Life is all politic.

John, well done! At last a sane contributor to this redneck, fascist, egotistical, libertarian, right-wing, and selfish contributors to this blog. I nearly spill my coffee laughing at the ignorance that abounds - you lot just don't learn. Before making ridiculous comments like fascism is socialism please, please do you home work. And Mike you are so wrong I really don't know where to start - let me just say if it wasn't for socialism you would be here today making these ridiculous statements. If it wasn't for socialism you would all be fighting it out in the desert. Unfortunately, the rich realized how they could used the principles of socialism to fleece the poor - the rich are the biggest benefactor of socialism as reflected in the bail-outs, tax-breaks, and America's terrible record of human rights - overturning democratically elected governments and placing their puppets in power.

God, you all need a history lesson and a good English dictionary

Oh, Jim, sorry, I forgot to tuck you in...

P.s. The theory is absolute hence 'Time does not alter the nature and quality of either.' The result of delegation is neither here or there - the key is the word Trust. Trust like Truth is absolute.

Perfect! Time only provides us with proof that man still doesn't get it!

Silly and childish quote

E. Welcome back! Perhaps the "Big Bang" is a good example. You can keep your guns, religion, and money, just don't touch my Liberty. You guys make me laugh - you have no idea was left is - the country is going extreme right fascism - get you head out of the sand. Justin, you need a history lesson, the worst by far was Regan, followed closely by Bush, Jr. then it will be Obama. Though, Obama, just may pip Bush to second place.

Wishful thinking... We are to ignorant not to have masters.

Oops delete that last bit..

It should read "If a nation assumes ignorance and expects to be free..." (you can't expect to be ignorant, unless you are a total moron), but a nation could assume they are). And if you expect what never was and never will be that must be the American Dream. It deserves five stars for the second sentence. it expects what never was and never will be....

Alas, so true. As this is satire it earns three stars

Dr.Dale and Mike - you must have your heads in the sand. America is the most religious of all western nations and turning fast into the same megalomaniac version as fundamentalist Muslims. The last thing we need is to get back to a mythical sky fairy - it has nothing but misery in its wake.

Waffler, One has only to go back a few hundred years to witness the Genocide you all carried out to conquer this nation - don't be a hypocrite.

Only virtuous have no need for law and order. Self-discipline is the road to freedom. BF is right on: its the dishonest, egotistical, greedy, un-compassionate, intolerant, and selfish, that need laws and therefore masters.

Dumb statement - The dream of equality, freedom, and the individual's right to live a life unencumbered by bureaucracy, is a dream all peoples' of the world have. The America Dream is what has taken us to the brink of disaster (and we still may fall into the abyss) and reduced us to the shortest lived Empire. It will be the progressives as usual that may halt the precipitous and undeniable fall into the abyss. It's not the conservatives that will make that final push but the religious fundamentalist's, the right wing fascists, and nationalistic fanatics (teabaggers, and brown shirst, etc.)

Perfect! if only it were so... I hear Europe is going Liberal perhaps we should follow.

How can you argue with such erudite reflection on the obvious.

He had a lot more than sounds bites all of which we can only envy. He was a socialist and agnostic - and to receive such honors on this blog for this quote proves you are all fair-minded and honest.

We lost our power when we allowed God into the bedroom. Critical thinking became obsolete when we gave over our self to the God delusion.

A great man and as all good men he is killed by ignorance. Howard, so you would rather kill millions in our illegal wars and child abuse, and rape and murder, etc, etc, when will you lot get it into your heads that all life is sacred not just the embryo.

