Reston, I am self-governing -- all freemen/women are. We are responsible for the condition and quality of our lives. From that responsibility we freely associate, trade, and make agreements with each other. Any government we may charter is subservient to us -- we are still responsible. Government officers must abide by the rules of the office -- the citizens are not bound to the dictates of our hired servants, the government is bound by OUR dictates. A republican form of government is unlike that of our European neighbors' -- we are not beholden to the State, Crown, Pope, or ruling council.

Little by little, our servant government has morphed into statism in which the government is supreme and the citizens its subjects -- just like European monarchies and dictatorships.

Socialism is monarchy-lite. Communism is quite simply slavery to the State. American independence has been under attack since 1776 and has never ceased!

The Reston's of this world demand socialism as their right -- and they are the government, right? So we must obey...

A freeman and socialist define 'responsibility' differently. The socialist is a victim -- he does not take responsibility, he blames 'the rich' for his disempowerment. The freeman blames only himself for his situation -- he takes responsibility.

The socialist complains, "When are 'they' going to fix this road?!" The freeman fixes it -- so he can use it!

Statism is NOT republicanism! I am not a shareholder of the US govt, nor do I want to be. Reagan was a puppet, I liked his speeches, but he was obviously unable to change anything. He cancelled a slew of executive orders of Carter's when in office, but he was unable to make the changes in the federal government that would have downsized DC and returned responsibility to the States. The assassination attempt seemed to have the desired effect.

But there has not been a president yet that hasn't doubled the debt during his term... the Clinton 'surplus' was an accounting trick -- there is no surplus, they just borrowed more than they spent -- they did not give that money back, they just spent it.

Publius, excise taxes are essentially consumption taxes or 'sales tax', which is added to the sale price. The problem is that politicians in seats of power are never satisfied with the tax revenue, so they keep coming up with new proposals for taxing the property and labors of whomever they can. The Commerce Clause of the Constitution has been stretched beyond its intended limits such that all private enterprise is considered inter-state commerce and thus to be regulated as corporate entities.

This transformation has been gradual, but today, the people's labors are being taxed directly by Washington DC -- this is not authorized in the Constitution even with the 16th Amendment.

The truth is that the US could issue both credit currency and hard currency whose values would not be fixed but determined by the market. The credit currency could be issued interest-free -- like the Greenbacks of old. Hard currency would be backed by a breadbasket of non-perishable commodities like metals.

All social services would be paid for with credit currency. This currency will deflate in value, but not nearly as fast as an interest-bearing script. And no one would be forced to accept credit currency in lieu of cash (hard currency).

The money printing press is to be put back in the hands of the People, not government.

The challenge is that the entire world is beholden to the central banks who are the REAL rulers. They know what they are doing!! The battle for the world still rages on -- ignorance of that is ultimately servitude.

All too true, Mike.

Fascism is the de facto form of government for the USA. The return to de jure government will be by the will of the People -- do not expect government to uncorrupt itself. Starve the beast and expose it to the light.

Health care has and always will be the responsibility of individuals -- they must take care of their health. If you don't, you may go to a doctor to fix you. But all a doctor can do is tell you what behaviors to change, then either cut, poison or burn the symptoms. I would NEVER willingly admit myself to a hospital, even if the care were free. I'd rather set my own broken bones, than be subject to that. Of course, I am not a woman, and having a baby on your own is rough. So obviously there is a need for real 'care' from others who are experienced and knowledgeable -- and I am more than happy to pay for those professional services.

I'm with Ken on this one ... and, frankly, I never liked the quote, true or otherwise.

The current system of taxation is designed to take the maximum it can without fomenting armed revolt. Americans have long stopped asking where the authority for such theft is granted in the US Constitution. Tyranny assumes arbitrary power, and slaves obey.

