[mgstarr]

The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom...

It's sad that so many who call themselves "conservative" today don't seem to grasp that concept.

[goldstategop]

We want to have it all and not pay for it. We want the government to take care of us and to look after our needs and at the time we want it to stay out of our lives and keep its grubby hands out of our wallets. Americans want to have to it both ways.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[PghBaldy]

MILTON FRIEDMAN, Hoover Institution: What do you suppose government spending all levels, federal, state and local, relative to national income was in 1928? ... MILTON FRIEDMAN: 10 to 12 [%]. And it was that level throughout American history, except in time of great war, so we have made a tremendous change. In my opinion, that's not a bad number. 10 to 12 would be about the ideal amount of government spending. It would cover the basic functions, but today we're at 43 [%] http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/budget/economists_1-9.html

Reading his book a few years back made me immensely angry and sad at how far out of wack out govt is, on all levels. I never thought about it, but it probably helped change my view of govt and the economy. Drastically.