What is Digg?127 Comments
- inactive, on 02/16/2008, -5/+90"Patriots" today only speak of freedom but the United States doesn’t actually practice it, unless you count censorship, invasions of privacy, and guilty until proven innocent the new definition of “freedom.”
- phnx0221, on 02/16/2008, -6/+72"This is a problem for President Bush, as Americans are learning to fight their fears. Over the last 7 years, it hasn’t been Al Qaida or other terrorists that are frightening Americans with their acts of terror. Instead it is the President of United States that is using terrorism tactics against his nation in order to push his political agenda. His patience is being tried by the House of Representatives, and he’s resorting to his same old tactics of bullying and terrorism to get things done in Washington."
Too true, it is incredibly difficult to invoke the boogeyman of terrorism, when the greater fear lies within our own government, at the hands of our very president and his administration. It is difficult to push for violations of privacy, rights to dissent, and acceptance of greater inconveniences (security measures, search and seizure, terror lists that contain ages ranging from 2 years old to 90 years old), when the reasons given for such acts have drastically fallen short with this administrations incompetence, arrogance, and hypocritical threats and allegations against other nations.
Statistically speaking, we are far more likely to die in a car accident, house fire, crossfire from a shooting, or a lightening strike, than by a terrorist attack. Although certainly, the amount of terrorists have increased since we began our occupation, and began implementing such shortsighted foreign policy in the middle east. In fact, it has become easier to recruit insurgents against the occupying united states, than it has been to recruit armed forces to continue said occupation.
However, given this information, and given the statistics and the likelihood of terror attacks, it's become very difficult to convince and increasingly disenfranchised and knowledgeable population, to lay down their rights, lay down their privacy, lay down their comforts, and lay down their own constitutional protections, in order to fight an enemy that is seemingly, no longer in the middle east, but within our very country, who is by the day, only exacerbating the threats we face around the world. - Frostman3D, on 02/16/2008, -5/+43This is basically a throwback to the McCarthy era. If you're not with us, you're with the terrorists, and it's just not that simple. Bush has overstepped his bounds countless times since 9/11 and he should be removed from office.
- XNihil0Zer0, on 02/16/2008, -2/+27That's because the word patriot was officially redefined in the "Patriot" act.
- Napoleone, on 02/16/2008, -4/+28"America was founded by men who understood that the threat of domestic tyranny is as great as any threat from abroad. If we want to be worthy of their legacy, we must resist the rush toward ever-increasing state control of our society. Otherwise, our own government will become a greater threat to our freedoms than any foreign terrorist." - Ron Paul
"The federal government has no right to treat all Americans as criminals by spying on their relationship with their doctors, employers, or bankers." - Ron Paul
"There is but one special interest that we should be working for, and that would solve just about all of our problems, and that is our liberty." - Ron Paul
There's a longer, more detailed comment issued by Ron Paul on this issue, under my reply button. I'd recently posted it in another thread, so I'll give you the option of exploring it again or for the first time, on your own, rather than being exposed to it so often, involuntarily. - Evolutuon, on 02/16/2008, -2/+25History will not be kind to Bush and his Administration.
- Napoleone, on 02/16/2008, -3/+25What you are failing to grasp, Philo, is that "property" does NOT merely mean an iPod or a Lexus or a parcel of land. Property means YOU. YOU are your own property. And because YOU are your own property, no one has a right to invade your space, so long as you respect the space of others.
As far as material property goes, they are yours because YOU earned them or were properly gifted them. And as a sign of respect to you, your property should be left alone.
Your thoughts are you property: No one has a right to penalize you for thinking "improperly".
Your feelings are your property: No one has a right to force you to feel what you do not feel.
Your friendships are your property: No one has a right to decide your friends for you.
Your goals are your property: No one has a right to force you in a direction contrary to your will.
Your health is your property. No one has a right to make you sick. No one has a right to force you to take better care of yourself.
Your life is your property: No one has a right to enter you into wars, take your life, or forbid you taking your own.
All of this, of course, is contingent on your respect for the right of others, and that your ability to reason not be greatly compromised.
Property is no vice. - inactive, on 02/16/2008, -1/+18It's the Red Scare all over again. The commies are horrible, because they want to take away your individual rights. So we're gonna take away your individual rights so we can fight the commies and prevent them from taking your individual rights.