FDR ought to know! How do you think railroad tycoons became railroad tycoons? Theft and graft among college friends. ;-)

Mick, the federal education of the masses in the US (not sure about the UK) has resulted in lower literacy and numeracy rates than before the government regulated it. So the average American is less educated than previous generations, and s/he has not learned how to grow food or build a house or any 'responsibility' skills (i.e. survival skills). The 'institutionalization' of society has only been possible through a coordinated education policy. The same campuses and techniques are employed in a 'school' as in the army or a cattle farm. It's either "Ten-hut!" or the cattle prod.

The white collar vs blue collar classes represent the rulers vs the slaves. Try getting an education outside of this box from the State...

As for poverty and crime, these are the food of government. They are absolutely dependent upon it. Like modern medicine, they only treat disease, they do not cure it -- cures are bankruptcy, and also illegal.

The premise may be to end crime and poverty through education, but look at a failing school, and you will see that their own policies are breeding a 'screw you' attitude among the students. Years of this creates some rather unsociable groups - GREAT! More reason to create more government departments to fight crime and poverty!

Thumbs up, Logan! If I remember correctly, you are a college professor ... it would have been good to have had you as a teacher.

Robert, I have children -- although I have tried, I cannot teach them to think! ;-) Who taught YOU to think?

The children can spend time watching television -- they will learn from that whatever they will -- or engaging in a dialogue with someone. We are always being 'impressed upon' by our environment. I find the woods to be a good environment for learning about nature. Talking with a carpenter and helping him work will yield knowledge in carpentry.

As a parent, I determine the learning environments for my children. Whether they be at home or in a school, I am responsible for that. Personally, I noticed that the children learned the most during travel. They pick up all the differences from home. At school, they sure picked up a lot of bad influences that I would have been happy them not ever being exposed to. But we live in a world with it all, not just the parts we'd like.

I agree wholeheartedly that children should learn ethics, integrity, LOGIC. However, what public school teaches that? Where do we find honor and integrity? Can we 'buy' or even 'provide' such a thing to another?

Where will I learn to be honorable growing up? Better question: How did I learn the importance of being honorable?

Do we not learn from our day-to-day experiences, whether at home or in an institution, in class or out?

Atheism cuts itself off from even asking certain questions, perhaps making certain truths unavailable -- that which may set them free. Instead of freeing themselves from their mental box, they take on the role of God for the poor and down-trodden. Their 'education' merely enrolls the dependent in their programs -- all the while condemning religious congregations for extending their form of compassion.

The State cannot address the Soul/Self, the liberating of which from the bonds of dogma is the right of passage of every Freeman.

Robert, the Truth is ever in front of us, ready to be known. It is my responsibility to discern the truth -- 'information' alone does not enlighten.

We are being 'pitched' constantly to buy another's view of the world. The amount of coercion applied to accepting this knowledge is a tell-tale sign of a power play.

I do not think most people seek truth -- I think they seek safety from the oppression of others. And when a school furthers 'safe' spaces, they are advocating the oppression of the mind. House slaves teach the benefits of being a house slave.

The Truth will be revealed as I am willing to accept it. What I willfully ignore or am unwilling to accept will set the tone for the life lessons to come. ;-)

Frankly, these arguments about guns would be clearer if we substituted the words for arms with "power." The argument against arms is an argument against the power that arms provide. For good or ill, the power is in the individual's hands. What he/she does with it will determine the outcome. I am responsible for the consequences of my actions.

The same with 'taxes' and 'money' -- power. What do those with the power do with it? Who should have power and how much and who says? Who has the power to serve as a check against the power of the people? The people! And how do we do it? ;-)

The theory that, in order to prevent the exercise of power with an intent to do harm, we must disempower (disarm) everyone simply makes everyone subservient to the one we have surrendered our power to. Mick, that is what you are furthering, more control over the powers of the people. Good intentions always leading the way...

