Authoritarians must control the dialogue in order to remain in the position of authority. Questioning authority used to be a hallmark of the liberal cause -- something's changed on college campuses today.

'Education' has become a massive labor racket only possible with 'loans' from the banking establishment which the government will cover. The result? Every graduating student has a debt the size of a house -- or what could buy one. And what to show for it? Substandard education, and a tenured unionized class that milks its customers (students) for everything they've got and for the next 15 years.

Differing points of view? Compulsion is the hallmark of the liberals, now.

If God's will is done, Mencken may have a point ...

Knowledge is power. The ruling class built the schools, the churches, the government in order to rule a common people. Any knowledge that challenges the power structure is withheld and buried in the Catacombs. Monopolies in the fields of medicine, energy -- any science -- keep truths that threaten their power from ever being known. Eventually, they become a priestly caste, whereby any challenge is an affront to their almighty authority.

Seek the truth and the truth will set you free -- this has always been the weapon to use against the Leviathan. Their power depends on the public's confidence. The truth put into action is unstoppable.

The truth wants to be known. ;-) If I give the time and attention to reflect, the truth will reveal as much of itself as I am willing and able to comprehend. Ask the right question, and the road to the truth is paved -- and the right vehicle will take me far.

Self-determination is central to liberty. Liberals appear to presume that conservatives are selfish in a world of the impoverished. Libertarians view the world not as impoverished but fruitful. Nature is bountiful by default, and we are part of that bounty. Being born is not to be a victim of the world. Become someone!

Conservatives are traditionally generous and charitable. I don't see this as a battle between Liberals and Conservatives, I see it as a battle of the Responsible vs the Irresponsible.

We all want to help the boy who fell in the well -- but it is not an entitlement to be saved from one's mistakes. But everyone will try to save the boy and be happy when he is out. That is what a community does. It is a gift of the savior to save the boy, not an obligation. Life is full of those gifts from giving people. What's wrong with that?

It seems the libs want to load the people up with duties and obligations for the common good -- a denial that goodness comes voluntarily. Victim-consciousness seeks to drag everyone in to the drama -- and they cling to that no matter how hard people try to get them out of that well.

It's a worthy sentiment, but "all ambition" cannot be contained. The lust for power is the danger. The power-seekers are never satisfied, and their happiness is our servitude.

One of the cons of the ruling class, whether secular or religious, is to convince the people that to serve them is a duty for the common good. The common good is the excuse for all matter of deception. Surrender your power to the church/state, and they will provide -- it's what the 'Lord' wants. Give until it hurts. Sacrifice. All a denial of our cups that runneth over...

Does a domesticated animal know that it is domesticated? Harriet Tubman said she could have freed a thousand more slaves if they had only known they were slaves. The same is true of socialists.

Today's battlefield is the same as the old -- the hearts and minds of the People. Let there be no mistake, it is war.

Real journalism would not be to promote social justice but to persuade readers "that what they took for granted is not so, and to change their laws accordingly." Investigative journalism should be exposing the corruption, not propping it up. Has the word Liberty been used lately in any political speeches? Americans need to constantly remember Liberty is the ideal.

Whose Lives Matter ... More ?

It's true. Individualists are not exploiters -- collectivists are. Before fiat currency and non-profit tax-exempt corporations, charitable organizations thrived -- they were everywhere! Government has NEVER been a caretaker -- they can't unless we all join the military and live on rations. Since the seats of power are sought by designing and envious people, the government has been turned into a mafia with bag men selling 'protection.' This is not compassion!!

The very reason for the distribution of power in a republican form of government. Centralization of power is so dangerous because of the potential for abuse.

Read Major General Smedley Darlington Butler's book 'War Is A Racket.' Still is ...

It is POWER that is sought -- money is but a medium. Communist states are organized as military dictatorships in which all are treated as enlisted in the army. If they want power over themselves, they have to work their way up the political ranks. Communism and fascism are not that far apart -- fascism tends to last longer economically than communism.

But control of the money printing press is central to all totalitarian countries -- and they have to agree with each other on the scam to accept each others' currencies. Print money, print power -- at least to the first recipients of the currency. Who has control of the money press? That is the ruler of the nation.

Socialists and individualists differ in the fundamental concept of 'responsibility.' Humans can be raised to believe themselves serfs or sovereigns. But people will not support a charade once the lie is exposed. The truth begs to be known -- that's what frees us and empowers us.

I wish we would stop calling Marxists Leftists. Tell it like it is. Globalism is totalitarianism, in any form. Control of America and Americans is being taken over by globalist money printers -- they eye the world, not just the USA. Little by little, Americans have been taught to be subjects like the citizens in Europe and Asia who are ruled, who have never declared themselves free from perpetual servitude. Immigrants used to come to America to be free of state control. Now, immigrants are encouraged to come and join the welfare rolls and never assimilate into a society of free and responsible people.

Thankfully, people are waking up and standing up!

Will the American sovereign citizens of the American sovereign states take their stand in the years to come? Rather than NAFTA and CAFTA, all that the North, Central, and South American states need to do is return to true sovereign status. Canadian, US, and Mexican governments are confederations of sovereign states -- something Quebec has been defending since Canada's founding. Once beholden to a central bank, sovereign states/countries lose their sovereignty -- it's called totalitarianism. I see the world citizens waking up, something has got to give. The US cannot carry the burden of Liberty for the world -- look to other nations for the Liberty movement to come to fruition.

Inspiring, yes! Mike and Patrick Henry remind us that to be alive or awake is not necessarily to be aware. In context, though, awareness may have been considered a part of being awake. Nevertheless, I cannot be aware if I am not awake.

"To be aware is to be alive." ? ;-)

Mike makes the correct distinction. In the context of a dialog about capitalism vs socialism, the quote rings true. Which begs the question, why isn't LIBERTY the rallying cry around the world?

'Progress' as defined by 'progressives' is any change towards social control. How about 'Integrity' ? Now that would be progress!!

What, you don't like democracy? Few imagine there are better alternatives. The American sovereign at Common Law is the ideal -- but it's like walking a tight rope and takes a bit of mastery. Hard enough for one person, even harder for a class. And then you die, and the world is left in the hands of the young. Is it any surprise that the world finds itself in a constant power struggle of mobs?

Nature is by default bountiful.

Right on. Well said.

"Socialist governments ... always run out of other people's money."