[Jeff Head]

Well, irrespective of how you or I feel about it...and I must add, that the fact that we are both discussing those feelings on an open, public forum such as this without fear of retribution puts us ahead of the large majority of people who have lived on this planet...still, people from all opver the earth long to live on these shores so they can experience the freedoms we have in this land and have the opportunity to improve themselves.

Irrespective of the losses we have experienced in our nation away from what the founders invisioned and put in place, we are still by and large very free and have the opportunity to improve ourselves according to the dictates of our own hearts and the fruits of our own labors.

We have that liberty and freedom, IMHO, because there is a large existance of fundamental morality in this land still, despite what goes on in Washington DC, or Hollywood,. or Denver Colorado, or any other other capital...and God in Heaven still smiles on that (and I believe He will as long as it remains in place). Second to that, and paramount in its defense, is that we are free because over eioghty million American citizens remained armed with their own personal weapons.

In order to gain back the ground lost, people must become active in their own spheres of influence. That's one reason such a book as this, which speaks to these very issues, is a good thing. It will be a vehicle and a tool to help oin that endeavor...to become involved and help influence and educate.

Just my opinion.

[rlmorel]

Well Said!!!!!

[Dumb_Ox]

Well, irrespective of how you or I feel about it...and I must add, that the fact that we are both discussing those feelings on an open, public forum such as this without fear of retribution puts us ahead of the large majority of people who have lived on this planet.

A contrarian I know argues that this freedom institutes mealy-minded thinking and thoughtless cheerleading in the public even more than in regimes backed by censorship and oppression. Free speech often instills the false belief that that freedom is a sufficient check on lies and falsehoods. Just look at all the drek in the mouths of putatively-liberated college students, not to mention all the internet blabbermouths like me!

Even in regimes of soft authoritarianism, there is already a presumption of falsehood towards any successful member of the press. Here, every large party faction has its own cheerleading group and well-paid pundit, but in the interests of party unity the cheerleading is assimilated into the party machine.

I hope I don't sound like somebody afflicted by oppression envy, but I think it important to keep in mind that freedom can also be a danger to itself.

But speaking of faction, have you read Madison's Federalist 10? It occurs to me that one can describe party politics and the media industry as one faction according to the definition of Madison. Both aim at appealing to the largest number of people possible, and so have an interest in common to themselves but not necessarily common to their citizens, customers, and their country.

Will you still be talking about our great freedoms while wating in line for our National "Real ID" internal passports/permission slips for banking?