Sorry I forgot to sign,

Hello Mike, I agree with most of what you are saying except the ambiguous statement "The God of natural laws" what laws are these? and who decides what they are? sounds a little like a fortuitous way of life, and be sure you are subject to mans rules it's called society and the rule of law. The fact that the FED has overstepped it's constitutional powers is our own fault we have educated a large group of "Federal dependents" who look to the FED as "father" (look at New Orleans) huge mistake and I concur we need to return the majority of power back to the states. This is going to be overcome only through education bringing understanding.Lets get busy!

Bruce aren't you being a little naive? You really think that Islam wants to be your brother? This example of the Victorian age is contradictive isn't it? The British exacted taxes and "ruled over" with force setting up "British" colonies. The purpose of the UN is mostly peace keeping allowing nations to come together and discuss issues before they become issues of war and of trade and how to overcome boundaries created by cultures. As I stated "purpose" however inept it has become it's origin was a good concept but politicians found a way to stifle it with double talk. Warren I just can't agree that the UN is a tyrant the leaders might qualify but the problem with the UN is it's members. So many just have a need to have authority and will be counterproductive just be "recognized". There is still a people on the face of this earth who's agenda is world domination and for us to dismiss this is suicide. As for global warming and whether the current increase in average temperature is "man made" there is an ongoing argument among scholars of science. However it would be a little naive to think 800 million cars are not contributing a large amount of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere? One volcano eruption emits huge amounts of carbon dioxide but this is a centralized "event" where automobiles and energy production are global and continual. I am not however in some panic like so many but I do see a need to be more environmentally friendly. There is some compelling evidence of rising sea waters in the pacific islands and loss of glacier size but the question is "is this a natural cycle or man made". Your definition of greenhouse effect is inaccurate (respectfully) if you think of a greenhouse in your own back yard it's sole purpose is to give rise to temperature. The insulation you are speaking of will not block radiation (heat) but absorb and redirect back to the earth what should have been reflected as IR (infrared) back into space. Deep subject and there are a plethora of sites ranging from very basic to extremely scientific to help explain this effect. I think we should be good stewards of the earth and having knowledge now that we have been ecological pigs for so long it's simply time to do things different but not in the panic mode as Al Gore promotes.

Sounds like globalization too me!

All I can say Bruce is YIKES! Lets give the federal government more of our money? No thank you what we need to do is return the power to the people and shrink the fed. States are perfectly capable of providing for the safety and well being of their citizens the fed should be a centralized body hearing issues that concern us as a nation (civil rights, national security etcetera ) if we could get the fed out of big business we could get big business out of the fed. I agree with Robert that this statement is reflective of the state of our nation today. I think James Monroe was trying to say "degenerate into a Populace" through ignorance and corruption meaning loose their moral rudder and become uncivilized through greed and self gratification. The preamble to the constitution starts WE the PEOPLE not I the individual. Until America takes hold of her moral rudder again she is being driven by the winds of ???

Eminent domain (everyone makes spelling mistakes Bruce) has it's place but as you have stated Bruce it is in abuse mode today. No longer used to secure land for the purpose of serving the greater needs of communities or even nationally. There have been cases where local governing bodies have abducted land (although it is always paid for) in the name of "upgrading" the site for the good of the community. This is not a case of bad laws but bad leadership. My father said years ago "you cannot judicat morality" (his word) nor can you legislate it. So what do we do? We do what we are doing here we discuss it we try to inform others and we vote. To the issue you raise of domain you do have a valid point from a certain angle but in our social system we are able to pass these possessions (land, goods, money) down to our children and so on. While the Native Americans (what we have named them) may have been great stewards of the land I wouldn't consider them a model of a free society. I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination on Indian social practices but a little research will show that many of the freedoms this nation enjoys today would not be possible in that social system.

Here is a quote that fits our current social political dilemma "We have no government armed in power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was made only for a religious and moral people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other". Find out who said this and remember if you are going to spew out bile then you lose any real credibility. If you have some rational thoughts and answers to current policy I am sure we could all benefit from them(Lewis).(John) Have you been hangin with GWB? you seem to have some personal incite into the commander and chiefs personal decisions and feelings. God bless you Eric and your family I appreciate your sacrifices my father is a Vietnam vetran who suffers from PTSD. I pray you and your family will remain safe in a very dangerous time. War is something that must be avoided at all cost, yet it is inevitable. Question for the naysayers, will you defend your home against an intruder? Or will you let your wife and children be molested by those who seek to destroy peace, freedom and the tranquility they produce. Peace is kept not allowed.

In life all men do and say things they regret. History will tell a story of some and what it tells will depend on what light they are cast. Unfortunately it usually is their worst (act). I am no Clinton supporter although I did vote for him based on issues like welfare reform to which he did make some effort but his legacy for most will be (including me) "the President who lied under oath" and in so doing damaged the executive office immeasurably. Today I see more bile being spewed at public officials then ever and society seems to be embracing it and that is a tragedy in itself, but I also see more corruption in our government than I ever remember (there has always been) I can only surmise the two are related. Is it time to elect an independent? It's probably past time. The American people possess more power than they realize but we wont come together for the greater good because we have become a nation of persons and not a people willing to sacrifice a little individual preferences to serve our communities as a whole. "why has civility been banished"