are wrong, the facts will reveal where they are wrong. We're starting to overwhelm our lying media. Are we going to replace it with our own dishonesty?
But Evad's last comment was dead on. This thread has become nothing more than a pissing contest. And that hurts Freerepublic. So this will be my last post.
You hit the nail on the head. 'Discussing ideas never hurt anyone.' So why in the world didn't GW discuss One Happy Hemisphere with US voters years ago? Why wasn't he honest? Why haven't we enforced US laws where illegals are concerned? Because elitists decided they knew better than the American voter, who might upset the apple cart. They would arrange the world to their liking. That's what's been going on. We haven't had a vote on this, not even one word of open discussion before now. (And all the bromides in the world won't change the facts.)