“The cult of the omnipotent state has millions of followers in the United States. Americans of today view their government in the same way as Christians view their God; they worship and adore the state and they render their lives and fortunes to it. Statists believe that their lives -- their very being -- are a privilege that the state has given to them. They believe that everything they do is -- and should be -- dependent on the consent of the government. Thus, statists support such devices as income taxation, licensing laws, regulations, passports, trade restrictions, and the like.”

WOW ! ! ! can't get more accurate than that. Some of the regulars to this blog, such as the 'A' from Reston and Waffler, are such prime examples of this quote their photos could be used as posters in support of the totalitarian Amerika

I always felt that the defination of GOD is from whom one gets his strength. This shows us who these followers depend on.

The cult of government is one of humanity's oldest religions.

Some of what you have stated may be true, but the real bottom line is that most people have been conditioned (dumbed-down) to accept what government is doing to them; I call it mental cowardice. Many people have told me that it is easier and cheaper to just pay what the government wants since this, the USA, is still the best government (?) in the world. I base my conclusions upon Charlotte Iserbyt's book, The Deliberated Dumbing-Down of America!

How any grown person with half a brain and not suffering a mental disorder can be a liberal, ie, a socialist, is a mystery to me. This is a great quote.

An accurate description of the American Borg.

Like all mandatory religions throughout history, 'heretics' have been the focus of hatred, vitriol, and violence simply because they dare to point out that the emperor wears no clothes. I find it interesting that the most devout secular 'progressives' mimic the very religious arrogance they so quickly condemn. As with most fundamentalists, their conscience is clear when they violate the rights and dignity of those that dare to reason, think, and otherwise make their own way without permission from the 'authorities.' This is what 12+ years of 'schooling' will get you as well as the 4-6 hours a day of television 'programming.'

a real nut case.

Oh Look Dick from The Muppet Show is back! ;)

Dick, thanks for describing yourself.

What a load of codswallop! "worship and adore"? Hyperbole is so off-putting. Reasoned debate, please. It's definitely a subject on which we should have public conversion, but this feverish contribution doesn't advance the discourse in any way.

Jane from Phoenix, what is your concept of reasoned debate ? Can the reasonable debate start with natural law, what / where / how does a lawful nexus transfer from a once individual sovereign to an office of servant (now totalitarian god like master), or how there is no more concept of inalienable rights (including ownership). Most on this blog are very open to public conversation (especially concerning government of law vs. government of men). How close to the belief in a statist theocracy must one be to advance the discourse in any way ?

Jane, just one last thought. By "public discussion", are you describing or seeking how or what socialist theocratic dogmas to apply ? If that is the case, I understand your interpreted "feverish contribution".

Obviously, Jacob wasn't considering the followers on this blog (well, most of them). Perhaps if he didn't through the baby out with the bath waters I may have considered giving him one star. Mike, you are a good fellow, but you must refrain from using "Natural Law" in nearly all your comments. To really get down to advancing discourse one must speak openly and in words that do not confuse the issue at hand.
A civilized state should have free schooling, free healthcare, and the ability to feed and shelter yourself. We are not all so fortunate to have the ability to provide these things for our self - there are many who need our help. We must have organisations that help those less fortunate and these organisation should be funded by government (this should be a Christian Principle). For instance Medicare and Medicaid are both great programs but are totally abuse by the medical profession which is private. If I ran these programs I would stop private practice, the pharma industry, and private hospitals, from the current abuse of the system. Do you agree that people should be prosecuted for giving food to the poor and homeless and growing your own food on your own soil. America has become a Christian far right oligarchy (totalitarianism), where dissent and telling the truth is criminalize (ala George Orwell) . Americas savior will be Liberalism (please do not confuse liberalism with communism)

The way of harmony for the people, our Declaration of Independence, trusting the Creator, the God of Nature and by way of his natural laws of Liberty and Morality, this nation was founded. 13 natural laws of moral conduct to govern those that lend to a free sovereign at Liberty. Blind greed drives the socialist machine. Whether Church or State. Mandating servitude by way of unnatural application and omitting of the laws of morality, O, they forget to mention those in state or bible class ! Liberty denied create discontent. unless you live up to the state rule. What a farce and a pile of lies shoved down the peoples throats, and in their ears. One realizes they are a slave when the property tax is not paid. democratic Fabian socialism, thrives upon blind obedience to the state god. Bread and circus. While the elite privileged take stock of their holdings, people ! Natural laws of Liberty removed create a caged bird. and a corralled beast. Life is not fair and it is unnatural to think that a socialistic state, can make it so.

Wow, Robert, you have demonstrated the mindset of the altruistic, totalitarian statist to a tee. 'Don't bother me with concepts like natural law, here's what SHOULD be done...' Forget about whether the populace you compel by law agree or not -- YOU know.

"A civilized state should have free schooling, free healthcare, and the ability to feed and shelter yourself." Says, YOU, Robert. Totalitarian nations have all of that -- and it is compulsory. Receiving any of these services requires permission from the state and even forced medical procedures can be performed on citizens -- because the citizen is under the control of the state. Complete state control over the education and health care of a nation is absolute servitude - get over yourself, man! Sheesh, genocide is your creed, study some damn history. The price for your Utopia are the lives and liberty of THE WORLD.

The Christian Principle is Love. Out of that is the recognition that my cup is overflowing, and it is my pleasure to give as I have received. What you want, Robert, is to compel me to give to you and your favorites -- you do that by belittling the productive for being abundant and for 'selfishly' supporting their own causes instead of yours, which apparently are what we all SHOULD be devoting our labors to.

I find it funny that you despise religion and churches so much, yet wish the government to serve the same functions -- only everyone would be required by law to be a follower of the god of collective Power. There is no less a temple builder in you, Robert, with the same purpose -- to acquire power to 'rule the world.'

Frankly I am sick and tired of all the 'saviors' from the left and the right -- they are not saving anyone! Only trying to win hearts and minds to further a personal agenda of greed and power. EGO, Robert, perhaps take a look at it...

The distinction to make is simple when trying to figure out whether a 'liberal' is a 'classic liberal' or 'progressive socialist' : simply, where does the responsibility lie for the decisions I make in this life? AND where does the responsibility lie for the decisions YOU make in this life?

BTW, Robert, when you say "A civilized state should have free schooling, free healthcare, and the ability to feed and shelter yourself" you are demonstrating collectivist group-think -- "a civilized state should have the ability...to feed and shelter yourself?" Typical of a collectivist mindset -- the state and 'yourself' are one and the same. What you most likely really meant is that "the state should have the ability to feed and shelter everyone" -- right? What about those that do not want to be fed and sheltered by the 'civilized' state? What about those that in fact DO wish to feed and shelter themselves -- your plans to bridle them to power your 'compassion' is nothing but tyranny most beneficial to you. Hypocrisy, ignorance and self-righteousness -- it is not just the domain of the fundamentalist religious right but the fundamentalist communist left that deludes itself into believing that THEIR version of altruism will not self-destruct and oppress as the Chinese and Soviets have -- with hundreds of millions of the common people wiped out. Delude yourself, but do not expect the rest of us to follow you down into the feeding pit.

Mandatory attendance at government education centers daily, mandatory medical treatments and drugs as determined by public health professionals, mental fitness screening to determine obedience levels, the 'right' of government to feed and shelter itself through theft, intimidation, imprisonment, and murder. This is the Leviathan such 'progressive' rhetoric actually feeds while tearing down the self-reliant that buck and will not be yoked. The leftist rhetoric is a bill of goods they have bought to justify their victimhood -- I for one will not wallow in the mud with them. Useful idiots indeed.