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Sowell: Freedom Is Not Free
Creators Syndicate ^ | March 4, 2014 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 03/03/2014 1:53:06 PM PST by jazusamo

There may be something to the claim that all people want to be free. But it is a demonstrable fact that freedom has been under attack, usually successfully, for thousands of years.

The Federal Communications Commission's recent plan to have a "study" of how editorial decisions are made in the media, placing FCC bureaucrats in editorial offices across the country, was one of the boldest assaults on freedom of the press. Fortunately, there was enough backlash to force the FCC to back off.

With all the sweeping powers available to government, displeasing FCC bureaucrats in editorial offices could have brought on armies of "safety" inspectors from OSHA, audits from the Internal Revenue Service and many other harassments from many other government agencies.

Such tactics have become especially common in this administration, which has the morals of thugs and the agenda of totalitarians. They may not be consciously aiming at creating a totalitarian state, but shameless use of government power to crush those who get in their way can produce totalitarian end results.

The prosecution of Dinesh D'Souza for contributing $20,000 to a political candidate, supposedly in violation of the many campaign finance laws, is a classic case of selective prosecution.

Thugs who stationed themselves outside a polling place in Philadelphia to intimidate white voters were given a pass, and others accused of campaign finance violations were charged with misdemeanors, but Dinesh D'Souza has been charged with felonies that carry penalties of years in federal prison.

All of this is over a campaign contribution that is chicken feed, compared to what can be raised inside of an hour at a political fundraising breakfast or lunch.

(Excerpt) Read more at creators.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: dsouza; fcc; freedom; obama; pelletier; sowell; thomassowell

1 posted on 03/03/2014 1:53:06 PM PST by jazusamo
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To: abigail2; Amalie; American Quilter; arthurus; awelliott; Bahbah; bamahead; Battle Axe; ...
*PING*
Thomas Sowell

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Recent columns
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Cruz Control? Part II

Please FReepmail me if you would like to be added to or removed from the Thomas Sowell ping list…

2 posted on 03/03/2014 1:54:46 PM PST by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: All


Let's Put This Baby To Bed!!
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3 posted on 03/03/2014 1:54:50 PM PST by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: jazusamo
You don't get something for nothing

You can't have freedom for free.

4 posted on 03/03/2014 2:06:32 PM PST by deadrock (I am someone else.)
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To: jazusamo

The seventh paragraph says it all. Thanks for the ping


5 posted on 03/03/2014 2:21:36 PM PST by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Kaslin

It sure does and you’re most welcome.


6 posted on 03/03/2014 2:26:06 PM PST by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: jazusamo
In other words, the Constitution cannot protect you, if you don't protect the Constitution with your votes against anyone who violates it.

Sorry, Mr. Sowell, I believe the ballot box is failing and has failed us miserably. We know there are few boxes remaining to which we can resort, and I, for one, am curious when the real war of independence begins. We all know the next one will be for all the marbles and on the world stage.

I will NOT rest with chains upon my shoulders. I will cast them off and do everything to ensure that my life and the lives of my American brethren are free for another generation. So help me God...

7 posted on 03/03/2014 2:27:55 PM PST by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: jazusamo

Enough we don’t want to hear from AS-Sowell, until he apologizes to Ted Cruz.

He is persona non grata for being a GOPe suckup


8 posted on 03/03/2014 2:48:49 PM PST by Zenjitsuman (New Boss Nancy Pelosi)
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To: Zenjitsuman

Who is “we” friend? He’s wrong about Ted Cruz, speak for yourself.


9 posted on 03/03/2014 3:02:01 PM PST by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: Zenjitsuman
we don't want to hear from Sowell until he apologizes to Ted Cruz

It's too late. When the ptb RINOs needed to play their last cards to try to dismiss Ted Cruz, Sowell showed that he's just another mouthpiece who has found his niche with the status quo.

10 posted on 03/03/2014 3:10:18 PM PST by grania
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To: jazusamo

It costs a buck oh five.


11 posted on 03/03/2014 3:10:41 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: Zenjitsuman

There aren’t enough solid conservative leaders like Sowell to throw him under the bus for one mistake in several decades. Sowell has been fighting liberalism since before Cruz was a gleam in his daddy’s eye.


12 posted on 03/03/2014 3:33:42 PM PST by unlearner (You will never come to know that which you do not know until you first know that you do not know it.)
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To: grania

Are you out of your mind?

Sowell is a rock solid conservative. He made a mistake about Cruz. Ted Cruz is a relative new comer.

I personally hope Cruz is our next president, but he is going to have to withstand greater scrutiny and criticism than anything Sowell put out there.

Sowell would likely be a big supporter too. So don’t write off a strong, fellow conservative so fast.


13 posted on 03/03/2014 3:45:27 PM PST by unlearner (You will never come to know that which you do not know until you first know that you do not know it.)
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To: unlearner
I would want to hear Sowell apologize and say LOUD AND CLEAR that he would be a huge supporter of a Ted Cruz presidency.

That would change how I feel about his mistake.

14 posted on 03/03/2014 4:03:59 PM PST by grania
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To: jazusamo

What everyone tends to forget is how the US system works. Congress passes legislation with some intent in mind. The the bureaucrats in the departments which enforce that law write the REGULATIONS which implement the law. Note that the enforcement of the regulations can be wildly different from the intent of the law. In years, and thousands of dollars in lawyer fees later, the Courts may nullify the regulation.


15 posted on 03/03/2014 5:42:05 PM PST by Citizen Tom Paine (An old sailor sends)
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To: jazusamo
Thugs who stationed themselves outside a polling place in Philadelphia to intimidate white voters were given a pass, and others accused of campaign finance violations were charged with misdemeanors, but Dinesh D'Souza has been charged with felonies that carry penalties of years in federal prison.

All of this is over a campaign contribution that is chicken feed, compared to what can be raised inside of an hour at a political fundraising breakfast or lunch.

. . . and John Armor - the late Congressman Billybob - is rolling over in his grave. He resigned his privileges to practice before the Supreme Court over the McConnell v. FEC decision by SCOTUS which upheld McCain-Feingold.
Campaign Finance “reform” legislation presumes to censor your use of your money to propagate your opinion, on the grounds that you do not own a printing press yet (no one would argue that you do not have the right to own, and use, one). D’Souza should appeal any prosecution/conviction to the Supreme Court. Sandra Day O’Connor was the deciding vote for the FEC in that case, and it would only require that the sitting minority members in McConnell v. FEC be joined by Roberts and Alito to overturn.

16 posted on 03/03/2014 7:13:53 PM PST by conservatism_IS_compassion ("Liberalism” is a conspiracy against the public by wire-service journalism.)
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion

Well said and may Congressman Billybob RIP, he is missed at Free Republic!


17 posted on 03/03/2014 7:20:44 PM PST by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: jazusamo

Has he applied for the Chinese dishwasher pardon?


18 posted on 03/03/2014 7:39:09 PM PST by rawcatslyentist (Jeremiah 50:32 "The arrogant one will stumble and fall ; / ?)
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To: Zenjitsuman

Yes, WE do


19 posted on 03/04/2014 4:18:48 AM PST by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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