Our Republic and Our Free Republic

9-6-02 | Joe Phillips

[BADJOE]

History teaches some very good lessons. They are hard to learn but our forefathers did a great job.

From the beginning of time man has overthrown one form of centralized government only to re-establish another one in its place. Our forefathers understood this far better than anyone ever had. They said governments are the eternal enemy of free men. They said that in order for man to remain free it would take a bloody revolution every other generation, unless you bound down (bastard) government with the chains of the constitution.

On another site this week a poster asked if anyone else hated government as much as he did. I replied to him

"Hell !! I thought you were not a good American if you didn't love our country and hate our government.

At least that is how I have always felt about it"

I think our forefathers had the same attitude that I have now. And I think it is inherent in the average Americans attitude to distrust and have disdain for any government, including ours. One of the hardest conclusions I had to arrive at as a young man, after having been a product of the public school system, was that our government was not on our side. As James Forrestahl, former secretary of the Navy, who suffered a mysterious death, once said about our State Department's foreign policy, " Stupidity is never a mark of consistancy. If they were merely stupid, they would occasionally make a mistake in our favor".

Newt Gringrich put it in a humourous manner when talking about the attitude of Europeans. He related the following story. If you go to Europe and drive on the Autobahn, you feel pretty good cruising down the highway at 100 mph when some some German passes you doing 140 mph. Now he said if the Bundestag passed the 55mph speed limit law, every German would dutifully obey that law, untill the next election. They would vote the 55 mph crowd out of office and the no speed limit crowd in. In America Newt said "A speed limit sign is a benchmark of opportunity.

It is obvious that Yankees and Euros have entirely different attitudes about government's edicts. There are darn few Americans who do not break the speed limit laws everyday.

Now we come to the Free Republic. Once a free wheeling, joyful site for news and discussion of politics, economics, philosophy, ethics and morals. I could not understand the transformation that has taken place in the last six months. Camaraderie, the sense of family, and cooperation seems to have disappeared. Are the Freepers exhibiting the same disdain for the new FR as Americans have for our government?

[paulklenk]

Hey, I just reread the rules and realized I had until 5 PM Eastern TOMORROW -- so I'm just fine...

[dubyagee]

Reasons I'm still posting...

10.I like Mudboy Slim
9.I really like mudboy slim
8.mudboy slim is my favorite freeper
7.mudboy slim always posts wisely
6.mudboy slim is a trusted friend and advisor
5.mudboy slim is generous
4.mudboy slim should run for president.
4.mudboy slim would have my vote
3.I really, really like mudboy slim
2.Did I already say mudboy slim is my favorite freeper?
and reason # 1...I'm hoping you'll let mudboy slim judge this contest... ; * )
I got 'em in the right order that time...

[FreeTheHostages]

You're completely fine. You could enter multiple more times. But with that kind of deep poetry, it's doubtful that you would have a new poem before 5 p.m. tomorrow, no?

[Physicist]

I am still posting in this thread because:

1. I wanted to be in on BADJOE's last thread before it got yanked.
2. I got nostalgic seeing the ***Ash Alert*** sign, and can't stay away.
3. Somebody had to stay to bring up "pool poopy".
4. If BADJOE blurts out the names of the "Gestapo Twins", I have a remote chance of being able to read it in the microsecond before it's yanked.
5. I want to see whether OPH or Askel5 will get the other's goat first.
6. I want to be the one to push the abuse button when medved pastes in a long essay about the Earth orbiting Saturn.
7. One of the signs of the Apocalypse will be when Jim Robinson lets Eschoir back; this is just the sort of thread where it will happen.
8. I'm hoping Tabitha Soren will show up to divert the discussion into a less divisive channel.
9. MurrayMom isn't here.
10. Whoever has made the most posts when FR goes down WINS.

[FreeTheHostages]

Mudboy and I are co-judging. We just tend to agree and we've decided we will on this occasion. Right Mudboy?

[TLBSHOW]

Ann Coulter under attack here...........
http://www.capitolgrilling.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=008114

[Mo1]

SUCK UP!!!

is bribing the judge in the rules??

[hchutch]

I'd like that. I'd like to add a couple other items:

Repeal of the Corporate income tax in March 2005.
Flat Tax in April 2005.
Two or three more conservative justices on the Supreme Court by 2006?

[dubyagee]

is bribing the judge in the rules??Freethehostages said he/she will take bribes but will not consider them when judging...

I'm hoping Mudboy Slim is less rigid. ; * )

[FreeTheHostages]

bribing the judges is in the rules: it is affirmatively endorsed and encouraged. we will accept bribes. we heartily welcome them.

however, alas, they will not affect our decision.

This contest is heating up, so I guess this is the time I should officially note that this is not an official Free Republic contest and is not being conducted by Free Republic management. However, I'm very very serious about mailing my Lynne Cheney book to the winner and Mudboy Slim um at least appears to be serious about sending a signed Ann Coulter book to the winner (does he always post like he's been drinking? heh heh).

[Amelia]

Someone I admire greatly recently said, "People who are smart go to FreeRepublic. People who are really smart look around and leave." &;-)

We all notice that YOU are still here.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Mudboy dropped Ann Coulter into the soup!"

Just in my dreams, and I thought only Landru had access to them...MUD

[tpaine]

394 -- My first post on this thread. ALL others are in reply to insults of one sort or another, including yours, - punk.
_________________________________

BADJOE said:

"All I did was ask the questions."


That's the problem, here! The questions are a form of innuendo, which is not helpful. If there's a problem, drop the circumspection and tell us what YOU think it is and what YOU think needs to be done about it. Having gone this far, you should either give us the specifics or drop the matter.
164
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I'm with you Phys, but I do believe that if Joe gave us the 'specifics', they would only see the light of day for a few minutes.
Innuendo is the only way you can speak 'freely' on FR about certain subjects, as we ALL well know.
- Damn shame, but thats the truth.
_________________________________

[Physicist]

I'm hoping Mudboy Slim is less rigid.

If Mudboy were any more rigid, he'd be dirtboy.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

We all notice that YOU are still here.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!!!!!!

[ArneFufkin]

Distrusting government means distrusting the Constitution. The Constitution defines our government. Our government is the foundation supporting our prosperity and freedom.

There is no security, freedom and domestic peace without government. How can someone distrust an institution that has an easily defined and understood structure and process?

Humans ... politicians should be distrusted. Those who wish to corrupt, usurp and co-opt our government should be beaten down. Americans die, America endures.

People who distrust "government" distrust the world.

[Mudboy Slim]

LOL...thanks mom.

FReegards...MUD

[FreeTheHostages]

ping, note 770 above, in case your ears were burning. this ann coulter thing has heated up this thread. all roads lead to Rome, I guess

[Mudboy Slim]

LOL...thanks mom.

FReegards...MUD

[FreeTheHostages]

ROFL!! Spoken like a true physicist!!