Unfree Republic

Lew Rockwell ^ | 9/24/01 | Jeff Elkins

[Robert-J]

The libertarians remind me of those who tried to persuade us not to go to war against nazi germany. They were wrong then, and they're wrong now.

[Abundy]

We survived the War Between the States and kept our constitutional republic.

Some might disagree with you on this point - especially since Mr. Lincoln suspended habeus corpus and arrested judges, legislators and others to help his war effort. Did the Constitution and the Republic associated with it truly survive?

You might want to try to ally the fears of those of us who are distrustful of government power with another example, dontcha think?

I'm going to work, hopefully I won't disappear and will be able to return to read the anticipated flames...

[palmer]

We are at war and like the man said, you are either with US or with them. Which will it be?
He said that in the context of countries, not the people of this country.
By extending it to American dissenters, you are proving Jeff's point.

[Abundy]

Britain is a very different place.

It is different because they are subjects, not citizens.

I thought FR was populated by individuals who understood that. I'm beginning to wonder.

[BlueLancer]

"The woman may speak ... but none of you may listen."

The Alcalde (from "Zorro, the Gay Blade")

[Abundy]

I'm not a libertarian. Although if to remain a conservative I have to go along with destroying the constitution like a democrat then I'll be changing my designation...

[Nuke'm Glowing]

We are. But we're not nearly half as paranoid as you are. Foil anyone?

[GeorgeF]

How right he is. I've been on FR for 1 1/2 years. I've certainly learned a lot reading the words of some very eloquent FReepers, especially during the election snafu last year. There are some very intelligent Freepers out there.

However, this site has become increasingly worse. Since the 9/11 event, members of this forum have become rabid and even dangerous. Some, by posting the address and phone number of a writer whose opinion was not welcome on FR, and then "hoping" that he didnt get hurt. He spoke of peace and a change in govt policy.

I know not all Freepers are like this, but if anyone speaks of peace or changes in US Govt interventionist policies, most members pepper and insult the poster rather than opposing the argument with reasonable logic. This is absurd.

What has happened? During the election crisis, Freepers wanted the truth. They knew the facts. Now it seems everyone wants more bloodshed and war not knowing all the facts even if the facts point to our govt as part of the cause.

I know folks out there are angry. I am too.

Maybe it's time that some of you all out there work towards getting FRs reputation out of the mud. I know of other FReepers out there who have lost interest in FR because of the general "attack" mood. If one didnt know any better, one might confuse this site with some fascist website. I could see a site like this being run by Germans in the 1930's had the internet been available then. Maybe the website name should be changed to FreeDemocracy since the majority opinion is always dictating what's best and right. The individual opinion is suspect.

I'm sure these comments will bring more peppering and personal insults. It's expected here in FR now days.

Some of you should take a look at what you are saying and how you are reacting. It certainly doesnt sound like a liberty loving group sometimes. Thank God some of you arent running this country.

[Abundy]

Good point.

[DB]

I don't see us on track for disappearing people here. I believe Bush and Ashcroft (sp?) are honorable people and won't disappear people here. So far Bush has been very measured. Proof is ultimately in the pudding… The only connection between Bush and a national ID card so far is Drudge. That's pretty weak…

If Bush does do the things you worry about, I too will be very unhappy. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Now it seems everyone wants more bloodshed and war not knowing all the facts even if the facts point to our govt as part of the cause.

And a justifiable flame you shall receive. The government, for all my complaints in life about them, did not fly the planes. Did not recruit the hijackers. Did not kill innocent men, women and children in the United States on 9-11-01. It's these kind of statements that are made on LIBERAL and leftist boards that get the libertarians flamed here. If you're growing thin skin here now, then you are at fault, not the rest of us. And blaming the government beyond a failure of law enforcement is no way contributing to the conversation. It's taking the Clinton approach of finding someone at fault OTHER than the parties responsible. And the causes of this attack are nothing more than political gain by parties in the Middle East. Not religion. Not hate. Pure simple politics.

[Fearless Flyers]

The only people I have heard call for all out bombing Og Afghanistan are the leftists, they see things like "I can't wait until Bush starts Bombing innocent civialians then we will be able to attack the heart of American Power." Now that they see our Country knows the proper restraint they are trying to intiate an all out bombing by attacking the Patriots.

[DB]

You compare us the fascists and then you expect a civil response...

I will also point out that by some miracle you managed to express your opinion and survive it...

Give peace a chance right? What peace did you offer in your comments?

[DB]

I would strongly recommend studying Neville Chamberlain of Great Britain and how WWII came into being. I think you fundamentally misunderstand what is going on now if you think the September 11th attack is mainly related to our foreign policy. It is not.

[DB]

Oops... "compare us to fascists"...

[Twodees]

Lew is a Southern conservative, just as Michael Pierce is. LRC is as much a site for conservative opinion as for libertarian opinion. I think you're just ticked at some of the LRC writers for having the gall to suggest that republican politicians are socialists like democrat politicians are.

BTW, the "lewrockwell.commies" are limited to the few communist columnists whose columns are posted on LRC once in a while to show the absurdity of their thinking, such as Alexander Cockburn, and your pal, "former communist", David Horowitz.

Neocons crack me up. Seeing you boys try to articulate conservative positions is like listening to a Frenchman trying to pronounce 'ciciri".

[Osinski]

...living in North Central Florida...

For a moment, I thought this fellow had some credentials.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Neocons crack me up. Seeing you boys try to articulate conservative positions is like listening to a Frenchman trying to pronounce 'ciciri".

No disagreement with that statement. However some of the folly coming from the libertarian party, of which I used to be a member is just plain old tin foil fodder. The paranoia is unbelieveable. Next thing you know Agent Mulder will be sleeping under their beds.

[Osinski]

Uh-oh. Demidog was banned? I kinda leaned strongly in the same direction. Was there something in particular?

[Sandy]

This looks like a safe thread for me to slip in this link, for all of the patriots who are wondering what us (ahem) traitors are concerned about...

President Bush's ANTI-TERRORISM ACT OF 2001 -- Section-by-Section Analysis