Good stuff Ken I agree with you. A constitutional republic is just an entity with a written contract. The words "constitutional republic" in and of themselves say nothing about the form of that government.

Morality and law are like two sides of a balance sheet. Neither one is absolute or unchanging. It once was moral to throw criminals and christians (the same thing) and gladiators (sportsmen) to their death at hands of each other or of animals. I feel certain that it was not against the law, the law supported the Roman morality. Bottom line the two sides of the balance sheet must agree and be brought into balance when an imbalance occurs. Of course the moral dimension should be the more controlling influence, however, it must be agreed upon morality, some people have different morals but the law applies to all.equally without regard to peoples different moral codes; there is the dilemma. Live with it.

I guess he is saying that what is to be learned is to bend to the wishes of the radicals and terrorists and bomb throwers.

Good answer Guess Who! I would like to temper this quote wih the wisdom of Abe Lincoln who said, "As I would not want to be a slave I therefore would not want to be a master." Men in power must remember the Golden Rule.

Yes Lane a constitutional republic but what kind of government. "Constitutional Republic" says nothing about the kind of government. Would you prefer an oligarchic. aristocratic, militaristic etcetera government or a populary elected commoly called democratic government? The word republic only means a soverign entity.

This is why we need democracy, elected leaders and term limits. The dictators in order to stay in power have to give the populace conquest after conquest in order to appear strong and invincible ala Hitler, Hussein etcetera.

Y'all remember Sparta and Athens. Sparta won because it was a tight knit tyrannical oppressive regime as compaed to the Athenians. I agree with Jim that the closing of ranks required to fight a common enemy may lead to a temporary loss of some other freedom of action. Necessity is the mother of invention and of common action. I think Jim you are off your nut calling the opinion of the overwhelming percent of the worlds scientific community a hoax. You would have kept good company with the Popes and Queen Isabela who called Copernicus, Gallileo and Columbus hoaxsters. You know what Columbus said to Isabel when he returned from America, "You are wrong Queen the earth is round it is you that is flat."

I downgraded from five stars because on its' face it is a great quote. We all I believe want to rule for the sake of our own little corner of the world and rightfully so and as we spread our wings into our community, county, state, nation, and world and see how these also impact our little corner we feel a need to rule them also. So what is new? Humanitarianism is still alive Jim, I don't know how you can avoid it.

Logan I don't take exception with your facts but agree with Anonymous above. The Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the Emirates, Jordan etcetera) had a problem with a threatening Saddam Hussein hegemony, just like Europe had a problem with a Hitler hegemony. Some hegemonies are better than others. We can not predict future world history exactly but most folks around the world buy in to American hegemony via their security arrangements, such as NATO and remember SEATO (does it still exist: So East Asia Treaty Organization) etcetera. Poland loves us and so does Hungary, Romania and now Turkey wants to get into NATO. So there is a big picture here if we can but grasp it.

I only agree with Vonnie about the toys idea. If we bring back the draft maybe soldiers will be treated with a little bit more respect and we might be more circumspect about war. However I agree with all of the thumbs down guys here. America was thrust into the role of world leader. If we stop leading and let the Husseins, Chavez', and Ahamenijabs of the world do the leading how much liberty and justice do you think we will have.

Gotta love Barry! His definition of liberty might be different than some. His finest hour I believe is when he supported William Jefferson Clinton.

As long as one is content why not accept securtiy in your contentment? On the other hand if one thinks he can be happier by taking a risk he should go for it. Security is not everything. Archer I met a lady in East Texas last week who has retired from Canada and has a home in a wooded and lake laced area. She loves the view, solitude, and relaxation. She said "I can see my death in this environment." I thought it was touching that she was so content and felt comfortable about dying there. So I guees maybe some people do find "a good death" as you put it.

Archer it seems we are if not in sync here at least walking parallel paths. The cops tell mucltiple traffic violators that the reason for them being in court is that "you think you are doing what every body else is doing" stop doing what you think every body else is doing and start doing what you are suppose to being doing. Same with corruption.

Wrong Archer as usual. Yes man has been abusing his body as long as he has had one, and other folks, parents, tribal medicine men, etcetera have tried to teach people with wisdom and understanding as to what the proper care of the body should be. Thus people through their involvement in schools, local, state, federal, and international governments, societies and institutions have undertaken to serve and assist each other in this area. It remains to be seen as to who needs to GROW UP. While some will teach abuse and sell drugs for profit without educating the user on the pitfalls of the downside others will try to exert a countervaling influence. You want legalized drugs with folks tripping down your street with needles hanging out of their arms, go for it. Oh I forgot you live in NYC you already have that scenario.

