What's the next stop on the road to perdition? I think I know but, would like to hear from others. Just so you know where I am coming from; I believe that America will cease being united.

"Government truly is a disease masquerading as its on cure and all those that depend on the diseased creature can't help but become diseased in one degree or another." Well said Mike,
The left is very good at establishing a victimized group then exploiting it, how they continue to get away with it year after year, decade after decade is beyond me

What he said, I will echo, Amen!

"The absence of a police state is that people are free, and if you don't commit crimes you can do what you want. But today, you cant open up a business, you cant develop land, you can't go to the bank, you cant go to the doctor without the government knowing what youre doing. They talk about medical privacy, thats gone. Financial privacy, thats gone. The right to own property, thats essentially gone. So you have to get permission from the government for almost everything. And if that is the definition of a police state, that you cant do anything unless the government gives you permission, were well on our way. Ron Paul"

I am having truble with the second one (Commerce) I have never thought of it as cheating

WoW!!Semper Fi

I always believed that; If you take away the fire we would be like cavemen within a fortnight.

I'll be damned if I'll go quietly...

My Dad ( May he be with God) was born in 1921, lost his father when he was 7 Yrs. old. He often told us kids about the "great Depression" the soup lines, "Pipe City" by the Oakland, CA. estuary, how he would get up at 0 dark thirty to meet the ferry at the pier and pick up newspapers to sell for the day, so he could do his share for the family. Now that I think about it I don't recall him ever crying about how unfair it was.

And here I thought I was a free man...oh well back to the drawing board.

"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" Patrick Henry.

Well said E Archer!

In honor of Sandra (Jishu) Holmes Glassman one of the peace makers. I feel blessed to have been in her orbit. (April 3, 1941-March 21, 1998)

Once again, thanks to those who post here and to the founder of Liberty Tree, I don't think that I have done as much research and exploring ...

Somewhere between 1789 (the ratification of the Constitution) and 2012, the chains that were to bind our Government became loose, I suspect both parties are to blame and that it was incremental. I think I read somewhere it started the day the document was signed.

Charlton Heston said it so well and I concur; "I'll give you my gun when you pry (or take) it from my cold, dead hands"

Thank you Mike, alas, I am too old to worry about prepping, I will take my stand at my door...

so are we wise or fools? It is late, very soon it will be too late!

How true, what do you think the intellectuals, the pragmatist ,those that held themselves above the fray thought when Hitler came to power? how about Mussolini, Stalin, tito , pol pot, Mositung? Need I go on? God damn it, We did nothing ! and now you want to gripe about Mr.Obama and his elk, Do you not understand that we put him in office? The day of his nomination when with the Greek columns and the voice reverb I and every honest citizen new we were in trouble, and yet we did nothing to stop this. wake up you fools, the longer we wait the bloodier the the civil war will be!

I hate being the bearer of bad news, but, do you really think that today's american people will fight for some concept that most don't even know let alone understand? Let me give just a couple of examples: When less than 3% of this country's population can hold sway over the supreme court and declare a victory for same sex marriage, when that same percentage can dictate to a private business to whom they must do business with, and the American people do nothing, do you still believe we will stand up for what is right and just?
Earlier, someone mentioned how Janet Reno solved social problems so I won't reiterate. In truth I could go on & on but I think I made my point. I think one problem is a lack of knowledge, young people don't know anything about the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution because it is not stressed in school any longer.

Once again well said, thank you gentlemen.

Mike, I am not sure I follow you, who then restrains the criminal, and if he be restrained, is that not taking his liberties away?

As it should be!

I like the "Little man, little mistake. Big man, big mistake." juxtaposition, but I don't think it fits the narrative of A. Schweitzer's quote.Its all too tempting to blame big Gov. for not providing, but, lets face it government can't provide much of anything, it can only take from one and pretend to give to another. I think Albert Schweitzer was talking to the individual, and if each one of us in our own way do what we can to help ease another's pain and misery and ask nothing in return would go a long way to healing our world.