- Napoleone, on 02/16/2008, -2/+18"Liberty once again must become more important to us than the desire for security and material comfort. Personal safety and economic prosperity can only come as the consequence of liberty. They cannot be provided by an authoritarian government... The foundation for a police state has been put in place, and it's urgent we mobilize resistance before it's too late... Central planning is intellectually bankrupt – and it has bankrupted our country and undermined our moral principles. Respect for individual liberty and dignity is the only answer to government force, force that serves the politically and economically powerful. Our planners and rulers are not geniuses, but rather demagogues and would-be dictators -- always performing their tasks with a cover of humanitarian rhetoric... The collapse of the Soviet system came swiftly and dramatically, without a bloody conflict... It came as no surprise, however, to the devotees of freedom who have understood for decades that socialism was doomed to fail... And so too will the welfare/warfare state fail... A free society is based on the key principle that the government, the president, the Congress, the courts, and the bureaucrats are incapable of knowing what is best for each and every one of us... A government as a referee is proper, but a government that uses arbitrary force to direct every aspect of society threatens freedom... The time has come for a modern approach to achieving those values that all civilized societies seek. Only in a free society do individuals have the best chance to seek virtue, strive for excellence, improve their economic well-being, and achieve personal happiness... The worthy goals of civilization can only be achieved by freedom loving individuals. When government uses force, liberty is sacrificed and the goals are lost. It is freedom that is the source of all creative energy. If I am to be your president, these are the goals I would seek. I reject the notion that we need a president to run our lives, plan the economy, or police the world... It is much more important to protect individual liberty and privacy than to make government even more secretive and powerful." - Ron Paul
- overkillingness, on 02/16/2008, -1/+16“If you aren’t doing anything wrong, you have nothing to fear”
The motto of the Tyrant - macwac, on 02/16/2008, -5/+20As an outsider... americans you better do something fast or you will lose whatever rights you still have left. Vote smart, not popular. Will your candidate revert the changes that Bush has made? Go down the list of candidates and check it.. have any of them promised to revert the changes? or who is more likely to do so in order to restore your rights?...
- digindrivefast, on 02/16/2008, -0/+14History will tell the story of the demise of America. Misled by the "leaders" of this nation, we the people will be doomed because we dare not speak against them. We lose a little bit more of our freedom everyday.
Bush does not give a damn what the history books will say about him. Nor do the Clintons.... - inactive, on 02/16/2008, -2/+16And only one person running in the major parties actually advocated the defense of the Constitution and the citizens liberties. But, many of you still want "mother government" to take care of you.
- Napoleone, on 02/16/2008, -3/+16Very well said. Thank you.
- davemartin7777, on 02/16/2008, -0/+13Well than your "Liberal professor" is either your dad or some schmuck with a GED.
Hitler was a ultranationalist, Reich-wing fascist... just like you. - baalzebub, on 02/16/2008, -0/+13Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel...
- Corrosionx, on 02/16/2008, -1/+13Seems to me like "terrorism" is a tactic to achieve political or social changes through the use of fear techniques and terror-inducing propaganda.
The modern US powers have learned well from their ideological predecessors, the 3rd Reich and the Soviet Union. They believe they will achieve longer lasting changes if they incrementally bring us into this kind of police state society.
Eventually we will evolve to see we don't need those parasites. Then these people will need to find real jobs where people pay them on a voluntary basis for services they actually want. - Napoleone, on 02/16/2008, -2/+13@satanatnmtedu
You are confusing Libertarian ideals with those of Anarchists. Libertarians believe in the rule of law, hence their devoted advocacy of the Constitution. The Constitution authorizes the federal government to defend and protect your rights from outside threats to it, and at the same time, it limits the powers of the government so that the government itself is not the one trespassing on your rights. - Bronnster, on 02/16/2008, -1/+12Excellent! I am voting for Ron Paul. So much truth comes from him throughout every site i visit. whenever i stumble across comments or blogs concerning Ron Paul, be it an interview or speech or opinionated article, it always rings true to what i feel and believe. Trying to frame a statement about what i actually want to convey always seems difficult, but when someone comes across and says what I wish to say time after time, then i feel that this person speak to and for me. This is what I find true in Ron Paul. He has my vote.
- Corrosionx, on 02/16/2008, -1/+12Not liberals, statists.
