Posted on 11/17/2001 6:41:37 AM PST by Commie Basher
It is time for President Bush to stop the cheer-leading and speak the truth.
He said last Thursday, "This great nation will never be intimidated. . . . Life in America is going forward."
Who is he trying to kid? Last Friday at Los Angeles airport I saw people trying to check their baggage – standing in a line that was at least 200 yards long. I stood in five separate lines to identify myself and my carryon luggage. The soldiers in fatigues with submachine guns reminded me of a Third World country.
The politicians live in their own unreal world, with no idea of what's happening in America. How many times has Air Force One been late taking off? How many security lines have Donald Rumsfeld, Tom Ridge, and Dick Cheney stood in?
They care little about the traveling businessman who now must cut his work short at lunchtime in order to catch a 5pm flight. Or the individual who must get up at 4am to catch a morning flight.
Has the President noticed the hundreds of billions of dollars being added to federal, state, and local government budgets – spending piled on top of previous budgets, spending that's causing huge deficits and tax increases, spending that's coming out of the hide of American taxpayers?
When will he say straight out: "America rules the world by force, and the price of that is for you to pay high taxes and live in a nation that looks more and more like a police state."
No Neutrals
President Bush says, "You're either with us or against us." Does that mean he'll bomb neutral Switzerland – the island of freedom, privacy, and security in the midst of socialist Europe – if it doesn't confiscate private bank accounts and otherwise act on every whim of our President?
Why doesn't he simply tell the truth: "America rules the world and I rule America. You will do as I say or I'll kill your people."
Opposition
The President keeps telling us that the world supports the American war against Afghanistan. But the truth is that he has bought the support of foreign leaders with your money – while public opinion polls show people in foreign countries are overwhelmingly opposed to American military attacks.
Why doesn't he just tell the truth: "We are destroying the last vestiges of love for America around the world – but that's the price we must pay for me to become powerful and popular at home beyond my wildest dreams."
Time for the Truth
When you know some of what politicians tell you are lies, you have to wonder how many of their other statements are lies as well.
What I want is the truth. I'd like to think I'm mature enough to handle whatever that may be. And I could prepare for the future much better if someone told me the truth – instead of all this rah-rah stuff.
America isn't leading the world. Leaders lead by example. And America is providing no example of individual liberty, personal responsibility, small government, or peace. America rules the world. Rulers rule by force. They may succeed temporarily, but at an awful cost.
It is long past time for the truth – the truth that many more Americans will have to die to satisfy the politicians' lust for power.
Take for example the existing companies that screen the passengers. Soon all gone and unemployed. Why is it the government can think of sticking on patronage at 35K a year plus untold overheads and job security and government perks, but can't think instead simply requiring the existing companies to all offer higher wages so they can find better employees?
Of course the answer is simple. It was your money, but now it's theirs.
So, what else is new? /sarcasm
Maybe when Harry can bring something fresh to the arguement, it'll be worthy of discussion.
Not in New York City. I hear the security people at JFK have long been unionized.
these remarks should have been directed to "dasHOLE"....also, these NEW programs...
how ya gonna PAY for it?
Nah, they're on another thread comparing nuke photos and yelling "traitor!".
I don't know for sure. I did hear that maybe 5 or 6 airports would remain as they are, but the same article raised the thought that the existing companies that ran them would likely go out of businesss anyways as they would still lose a lot of other accounts.
Even when Harry Browne opposes gun control there is a backlash against him and libertarians simply because of the messenger.
There is one very very important thing everyone should keep in mind about the most well known Libertarian in the country and the LP's 2000 presidental candidate: His comments in no way reflect the opinions of Libertarians or the Libertarian party.
So they say.
I must admit, though, that Harry Browne has surprised even me with this childish tripe- I guess it is true that heavy use of dope damages the brain, after all! (And I thought that was just Government propaganda...)
WHAT???!!!??
The attitude of Americans has changed, and in my opinion, changed for the better.
The obvious solution is to have two lines and two planes. Those who are concerned about security can go through the baggage checks and metal detectors.
Those who think this is an abridgement of their rights can go through the "everybody allowed to bring anything" line, and get on that plane, after having signed a non-liability agreement with the airline.
Of course, that means you would have to find a pilot to fly it, but I am sure one of Mr. Browne's supporters would volunteer for this job.
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