[vannrox]

I just want to make a point.

[AK2KX]

You can probably cash a $3000 travelers check without having it reported to the government.

[Recovering_Democrat]

good points, but this is still the country of choice for me.

[johniegrad]

This needs to be posted in the next "Need Freeper Advice on Where to Move" thread!!

[BlessedBeGod]

Barbarians! LOL!

[Brett66]

11. Calculate your taxes without having an advanced math degree because of the flat tax.

[Gumption]

And they can legally own and set-off fireworks to celebrate the 4th of July ... Maryland sux.

[SamAdams76]

I already do some of those things here in America. Am I in trouble?

[ao98]

12. Buy a ticket to fly to the International Space Station. (If you have 20 million dollars)

[Centurion2000]

Bump

[MarineDad]

Could this possibly mean that they sent all their pin-headed control weenies over here, and that they're finally rid of them? If so, how do we go about sending them packing yet again?

[dheretic]

The more I've been thinking about economics, the more I've come to the conclusion that the final system of economics will be a hybrid of capitalism and socialism. Yes, I used the dirty word socialism. Here's where I see history going, contrary to the Marxist view of economic progression:

1. Commons collapse from abuse (fallout of primitive communism)
2. Primitive capitalism takes over
3. Primitive socialism comes into existance with the first nation states
4. Bourgeouise rebels and lays the foundation of proto-Advanced Capitalism
5. Advanced Socialism overtakes proto-Advanced Capitalism
6. First manufactured goods replication processes operational; Advanced socialism collapses along with the majority of all social institutions.
7. Radical advanced capitalism siezes absolute control over every social institution. Product replication now is a mature process, no need for corporations or labor unions; both cease to exist and all means of production except for product replication are torn down as they are now superfelous.
8. Society is now restructuring itself based on liberal anarchistic concepts because there are no "economics" anymore; Capitalism and socialism merge by bringing peacefully together the ideas of "from each according to his ability to each according to his needs" and inalienable property rights. No economic regulation is necessary anymore as scarcity of almost all goods is no longer a factor in production. At this stage only those that need to work to fullfill personal vision need work. Everyone's needs can be met by product replication.
9. The state is reduced to only military, police and courts. Every other function can be accomplished through non-statist means because product replication combined with advanced robotics eliminates the purpose of all social welfare spending, infrastructure maintainence, etc that the government does beyond the aforementioned basic functions.
10. Final stage: all public education is abolished because those with teaching skills can be fully supported at no cost to the public by product replication of commodity goods.

Admittedly it's an incomplete counter to Marx's class theory-based historic determinism, but it is a start.

[Temple Owl]

I don't smoke, don't use codiene-enhance aspirin or put up girly pictures.I prefer driving with a seatbelt, because it makes sense. I'm a capitalist who owns my business and who can drink beer, whiskey or anything else any time I want to. My wife decided a long time ago that it was against the law for me to be a male chauvinist anyway I think male chauvinists are @ssholes. What I'm saying is that the United States of America may not be perfect but it's way ahead of who ever is in second place.

[niki]

When your dog rolls over and hits you in the eye with his paw, thus creating an eye infection, the doctors in Russian won't have turn you and your dog into the government.

Report to the government for an 'animal related injury'.

[concerned about politics]

We were once that free before the Clinton regime.
How I yearn for the good old days. That's when America was great. Now it's totally warped.

[Plummz]

Most important - by a ticket to outer space.

[Cultural Jihad]

So that's why all those Russians are lining up to emigrate to the United States.

[x]

Interesting argument, but keep the "tipping points" in mind.

One day, a majority finds that freedom from smoke is more important than freedom to smoke, and that becomes the relevant freedom, both as regards pollution and cigarettes on the job or in restaurants. Of course, in practical political terms it's the liberals who make that decision, but I don't think one can argue that the question involves a conflict between liberal and conservative ideas of freedom. It's similar with other things that may have harmful effects on unwilling third parties.

Another tipping point is with cars. Once the earliest restrictions deriving from the horse-drawn era were removed, motorists had lousy roads but great freedom. When cars were more numerous and faster, all the restrictions were imposed: safety belts, no drinking or open containers, fuel taxes, compulsory insurance, etc. A country with few cars can avoid these things. One with many cars feels the pressure for greater safety and convenience.

In both of these cases the legal system and minimizing liability appear to play a role in decreasing freedom. When faced with massive potential legal damage payouts or cripplingly high insurance premiums, there is a tendency to limit freedom.

[Senator Pardek]

Give the U.S. a break - it took us 226 years to get to this point. Wanna bet you won't be able to do those very things in Russia in 26 years?

[budwiesest]

Sputnik II

However, we'll respond as never before by repealling all gun laws, creating a 10% tax rate, ending the War on Some drugs, dumping the Dept. of Education, and rescinding all lawsuits against Tobacco, Inc.
Free prescription medications? Don't make me laugh.

< /turbo baloney blaster>

[MissAmericanPie]

Egad it feels real strange thinking of Russia, of all places, as the last bastion of freedom.