People who think the government is the solution are the problem no matter what side of the aisle they stand on. - inactive, on 02/16/2008, -1/+12What are you talking about? Solely responsible? Man, take a look way back to Lincoln, then the next biggy is FDR, then Johnson, Nixon, Carter. Then Clinton and Bush. Your dislike for the Republicans has clouded your memory of history. Both parties have eroded our rights and liberties.
- kemp34, on 02/17/2008, -1/+12Ron Paul is the only Presidential candidate that truly cares about the liberties guaranteed by our Constitution. The rest want you to go to work for them as serfs to the statist ruling classes. Throw off the yoke!!
- inactive, on 02/16/2008, -2/+13terrorists or freedom fighters? war or peace? freedom or slavery? wake up america.
- Look4Truth, on 02/16/2008, -3/+12Everyone who disagrees with the establishment is considered a terrorist in a fascist dictatorship in the making. Hold on to your hats, it's only going to get worse.
- Kent4jmj, on 02/17/2008, -0/+9Love the direct quotes.
The truth and wisdom of what he says are the best argument we have against the nonsense all around us. - zyko, on 02/17/2008, -0/+9Bush and Cheney have freedom to do whatever the hell they want. Just nobody else does.
- mahela, on 02/16/2008, -1/+9
This is basically a throwback to the McCarthy era. If you're not with us, you're with the terrorists, and it's just not that simple. Bush has overstepped his bounds countless times since 9/11 and he should be removed from office. - drachasor, on 02/16/2008, -1/+9A. Bush and crew have gone after people and tortured people without proving their guilt. They have an entire prison where they hold people for years without any proof of guilt.
B. The President cannot unilaterally wiretap people without a warrant. That's just a simple fact of the law. As for privacy in general, consider the 4th, 9th, and 10th Ammendments:
Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure. Ratified 12/15/1791.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment 9 - Construction of Constitution. Ratified 12/15/1791.
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People. Ratified 12/15/1791.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
C. If you can't see how the Bush Administration has routinely tried to shut people up, I'd advise you to simply look at how it treats scientists on matters such as Global Warming. - digindrivefast, on 02/16/2008, -1/+9Still, everyone continues with the "marching orders" to prosecute & impeach, (from the democrats,) and the idea that our "sitting" president is a "Republican" (in some perverted definition,) with real patriots being "informed" every day...
More republicans, like myself, are able to stand up and say I was mistaken, misled, ill-informed and ignorant as to my Rights and my duty. I've yet to see our Nations true leaders stand up & admit they were wrong. More republicans should be screaming to have this administration removed and more democrats should wake up to the song & dance that will continue with both Hillbill & Obama... - Napoleone, on 02/16/2008, -0/+7It seems to me the mental illness resides, not in the mind of Bush, but in the minds of the American People who take his abuse.
Bush and his Republican and Democratic supporters are enemies of the Constitution, and they have to a large extent succeeded in seeing it destroyed. It is We the People who have failed the Constitution with our poor defense. - kemp34, on 02/17/2008, -0/+7SaperKain, you need a little more discernment before throwing out disparaging remarks. Otherwise, you sound very dumb. Ron Paul is not a "George Bush Republican".
- davemartin7777, on 02/16/2008, -0/+7"Wow theres really a lot of SMART people on DIGG making POSTS on a "kill some time" site."
You've got 114 posts you hypocritical gas-bag. - Corrosionx, on 02/16/2008, -0/+7You do NOT know about libertarianism if you say that. That's like saying "The goal of eliminating slavery is unreasonable, who will hire ex-slaves? They will resort to criminality, etc."
In fact, having a group of people with the monopoly of power on a certain geographical area is probably the most unreasonable thing imaginable, knowing what human beings do with power once they get their hands on it. - Napoleone, on 02/16/2008, -0/+7The Constitution is there so that the people know what goes and what goes not. Ultimately, it is up to The People to see that it is followed.
The lines on the street and the signs that line the sidewalks are only as useful as they are used properly. - bjornski, on 02/16/2008, -1/+8Oh good! I was hoping to hear some of the wisdom of the hate-filled!
Glad you could join us, LucasSmith! I'm still laughing my ass off at your comment history.
Come back to give us some more of the great wisdom of someone who was FOUR the last time there wasn't a Bush or Clinton in office?