Mike, good. "And Socialism is the vehicle" Archer, honestly, you make me laugh - are you sure you are not a shill for the Right. "Socialism PROTECTS THE RICH AND POWERFUL" Really Archer, I gave you more intelligence than that. Here are the socialist program you talk about (I posted this the other day) and you ask the perpetrators if they are socialist's they will laugh you out of the room: here is a short list of the so called Socialist programs being foisted on the American people: we spend more than 65% our total taxes on the Pentagon (the pentagon is for the rich and powerful, Progressives are against wars and wish not to be entangled in foreign affair's; military in 143 countries in 700 bases; we illegally invade other sovereign states; we ship our manufacturing jobs to China (a communist country, but we still have an embargo with Cuba); we skew the unemployment and the cost of living figures; we are the only developed nation without a single-payer health system and a current health system that costs twice as much as other countries and yet America is rated by the WHO number 37th with regards to the quality of health care; we pay the foxes, like Geithner, Summers and Rubin (the crooks who created the need for a bail-out) in charge of guarding the chicken coop; we have one-sided government electoral system – winner takes all (not proportionate representation) and allow fraudulent and easily hackable voting machines (no paper trail) and, allow openly corrupt contributions/bribes by way of corporations through their army of lobbyists; we have now killed nearly two million Iraq's and Afghans mostly civilians women and children and displaced nearly 4 million; we have spent over a $trillion on a war based on lies and sacrificed 5,000 of our own military personnel and 2,000 international troops; we have a political propaganda machine that would make Goebbels blush; we admit we torture prisoners of war despite the ratified Convention Against Torture Act, US law, and the Geneva Conventions and yet no one is held responsible (we do this torturing here in America and secret gulags abroad); we allowed in 1999 the FSMA (Finacial Services Modernization Act) which did away with the Glass-Steagall Act. And, then, which was unforgivable we sat back and allowed our government to do away with habeas corpus, a law that has existed for 800 years since the Magna Carta. It's the corporation's that have provided the power for Bush and Obama and their interest is definitely not Social - our 60% of every tax dollar to the Pentagon and the billions spent on bailouts and tax breaks etc. are the real culprits and, unless you call the Military a social program your point is quite the reverse. America has become a Fascist Sate, and if we are not careful also Christian fundamentalist's. It was quite obvious that Christians are not do a damn thing about all the money from Christian groups trying to oust Gay public officials (recently the Gay Mayor of Gainesville in Florida) - I don't see Atheist groups plowing millions into anti-Christian campaigns of public officials. Archer, where the hell do you get this crap about being born free - we are not born free - its called the vir%*$@ lottery. We are mostly born into servitude and misery - the main cause of death for children under four is abuse (mostly in family settings) - you tell those children Ah, but you are born free. Most problems historically have been resolved by liberals. "Liberalism: A Guide to the Past, Present, and Future in American Politics," 1963, pp 41-42 Milton Viorst - our courage should be fighting intolerance and the rape of America by the far right corporate fascists. Progressives are the ones being persecuted because they point out the EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES?!! Where is your integrity? Where is your courage? P.s the stock market reflects whose game it is...

Most problems historically have been resolved by liberals. "Liberalism: A Guide to the Past, Present, and Future in American Politics," 1963, pp 41-42 Milton Viorst

Mike, today's government is not Liberal so how can you say "At the core of today's government liberal entitlements" Today's government is just an extension of the Bush government. The entitlements as you put it, are not entitlements they are service provided for paying into the system all their working life. The problem is that many libertarians don't know the difference between entitlements and a return on service's paid. Employers and employees both pay into a system for when they are unemployed so do the Medicare and Social Security. The destruction of our liberty is most definitely not through the Liberal philosophy but through the corporate and military industrial complex - we spend 60% of our tax dollars on the pentagon and yet I don't hear a word from anyone on this blog how outrageous this is. We spend billions bailing out corporate losses - NOW, this is what I call entitlements and social welfare for the rich and yet you all moan about providing healthcare to all Americans and helping those who have lost their income because their jobs have been shipped abroad. Honestly, you lot make laugh - talk about projectionism... Archer, where the hell do you get this crap about being born free - we are not born free - its called the vir%*$@ lottery. We are mostly born into servitude and misery - the main cause of death for children under four is abuse (mostly in family settings) - you tell those children Ah, but you are born free.

