Our greatest weakness today is believing in any way that more government is good for us. It isn't. It's a growing parasite and it is soon to kill its host...but that seems to be the plan, doesn't it?

Jeremiah, you contradict yourself. Democracy and the Republic are two very different things. Democracy is a farce and our Republic disappeared a long time ago...but it's time to bring it back.

Two terms maximum. Then out you go! Sadly some good people will be released from public service...but it's about the only way to eradicate the cancer that is the majority of Congress and the Senate regularly. Oh and just for fun, let's throw in a mandatory 10 year sentence for accepting a bribe.

Yep we're slaves alright. Tax law being the most nefarious of the lot. Certainly, we are no longer living in a land of "justice". . We have lots and lots of laws of "Control and Obedience" to the American Royalty eroneously called The Federal Government. We have King and Queen Obama and a bunch of Czar's...Does anybody remember "America"? ( the land of the free?)

Jose you missed the point completely which is too bad because you did make a good observation. Friedman isn't advocating anything on behalf of Hitler et al: Quite the contrary. re read that. But you nailed something important when you pointed to American and British meddling in foreign affairs. That's the Government / Corporate agenda by the way. I doubt the average American on the street would advocate such behaviour. It's also how America earned the enmity of half the planet. The citizens are only now starting to wake up to what their government has been doing...the CIA calls it "Blowback".

Ladies and gentlemen...The Fed!

I'm always amazed at just how stupid, how brainwashed some people are. Wall Street and Corrupt Government are one and the same. We need to get back to the Constitution, put Government on a leash, and indict and severely punish all forms of graft and corruption.

In the United States of America, there is a set of principles on which the Republic was founded. It's called the Constitution. It outlines the responsibilities and duties of the various levels of Government. Those principles have been hijacked over a period of time by a series of administrations bent on granting themselves ever more power over the populace in order to enrich themselves at our expense. No amount of propoganda is going to change that fact. Socialism is not our founding principle...it is a cancer that must be eradicated by every means necessary if we are to survive as "Americans".

RBE...Capitalism's "great partner" has given us the results we see today. A growing welfare state and an imploding currency exasperated by rapacious taxation...no wonder our industry has gone overseas...they can't afford the Liberals anymore. Freidman wasn't "arrogant" so much as realistic...and we all know reality is the bane of all liberal (socialist) thinking.

As always Friedman is a clear as a bell and couldn't be more correct. And as always Waffler and his ilk gloss over the "fact" that what we have is economic fascism...not free enterprise as Friedman prescribes it. When Government and Business are intertwined, free enterprise is anything but "free". The lefties blame free entrprise all the time for their own lack of talent, motivation and innovation, but fail to see that the very system of control that they advocate will take down their betters who do create wealth.

Not so naive as you think RBE...just don't have time to type it all out. And I am quite sure that career welfare recipients played their role along with the moneyed interests, to get the Kenyan elected.

Exactly right. We are under so much pressure to pay the bills "after" we've been tax raped that we work far far too much just to get by. Then when we do get a minute or two to ourselves, we spend it with family or in front of a sports venue on TV. When do we actually get a chance to stop and question what is going? It's beautiful in just how clever it really is...and sinister in that, it's working. We're losing everything we're working for, while we're so busy working for it. Except of course the majority of Obama voters...they're still sitting on their butts collecting welfare.

Law making is an ongoing process of control...and most certainly not with our best interests in mind...but more power over all of us. That is the goal, more power.

It's part of the process of surrounding yourself with good people. Its the secret to success.

Suits perfectly the administration of the day and it's Communist Health Care Plan that gives the Feds direct access to and control of, your finances.

An over abundance of man made (as opposed to natural) laws are a symptom of a government that fears it's people. And in the US, they damned well better fear the people. In the land of the free and home of the brave...

And fear becomes hatred...which is where we are going today. And poor Reston, so caught up in the left/right paradigm. Poor thing can't see that it's been "every" administration for decades and both sides are doing their part. Sad to be so tunnel visioned.

I liked Kevin's analogy but I'll go him one better...Marxism and Liberty go together like Islam and Bikini's.

Cal, note that waffler's comparisons are always to "every other nation in the world". Well guess what, we're Americans...unlike every other nation in the world. It's what made this a great nation in the first place. Not a social welfare nanny state like it has become.

Let's see....England set about appeasing Hitler and now our current administration has set about appeasing Islam...who want us converted or dead.

Don't forget the SWAT team Jim.

The quote is, on its face, entirely accurate.

Excellent Observation.

Robber barons?...Oh the guys who hang out with the politicians! I get it. The problem isn't capitalism...it's economic fascism. Get Government out of business...and Business out of government. Then we might have some real economic growth.

And the problem exasperated when the money given is stolen.