You have ZERO political knowledge, but you spout the Limbaugh talking points well.
Now let the adults talk, and you polish your jack-boots quietly like a good German patriot. - giantdouche, on 02/16/2008, -1/+7Take a look around. Our elections are rigged. Democracy is dead. http://blackboxvoting.org
- Herostratus, on 02/16/2008, -0/+6Wrong dude,
These are the people who dont fill out income Tax forms because the 16th Amendment wasn't properly ratified...
Dissent is the ultimate patriotism! Doubleplusgood! - baalzebub, on 02/16/2008, -3/+9personally i think bush has a mental illness, i think he needs to be heavily medicated and put in a mental institution for having paranoid delusions...
- inactive, on 02/16/2008, -1/+7Oh, I agree the movement isn't going to die.. my point is that in order for the movement to grow and infect the masses, it must be delivered properly or risk being met by unnecessary resistance. If Libertarianism is to evolve beyond the "cult / crazy / out of touch" stereotypes, advocates must learn how to recruit and convert others. It is my personal view that the Libertarians I know are among America's most intelligent people. This is just a guess, but the Libertarian IQ is higher on average than for any other ideology, unfortunately that comes with social challenges (Ron Paul is perhaps an exception, he's brilliant with people) -- I'm just offering some friendly advice.
- inactive, on 02/16/2008, -0/+6I agree with you, but a bit of advice: the MOVEMENT will go nowhere with that tone. You are doing libertarian thought a great disservice by wagging your finger and say "I told you so." People aren't inspired by that and if anything you'll just attract more trolls and passionate people to resist the movement.
- skews13, on 02/16/2008, -1/+7you people are getting it. if you think for one minute that social engineering equals following the law. you have been duped. unjust,and unconstitutional laws,such as ones that are enacted for your safety,ie; gun regulation,the war on drugs,etc.,were not put there to protect you.these kinds of laws allow the government,federal,state,and local,to get around constitutional protections.in order to further political social engineering agendas. usually religious,and authoritarian fanaticism
- digindrivefast, on 02/16/2008, -0/+6Exactly!
Until we have leaders with "integrity"... we are teaching the "now" generation how to continue to screw this Nation up and cause further damage across the globe. The Now generation will just simply excuse this because that's "how we roll" ...
Being a "leader" is not and should not be about a popularity contest. Our Nations leaders are not running for class president etc. and so having learned, over the course of a life...
less mistakes, less destruction, less taxes, less government...
I do not want to wait another political cycle to have the "errors" written in the History Books! - leftyslament, on 02/16/2008, -0/+6Not necessarily. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy that I can still voice by discontent, but that doesn't mean I'm completely free. The powerful elite in the U.S. own the masses every bit as much as the leaders of totalitarian states, they just have to exert their power much more subtly. Think "Brave New World". In totalitarian states, authority is centralized and the dictators can afford to overtly exert power through force. In a "republic" such as the U.S., the powerful must subvert the will of the masses by tricking them. They can't force the people to do what they want, so they must fool the people into compliance, usually through propaganda and herd tactics.
- Bronnster, on 02/16/2008, -0/+6Great article. Well put. I have to say that within the passed months I've not seen much bipartisan bickering inside chat and blog forums amongst us Americans when "Bush vs. Constitution" issues are discussed. This is a good sign, to me, when differences, political and moral, can be put aside knowing that there is a greater, common and immediate concern in front of us. We are being forced (?) to come together in thought and emotion on this issue of broken leadership and the direction we are headed as the result of it being broken. I believe it is a shared threat amongst us all. In crisis, I definitely would hope for the courage and support of a neighbor or the compassion and understanding of a stranger for help. Something like passengers floating in a lifeboat just after the ship they were on sank. We are sharing the same emotional anxieties. We seem to realize that we, the people do matter and not so much the politically elected that govern us. I hope for courage, personally, to be with me when the time comes to protect a fellow American when he or she needs help. This, at least, is what I'm beginning to mentally and emotionally experience and it gives me strength to speak out these days. I'm going to believe this is true, and act as such. I feel, today, that this attitude is exactly what I, hopefully all of us, are needing to put issues right. BTW, I know not all of those those elected are Traitors to the Constitution. We do have a few Brave heroes in Congress (obviously, most are in the House) and I wish them strength in the fight! Be it they Republican, Independent, Libertarian, or Democrat!
