Sorry, another ignorant quote. I agree with Archer, education, education, education. Roosevelt - if only you hadn't died when you did and perhaps your second bill or rights would be reality.

As I said on yesterdays topics: Though I disagree with this quote I must agree that many parents should be pre-qualified to be a parent. Perhaps if we plowed money into education instead of war and bailing out corporate America there would be no need to even consider such an initiative. It has always amazed me that the pro-lifers are always first to unleash the dogs of war - by the way, isn't killing millions of innocent people with religious and political wars interfering with laws of nature? E. this whole subject of sterilization is stupid - what prevents child abuse is education, education and education. There are over a million children abused in American every year and 99.9% are abused in family households, many of them Christian. Perhaps we could operate on Parents and take out the child abuse gene.

Yes, it's like telling lies, once told you need to remember it so you write it into law. And then you need more lies to cover the original lie - it's called our legal system.

Though I disagree with this quote I must agree that many parents should be pre-qualified to be a parent. Perhaps if we plowed money into education instead of war there would be no need to even consider such an initiative. It has always amazed me that the pro-lifers are always first to unleash the dogs of war.

This quote deserves no attention.

Truth is self evident it needs no religion or politics.

Guys, lets not get personal, there's already to much hate in the world. On reflection the statement is dumb (though I will give it two stars for its intention) "well-disposed" (to what), "industrious" (today we have no industry except the war machine), "decent men", there's no such thing as decent men - sorry, there may be a decent man or two. And for the ladies out there, don't worry male chauvinism was rampant in those days - hence Pankhurst and the Suffragette's - it's hard to believe that less than a hundred years ago women were not allowed to vote and then at last when they were they had to be 30 and over. Another Liberal victory - many more followed especially when she experience the workhouse's where 7 year old girls and pregnant women were slaves.

Oops! sorry Reston you got that one in under the radar. I think the statement is not about Obama but about the times we face and it is perhaps more relevant today than in 1985.

Yes, you have all stated what I believe most feel on this blog but alas though your words are meaningful they lack the structure we so desperately need to move forward. I could sit all day and pontificate about our possible demise - just the other day I read a report that said during the last 12 months 10 million guns and millions of ammunition have been sold - that is not what I meant by a constructive initiative; what is so desperately needed, if we are to overt civil unrest and violence in the streets, is to identify a group or person that we feel has integrity that will lead the charge and bring us from the point of devouring each other - someone or group we can thrust our support behind. Let everyone on this blog put forward ideas and suggestion (that are tenable) that may start the spark which ignites action. Sorry if anyone posted a retort to my previous posts (I have just returned from a 10 day trip) if so please let me know the date. Thanks Robert

A great artist like so many today who are persecuted. Over Bosie he lost his fame but never his heart.

The classical liberal is the intelligentsia of America so beware liberals of the Roman's with their sword.

Yes, said well like it has been said so many time before but seems to fall on death ears.

Amazing! what a wonderful collection humanities offerings - I think I'll just pass. Marx's came out of a society that was like its becoming in America today where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer - so count the days folks and make sure they don't have your address - and don't count on your guns.

Proportional representation is the only answer to this madness.

Archer, good response, thanks. I have battled, not so much with my own conscience, but with the conscience of mankind. Because in the end we are all connected and without an understanding of an intellect, that seems suicidal at times, humanity will become factional more and more - to a point we will end up as the tribes we came from. The disconnect even between those on this blog is just the tip of the iceberg.

Yes, I think BR would like this quote too.

Twaddle, codswallop, humbug,drivel, folderol, balderdash, baloney, and applesauce. How the blind is leading the blind. What's robbing this nation of its freedom is not Medicare, or any welfare program but corporate and individual greed represented by Wall Street; as Clente said 'if the financial boys had names like Rossini, Puccini, Zucchini, Salvatore (you get the point), it would be called the Maffia, but instead we call it Wall Steet. We have the widest gap in the industrialized world between the rich and the poor and you have the nerve to discuss welfare as robbing us of our freedom - what planet are you on. We once were the most prized society in the world it was egalitarian then, but today it has become an autocracy, fascism - Mussolini would be proud of us.

Love it!

Archer and Mike - You have it totally the wrong way round - love and compassion come before FREEDOM they are the primary ingredient; they are the spark that provides the quest for freedom, liberty, and well being for all humanity. Read Mills on this very subject. I'm sorry Mike but your thoughts and dialogue on religion and Divine Law are totally abhorrent to me as they are myth (I gather there is a conservative initiative to rewrite the bible to take out any reference to liberalism) and therefore are meaningless when brought into a conversation - I deal with science and those elements that science can provide evidence. I will always protect your right to believe in your religion and your philosophy as I would expect you to do for my beliefs - but, let me add quickly that Atheism is not a belief PERIOD. Mike, I have yet to hear a trial lawyers user Divine Law in any court of law.

Every school should be sent a copy of Alan Bennett's Play "The History Boys"

Archer, I'm sorry, but that's water off a Ducks back. The only true freedom is the ability to love and care for others, without caring for others there is no FREEDOM, and if there are none that wish to be taken care of because they are either ill or lack financial means then it all becomes pointless - my God, can't you see that... Oops, sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned God. I know you have a list of humanitarian achievements and so do many on this blog. Lastly, how is the willingness to be taken care an enemy of freedom? The real enemy of freedom are those that take our wealth without permission, that enslave us through devaluing our possessions. Today our freedom is under attack from the right like never before they even want to change the bible as to make it more conservative and to take out any reference to liberalism. Now Iran and other states want to trade oil in another currency I hear the dogs of war gnawing at the gates. These are the true enemies of our freedom. Archer I did reply to your post yesterday.

P.S. When Locke concludes his Second Treatise he did not take into consideration the power of corporations and the power they wield over government and communications, if he had, this concluding statement would be revised.

Archer, I must respectfully disagree with your statement that 'WE' are all small men. You are only small from your deeds and words, and, of course from your own thoughts. States don't make you small though they try - it is the determination of love for all humanity that brings us above the smallness of such thoughts and actions. I also disagree with your assumption that the state has control over our destiny - it is precisely when the state does try 'to keep the individual down and ineffectual' that humans rise to the occasion and like the phoenix challenges authority. As Margaret Mead so eloquently expressed 'A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." It's that 'small' group who rise to the occasion that changes the world. Smallness is for small people. This perfectly describes America today and any government or state, be it communism, fascism, theocracy, democracy, or any other -cracy, that has lost the heart of the people. Archer, you really must think before you put words into that immortal realm - lets take your statement: On one hand you admit individuals are small "WE are the small men' and then you go on to say 'It is the individual that is enterprising and ingenious, not the 'state.' This describes Communism perfectly.' It is precisely when the state tries to keep us down and ineffectual that we rise to the occasion. There will always be that portion of society that remains for ever on the fence of mediocrity and who will change their position when threatened the State. You may not be Spartacus but there are many who are and are waiting to throw the spear. Your retort will probably remind us what you said: "With respect to the 'state' We are small men,...' It's precisely that respect that makes those so inclined, and by their deeds, small men. Locke, goes into great depth on these very points. Let's see some constructive criticism from this blog instead of always putting life down - let's see some sparks of enlightenment and hope.

With small men come small ideas, with small men come intolerance, with small men come weakness of character, with small me come anger, with small men come despotism, with small men come criticism, with small men come belief in myths, with small men come crowds, with small men come divorce with all things.

Only a century off but on the mark otherwise.