New signs to welcome american visitors!

All international airports should have a sign declaring:

"Welcome to America, home of the free*!




*Freedom is limited to internal thought only, all actions and words must in accordance with national law. Infractions will be punished accordingly up to and including death."

Freedom is completely subjective.

Yes, you go to the US and you must abide by US law. If you're talking about bombmaking, no matter how flippantly, we reserve the right to listen to that conversation, etc..

Its not about personal freedom; its about a democratically elected government rightly securing its interests on behalf of its constituents, namely the American people.

They're are costs for everything. You know that.

I've never once promoted anarchy nor will I ever. There is a happy medium.


The problem with the American gov't today is that there are too many laws (I don't think anyone would disagree on this point) and also people just don't seem to give a rats ass anymore.

This leaves the government wide open for abuse, which is currently happening. Whether or not you agree with me about the Bush administration, you can't deny that there are people in power who are abusing their positions.

This should not be tolerated on any level the way that it is.

technically speaking that would be communism...

individualism is given up for the betterment of eveyone.

Fascism - A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.

Communism - A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.


Both definitions are from dictionary.com

Fascism and Communism are actually quite similar. In both one gives up individual rights in order to better the state. I believe the main difference is that one is controlled by a dictator where as the other is supposed to be communal control.

I am an advocate of neither.

I was making an extreme comparison. The point is that we are losing our personal liberties in the name of the greater good.

If you're all for that, then hey more power to you. However, I am against it.

On a side note... I shudder at thinking what aussie politics are like.

I envision two men wrestling large alligators and the first one to put down their beast get's decide the future course of the gov't.

I like the alligator system better.

We need to append a note to your asterisked clarification:

All in all, still more freedom than most of the world.

Mike.

Please describe what exactly you define freedom as....I'll bet my left nut it equates to anarchy.

What harm has befallen your life by govt. regulations...None I'd bet

If a little inconvinience in your life is not worth the safty of the masses why do you not renounce your citizenship?

All you do is whine about what the govt. takes from you as you drive on paved roads, bath in city water, are kept secure in your home by a poliece force all which would go to hell in a heartbeat if You had every freedom you think your entitled too.

The essence of govt. any govt. is in its nature communal...All working for the greater good.

The total unbridaled freedom you so desire cannot exist unless You want anarchy ... Bottom line stop whining or move to Fookin Bolivia or where ever els your Quest for total freedom may take you. For as long as society requires a governmental structure you will have to sacrifice something.

Well said

Expensive, fundamentalist university headline: Liberalism poisons the soul. . .

Liberal, conservative, it's becoming more and more meaningless everyday.
This is Corp. America. Those are the people really in charge. The 200 or so
people that really run this country weren't elected and control those who
were.

Nope, can't stand it actually. I'm just realistic, and congress and the president
(whoever it is) isn't calling the shots, just dishing them out...

Sounds like a conspiracy theory to me. Could you name these 200?

Would that be by any change be people from the Carlyle group, Boeing, Ratheon, Kellog Brown and Root, Halliburton, the people from the revolving door?

ROFL

If it makes you happy......
I just died my hair blond, suits my IQ.

I applaud your post

FOUR FREEDOMS AWARDS

On 6 January 1941 President Franklin Roosevelt gave a speech to the US Congress which outlined the fundamental principles for a peaceful and democratic world. Known as the 'Four Freedoms' speech, Roosevelt proclaimed the following as essential attributes for mankind:


Freedom of speech and expression
Freedom of worship
Freedom from want
Freedom from fear

Something went wrong ........

True enough; there are limitations: you can't spread hate and fear.


"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security"

DoI, 1776

Maybe you should ask the lawmakers in Illinois who are moving for impeachment.

quote

Yarbrough is hoping to get the U.S. House's attention through her grass-roots effort. She already has picked up two co-sponsors to her legislation, Democratic state Representatives Eddie Washington (Waukegan) and Sara Feigenholtz (Chicago).

According to the resolution, Bush has "willfully violated his oath of office" by manipulating intelligence to start the war in Iraq, leaking classified national secrets and authorizing illegal spying on American citizens.

"This president has acted like an emperor," Yarbrough said.

To support her legislation, Yarbrough is relying on a provision from Jefferson's Manual, a procedural handbook written by Thomas Jefferson as a supplement to U.S. House rules.

end quote

LOL

Oops

Originally Durango (CO). Stayed some time at the upper peninsula of MI. (Ironwood). Have been stationed at Lansing, Muskegan and Milwaukee for the last couple of years. Hauling cargo in turboprops on UPS subcontracts.
Crossed Lake Michigan at least a zillion times. On clear nights you can see the lights of Illinois.

It is a small world.

Well......My college was in Wilmington, LA Harbor, which I think is just around your corner.
LOL
Just figured out your sig.
Love you too Forlorn.

Cool.....especially in winter time.

When I am in the Capital City, I stay at The Holliday inn (the one with Fridays) right next to the Saginaw freeway.

Right now I am at Rhinelander (WI) (other side of the lake) for the remainder of the month.
Then I am off for Europe for a job interview with Ryan Air in Dublin.

Are you a pilot too?