- drachasor, on 02/16/2008, -0/+6I am struck by your inability to admit you are wrong or read what I wrote. You've completely ignored my comments on privacy. You are not acting like newpaper stories about global warming means that Bush administration has not routinely tried to silence scientists in government employ or censer what they say. You somehow believe that the Iraq war has reduced the number of terrorists in the world, when in fact it has increased them. No doubt you have similarly ignored the Army's statements that standard techniques (without any torture) work and are effective for gathering intelligence from detainees. No doubt you somehow think that the inability of those rounded up in Guantanamo to have a fair and speedy trial has no bearing on the release of innocent prisoners. There are examples of Canadians, Germans, and other citizens of our allies being detained for YEARS and in some cases tortured before being found innocent.
These tactics are self-defeating, and they alienate our allies and make combating terrorism harder -- as does acting like terrorism can possibly destroy our way of life. Osama bin Laden cannot destroy America. The attack on 9/11 was catastrophic, but the scale of the attack, compared to the scale of America and its citizens, was relatively small. That's not to say it isn't a tragedy, but to pretend that we are fighting for our survival and that there is any justification in destroying our freedoms is to pretend this conflict is far, far more serious than it is. This is not a Civil War, this is not an INVASION of our Country (attacks on our home soil do not an invasion make). Habeus Corpus should still be maintained, and we should all remember that while terrorism (and extremism) is a serious threat to the world, it is not a dire one. - Corrosionx, on 02/17/2008, -1/+6"yes because its statistically less possible to die from terrorism we should just give up trying to fight it."
Sure, have a war on terrorism. Just look at the results of the war on drugs, there's more drugs than ever before! Why do you think today there's more terrorism than there ever was?
"People all over the world didn't hate us before Bush. "
Only those in the countries the previous administrations have *****. I don't have to name them, you should know your history if you're so smart.
"Our government has been protecting us for the last 7 years and they have done a good job."
Our government has been robbing us of our wealth and our rights at an pace never seen before the last 7 years.
"What rights have you had taken away lately? any? I don't recall any of my rights taken away. "
That's because you don't even know what your rights are. Habeas Corpus is a good one. Also the 4th amendment is pratically non-existent anymore.. In some parts of the country the 1st and 2nd amendments are void. Also your purchasing power is being destroyed each day by the actions and policies of the US government.
"wtf would the government care about you? your just a number. 1 person out of 300 million."
They are creating a snitch society and a police state the likes of the old Soviet union, especially with people like you continuing to defend those power hungry maniacs. They don't protect you, it's a ***** PR scam to take your money.
If the war in Iraq wasn't achieving the wanted results, it would have ended by now. The results they wanted is a transfer of wealth from the American taxpayers to war profiteers. They are counting on idiots like you to think they are doing it to protect America. What a farce.
The government isn't here to protect you. This is an undeniable truth. The Supreme Court of the US has ruled many times that the government has "no duty to protect" (look it up on Google).
They exist to protect themselves first and foremost. - Corrosionx, on 02/16/2008, -1/+6Either the Constitution allowed the current government or it was powerless to prevent it. Either way the Constitution is in reality nothing more than a piece of paper. It's a mythological symbol to make people believe the government was established legitimately.
- Napoleone, on 02/16/2008, -0/+5"...I partially understand why the impeachment process isn't in process and criminal complaints haven't been filed. This stuff requires high amounts of actual evidence of wrong-doing..."
This President has openly admitted to torture and violating the 4th Amendment. He has also violated Habeas Corpus, as the Supreme Court itself found. There is ample evidence with which to commence impeachment. Sorry, but don't give me that apologist *****. Democrats have failed the American people and their oath of office BIG TIME. - davemartin7777, on 02/16/2008, -0/+5But you are one lucky boy Joint, "theres" always room for one more Reich-wing American Fascist, corporate hack/ Murdock sockpuppet on the "MSM" Apply today, you'll get the job.
The rest of us are stuck with Digg. - inactive, on 02/16/2008, -2/+7Terrorism is a good way to make the American people stand behind the current administration I dont think many people will support your side if you start bombing markets shooting up federal buildings.
-
Show 51 - 100 of 125 discussions
Browsing Digg on your phone just got easier with our enhancements to the 
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is