No one can be free unless they have a liberal attitude: Mike and Archer, please let me educate you on the true definition of a Liberal regardless of pre and post 20th century definitions (before classical liberalism there was liberalism – ethics is ethics). First, let’s do away with your immediate mistake of trying to classify Liberalism into what ever category your agenda desires – liberalism is liberals liberalism and not to be confused with socialism or conservatism – if anyone co-opted liberalism it was libertarians. From the early references to Liberalism, and Mises attempt to reinvent the wheel (laissez-faire liberalism), to today’s understanding (by intellectuals), the core definition of liberalism remains the same. Many of the liberal ideals are similar to libertarians but for one major difference; social program services. Liberals believe in limited government; the peoples right for freedom and happiness; freedom without recourse to believe in anything you wish, whether it be an almighty being, a God, or none at all; to have the right of assembly and the free representation of workers through unions (thought many union organization have been corrupted through greed and power; Many of the libertarian ideals have gotten us into this present mess such as free-trade, the deregulation of industry and the banking system (laissez-faire economics). In actual fact the republicans and the conservatives (on the right) have done as much for the liberal cause’s as the democratic party – the liberals won the twentieth century and yet only had a total of 19 years in power. With regard to Obama being called a “social, lefty Liberal” – well, that’s really laughable. Lets look at some of his socialist or liberal/lefty achievements: Military? Extended us in Iraq and wants to build up Afghanistan. Justice? Defends DOMA but won't prosecute war crimes. FOIA? Won't release the torture photos that he promised to. Transparency? Secret meetings until the deals were cut THEN released the White House visitor log. Civil Rights? Defended DOMA and DODT. Bank Bailout? Fought to keep pay control and accountability OUT of TARP II. Stimulus? Heavily invested in tax cuts and half the size total that the economists said it needed to be. Health care? Killed single payer and in its place proposed a corporate welfare bill. None of these things a true liberal would sign; they are the workings of a corporatist. I am Liberal and proud of it – there are a number of topics within the Liberal ideology that I disagree with, but not with its core principles. To quote Joe Conason: "If your workplace is safe; if your children go to school rather than being forced into labor; if you are paid a living wage, including overtime; if you enjoy a 40-hour week and you are allowed to join a union to protect your rights -- you can thank liberals. If your food is not poisoned and your water is drinkable -- you can thank liberals. If your parents are eligible for Medicare and Social Security, so they can grow old in dignity without bankrupting your family -- you can thank liberals. If our rivers are getting cleaner and our air isn't black with pollution; if our wilderness is protected and our countryside is still green -- you can thank liberals. If people of all races can share the same public facilities; if everyone has the right to vote; if couples fall in love and marry regardless of race; if we have finally begun to transcend a segregated society -- you can thank liberals." And, we would all be mad not to believe in Liberty. It’s amazing that the conservative agenda has in many cases supported the liberal agenda more so than the Democrats – just look at the Bush administration that expanded the cabinet for the first time in 16 years and how the republicans expanded both the education and Medicare programs while enacting a progressive campaign reform bill – if liberals did this the nation would be in outrage. Day in day out we see in the corporate media, paid for by its very wealthy owners, how Liberals are to blame for Americas woes and financial ruin. A true, liberal, conservative (though I have trouble with conservatism as in many cases it’s define as “no change” “the status quo” Half way into the 19th century Liberalism was defined (Webster’s dictionary): One who advocates greater freedom from restraint; as a free heart; open and candid; munificent; not selfish, narrow or contracted; someone who embraces other interests than his own; embracing literature and science; depended more on the exertions of the mind rather than the playing fields. A liberal education is generally arts and science based - a long way from the present system of providing cannon fodder. And at the end of the 19th century liberalism was define (Webster’s 1898 addition): One who favors greater freedom in political or religious matters, an opponent of the establish systems; a reformer. Someone that considers all arguments without being either dogmatic or rigid of opinion (flexibility is the key here). And I love this one: A spirit that goes out of self, and finds its enjoyment in consulting the feelings and happiness of others. In other words a liberal is someone who believes in free opinion, equality, liberty, freedom, and someone who is generous and believes in the positive rewards of the arts and science. Archer, you call this classical liberalism, well, to a point you are correct, but what you sadly leave out of the equation is that these classical liberal traits are still the main core of what liberalism is today. Then came the 20th century, and liberalism is still those qualities expressed above. For example Webster’s 9th collegiate addition defines liberalism as based on the ideals of the individual; free, generous and open handed, and of fair mind; one who is open-minded or not strict in the observance of orthodox, traditional, or established forms of ways. The Oxford English Dictionary Second Addition 1989 definition: Again the use of the FREE preempts most definitions; freedom, freeman, free speech, free from restraint, free will, free(ly) permitted, free not literal, free from narrow prejudice, free from bigotry, and open to the reception of new ideas. Liberal is often used to provide that designation of free thinking and tolerance such as Liberal Catholics and Liberal Christian’s normally applied to religious groups such as Unitarians and Universalists. Favorable to constitutional changes and legal or administration reforms tending in the direction of freedom or democracy. In actual fact, when you use the word Liberal hyphenated before any other adjective it usually preempts a tolerance and freedom of opinion. Lastly, Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, 1996 (Random House edition). Favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affaires – well that’s a good start. Advocating measures of progressive political reform. Favorable to or in accord with the concepts of maximum individual freedom and civil liberties; freedom of action with matters of personal belief and expression (wow! aren’t these also a libertarian directive?). Free from prejudice and bigotry; open-minded and tolerant; Free and not bound by traditional or conventional ideas. Well I think you get the idea – the definition of Liberalism, regardless of your highly confined opinions is clearly the same as it was when the term was first coined. Alas, Americans have become atomized through the right-wing conservative media who has nothing better to do than to find anything critical that does not fit their own (corporate) agenda. Lastly on this subject, a Liberal is someone pertaining to or befitting a freeman. For the last 150 years Liberalism has not change its definition. In actual fact the 1996 definition is closer to the 1893 definition than the later definitions. The key for you to understand this is to go back even further to how the word Liberal came about. Liberal late 14th c., from old French meaning “benefiting free men from the Latin word liber meaning “free”. So, even from its very birth the definition of Liberal has not change one bit. There are 3 to 4 million Americans leaving every year (typically wealthy), new immigrants are mostly poor. Unfortunately, if to many Liberals leave this sinking ship it may never be able to be resurrected. The great America achievements you are both so eagerly ready to criticize are the very ones that the world thinks so highly of. If there are three words that epitomizes a liberal mind they would be “FREEDOM”, “EQUALITY” and “COMPASSION”.