This is not a debate J and Jim. It is science. We live in a world of authorities and knowledge and a hierarchy of people who know stuff you know like Universities, Scientific Academies etcetera. This community of knowledgeable people all say it is so. This ain't politics it is science. Why do you contradict all of this stuff. Hell even Bush (you know the most unpopular President in the modern world) has come on board even though a little bit late. Politics has interferred with science many times in world history and politics usually wins. For example the Pope won when Copernicus and Gallileo said the earth goes around the sun. He kicked them out of the church. Five hundred years later the chruch apologized for being stupid and political. YOU GUYS ARE BEING STUPID AND POLITCAL. Don't be stupid and political just because you don't like Saint Al. He has done a great service to the world.

Of course I was being facetious about the Russians killing smokers but an early quote stated that the Russians did react that way when tobacco first invaded their shores. While their reaction may have been drastic their logic was not. The propaganda of the tobacco industry (just for pure profit) and Hollywood films have subverted the health and brought to an early death millions of people. Advertisements showing a beautiful young couple frollicking in a field of daisies while puffing on cigarettes hooked many folks and it was all a lie. For government to point out the truth to these same people that the ads are a lie is not a loss of liberty, but is an aid to free these people of lies and propaganda. Freedom and liberty are based on knowledge and awareness. Being kept in a world of propaganda and lies by business interests for the sole sake of their profits is being a slave of a different kind.

We see the nobler path at work all the time Ken if we will but open our eyes. We use to see littered highways, a sure sign of a corrupt people, then Lady Bird started her "Miles of trash from little eyesores grow" campaign and local groups took up the idea of highway clean up. A simple account but I think a demonstrative of what can happen when people stand up for the right course of action. I agree Ken that there was probably someone on the take (a contractor) when the first pyramid was built so society, taxpayers, businesses always need checks and balances and auditors insure correctness. We will always here stories of corruption and of courruption caught and corrected. Let it not discourage the majority of us to do right so that we can keep and attain an even greater republic of liberty.

Give me one man or one class of men who will do the righteous thing and not the get even thing or share in plunder thing and we can change the world. There is no such thing as a VOLUNTARY TAX. The word tax is defined as: A compulsary contribution levied upon persons, or business for the support of government. The US Income Tax is compulsory. The use of the word voluntary has to do with whether or not the taxpayer will prepare the paper work and do the calculations himself or wait for the government to do it for him. If he fails to "volunteer" to do it himself by April 15 when the government does it for him he may owe interest and will definitely owe a penalty for failing to file timely. There is a penalty for failing to volunteer to file.

What we need is people who will be righteous even if they are the last one on earth. Just as Job would not curse God and die we should not do evil just because every one else is doing evil. When one person steps forth to do rightly against the mob others will follow.

Some good attempts have been made however as in Nazism and Stalinism, and Saddamism among others. Al Gore is always right because he had an open mind, studied and was known to come to the Senate floor the most prepared and educated on any issue. He has performed an admiral public service by putting the knowledge of global warming in front of the people of the world. He has not stopped debate he has won debate as industry and responsible people have followed his leadership. Archer if you are looking for an connection American and Honor then look to Al Gore.

Call it what you want the Turks, Russians and Chineese were right to execute smokers when the weed first invaded their shores hundreds of years ago. More folk have died of smoking induced cancer and run up the insurance bill for all of us. Lets get rid of it or at least put the smokers (inhalers at least) on an island somewhere. Now where did I put that innocent non-invasive cigar. It is not being puritan to not want to inhale some ones smoke or germs. Just good public health. Is "public health" a bad term on this site.

Mom and Dad started tampering and controlling me the day I was born, teaching me their languague and stuff and then came school and Lordy, Lordy a wife. I've been tampered with all my life, what is human being suppose to do?

Y'a got love Tom! None of my acquaintances that I care to associate with never have a fear of a letter from the IRS.

We are constantly bamboozled by lies and lying politicians and I know of no way to stop it even by law. There are many and maybe even one or two who sincerely believe that the holocaust never happened. I think it is a good law to prohibit that propaganda. I believe some of the dogma preached on this site is either misguided or an outright lie and I can only voice my opinion against it. It can not be outlawed. I can only hope that Mike gets surronded by more and more of his Wafflers of the world. I have accomplished at least one amazing feat: finally Mike and Logan admitted contrary to their repeated earlier denials that the USA is a democracy or majority ruled society. As Churchill said, "Never, never, never give in on any matter of honor or truth."

A truly great quote because it is so true of human nature. Mike when are you going to step out of the box of "compelled compliance, victimless crimes" etcetera that you have locked yourself into. First of all one you can not think out side of the box if you don't even know what is in the box. Most knowledge in the world and policies are additive, that is human civilization (such as it is) grows from trial and experience from one generartion to the next, thus we must know what was done before and how it was done in order to proceed to new ways and policies. I suggest that all that history, policy, and legislative history is what is in the BOX. If you don't study what is in the box you may just repeat it unnecessarily. And you do repeat yourself and I guess just to get the applause of Logan.