The continuation of the practice keeps pushing the line further. Until, like beasts of burden, the people become yoked to carry the debt (promise of power) of their rulers. Some people are treated like oxen, others like polo ponies and poodles with haircuts. I have a feeling Mick is more likely in the poodles category. You've got a good thing going and you can't understand why we all don't just practice ahimsa comfortably in the lap of our masters. Americans! ;-)

Mick, around the world, common people are disarmed and beholden to the dictates of their government. China is a slave labor country. The armed military revolution toppled the oldest empire in the world. The people have been ruled by a military dictatorship ever since.

Perhaps being from Manchester, and with a Queen who counts you among her subjects, you are unfamiliar with the concept of individual sovereignty and personal responsibility. This is the American ideal, and the claims of the Crown and Church were decisively cut. The Crown does not allow its subjects to be independent, and war follows.

Americans are not beholden to a King or Governor. Our government is chartered by We The People -- we are not subjects of the government, the government is a servant of the People. We rule, not the government. We are responsible for providing for ourselves and our security -- not the Crown. SO we will always have guns in nearly every house, even if it is simply a symbolic gesture -- but history has proven it isn't!

Simply, whatever weaponry a soldier might carry, an American citizen has every right to bear. Also, in America, the military is a CIVIL power, that is regulated by the citizenry, not a dictator. Jefferson's view of an American was as "citizen-soldier."

The denial of man as an animal that needs to fight and defend himself against aggressors is a pitiful argument by those that have agreed to give their personal responsibility to their 'lord.' A perfect slave.

Not just fairy tales, but the successful formula for popular novels and movies is to inspire. But every innovation becomes a racket, and 'education' attempts to force a narrative rather than teach one to be one's own narrator.

Having home-schooled my children from time to time, I notice that we always have the opportunity to learn, and in fact are learning things all the time, especially children. If you want them to become smart, make sure they are in an environment of smart people. Like learning a language -- full immersion works the fastest. We learn on our own, but we do learn most from other people. Those other people include teachers, students, everyone. The real 'test' is in the application of the knowledge. Applying what I have learned renders the next lesson. ;-)

The sky is always falling, apparently. Except that it hasn't, isn't, doesn't and won't.

The real question is, what do these viewers get out of indulging in this? Why do they tune in, over and over, despite the falsity? It seems to me to be 'programming.' People are buying a narrative that puts the blame of their victimhood (powerlessness) on the other side of the tracks. Rather than pick themselves up, they riot in the streets.

Hearts and minds are the real battlefield. The media could be so much more inspirational and empowering (the true service of the storyteller) -- I look to the 'little people' who often speak simple wisdom by telling it like it is. How refreshing!

Our limited powers of observation are all we've got! Knowing that they are limited keeps me humble. The truth is ever in front of us, it needs no props; it need only be discerned. As a scientist, I observe and contemplate my observation, I imagine and theorize, then I apply that to pose further questions. Every experiment yields a response. Discovery is a kind of dialogue between me and the ideas spawned by my own questions. The key to discovering the truth is then to make sure I speak to myself as truthfully as I can, and the truth reveals itself. ;-)

Mick has made "no rational argument" himself, using logical fallacies to prop up a politically correct narrative. The denial of the need to defend oneself against the group is the collectivist creed, and is a con that benefits the union leaders and helps protect their monopoly of power. Leftists are the primary reason to be prepared to defend oneself against their maddening claims upon the property and labors of everyone -- particularly their opposition.

The social justice warriors have become puppets of the very 1% they supposedly condemn.

I'm afraid the burden is still on me to educate myself in both mind and morals -- who can I truly trust with my mind and my morals? There are a lot of nuts out there ...

Since history is written by the victors, it's ALL suspicious. In fact, a 'history book' is not history at all, it's what we are supposed to believe as history. Real 'history' is an accurate retelling of events, and unlike a history book, is told by a witness of it. The truth is in the telling. A good writer of history tells the truth about what he/she has witnessed.

It only seems like that last effort because it has been OUR last effort. Maintaining one's Liberty is an active duty. Either write your own narrative or somebody will write one for you.

Do not expect "that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge" to be offered willingly or discovered without effort. 'Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain...' will ever be their warning.