Funny. I haven't read anything about the countrymen of Scandinavia losing any human spirit. As a matter of fact they seem to outperform other nationalities in that particular virtue. And, come to think of it, there seems to be a huge drop in that spirit in good old, capitalistic U. S.

If he had just put patriotism on the other side and left intelligence by itself it would have made better sense. Remember the old adage, "Patriotism is the last refuge....."?

Thank you, RBESRQ. It's always refreshing to read informed views.

In the 1950s and '60s an American's spirit could be elevated by the progress being made but an objective evaluation of where the U. S. is going now is disspiriting indeed. And it is neither going socialist or democratic.

An excellent peice of advice. To think it's a waste of time if you "already know the answer," you've missed the point completely.

A better antidote to ignorance.

Right, Waffler. The unthinking must feel that roads, police protection, insurance, parks, schooling, civilized neighbors, the arts, laws and all the other supreme benefits our age enjoys came from the clouds or some magician in the sky. No, they came from the magnificent gifts of people who were able to contribute through TAXES paid by the millions who preceded us and now by the middle and lower classes, sadly and criminally, not by the one to five percent at the top.

As long as the rich and powerful Republicans own the media and the government (now with help from sold-out democrats) the people like GunnyCee will see and believe with no facts, no knowledge of history whatsoever, but utter vulnerability to the vilest demagoguery, whatever is spewed at them.

He read too much Ayn Rand.

Boy, these quotations are sop for the hard core.

And while we're at it, why don't we just shoot all the handicapped, both mental and physical?

RBESRQ, I thank you for one of the few intelligent takes on these quotations. Mind if I just use "RB"?

How absolutely mistaken must Friedman be before some people see the disaster he is and caused?

I hope J, Mike, and Jim are multi-millionaires for, if not, their perception of economics and government is sadly contrary to their own interest.

I think few understand that democracy in the U. S. has been covertly subverted by the hardliners just as the wise Ms. Geyer describes it.

Just wish we all were as rational in our political thinking as our theological.

Ingersoll was a compassionate, brilliant, and highly moral human being, and probably the greatest orator in America.

Not a worthy quote.

too stupid for comment.

Just consider the number of gun homicides in one our largest cities to the homicides in whole countries. Doesn't this mean anything to gun worshipers?

Reston is not alone in his consistent understanding of what is sane and democratic. You who are always on the side of a fascist system you are so ignorant of you call it socialism. Look up the definitions for heaven's sake so you can at least know what nonsense you believe.

The number of people who think like F. Jones is discouraging indeed. American preemption is another word for fascist domination. Do these people know we have from 800 to 1000 military bases in more than 100 countries around the globe? We have 38 military bases and three airfields on the island of Okinawa alone. Have you ever considered peace?

Well said, Reston. Rand was a nut-case with a skill at writing fiction and pro-fascist propaganda masquerading as "Americanism" or "conservatism" or "patritoism," when her whole philosophy of man is based on a hate-filled exclusiveness that would shock and affront the liberal thinking men who founded this country.

True without equivocation. It is the lack of knowledge by the citizens that has brought the U. S. to its present state of war mongering and economic depression.

Reston, I am almost always in agreement with your thoughts and I agree with your statement here, but I think Richmond isn't thinking of internal actions by govt to improve people's lives but, instead, of what Carlton has written about our humongous number of military bases around the globe and how our empire building is creating hate and terrorism which not only endanger the U.S. but ALL other countries. Chalmers Johnson, who wrote "Blowback," has also written two follow-up books that completely expose our government's takeover of the globe and the danger it presents everywhere. What Eisenhower said at his exit as President could not have been more prescient.