“Our natural, inalienable rights are now considered to be a dispensation from government, and freedom has never been so fragile, so close to slipping from our grasp as it is at this moment.”

Like him or not, its a worthwhile warning.

Maybe now more than ever since the revolutionary war. While I am not crazy about either candidate, Obama is a socialist and must not be allowed to occupy the Oval office. This vote is crucial.

"April 15, 2008 · The state of Maine last week passed one of the most restrictive smoking bans in the country. Dr. Jonathan Shenkin, who drove the push to regulate smoking in cars, says that while Maine's is not the first law of its kind, it goes further than any other effort to curb children's exposure to secondhand smoke." And "Police can now stop drivers who are smoking in a vehicle where passengers younger than 16 are present. For the first year, the penalty is a warning, but thereafter, smokers ferrying children face a $50 fine." I stopped smoking in 1994. One should not smoke with youngsters in the car - BUT government should not have the right to tell one he/she cannot smoke in their homes or vehicles. Jim K is correct! Obama represents a further move toward socialism - and like many I too will vote for Sarah Palin and her running mate! Niel Young, Laconia, NH bnyoung@metrocast.net

We have gone from being free men to being property of government, insignificant, replaceable parts in a behemoth machine called "society" and language has been twisted to equate society with government. Government will regulate what you breath, eat, drink, where you can dig a hole on your own property, what you can say, what you can see. Society was created by individuals for the benefit of individuals. Now individuals' only function is to benefit "society." The servant has become the master, and the master the slave. Eventually every choice will be made by society for the benefit of society (at least for the tyrants who control government). They will tell you it is for the people. Free men must demand their rightsand recognize there source if we want to keep what few we have left. A vote for McCain /PALIN '08 is a vote for PALIN '12.

How very true. Ken says it well. Although I believe we should have the choice of voting 'No Confidence' in either party's candidates. The real majority of Americans will not go out of their way to vote for either Obama or McCain.

Inalienable simply means; cannot be separated or removed and whatever you think government's role is, only a government can guarantee such rights to be truly inalienable, as ours does with our Bill of Rights. If you don't think the government is the dispenser of rights try living under one which does not make that guarantee. A person my be "endowed with certain inalienable rights", but if he happens to be born in a country without a government willing and able to protect those rights, what good are they?

Five Stars to Jack Green and thumbs down to Mr. Reagan. He was a bit of an interesting ideological poet and rabble rouser but some say the worst President we ever had, setting in motion the tremendous national debt we now have. As far as smoking the Russians, and I believe the Turks, had or porposed the death penalty for smoking way back in the 1600's. So the new laws are not some new totalitarian affront by "society" but just a continuation of age old common sense. As some know and the pro-life side of the argument point out children have rights also, for a pregnant mother to smoke, abuse alcohol, or drugs or blow smoke in her babies face should be controlled. Especially if society tries to legislate against reproductive rights at least we can do is protect the fetuses and children from the stupidity of their parents. I believe both Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain are great candidates, I have absolute confidence in both of them while I may prefer one's policies over the other. McCain's choice of Ms. Palin is problematic. I just hope she does not become a role model for the uterus crowd and every lady start having five babies. That would be the worst thing that could happen to our country. How smart can she be to have five kids? Language has not been twisted to equate society with government. Throughout history government has been the leader of society, the connection between the two is not absolutely iron clad especially in a democracy where societal views change constantly and thus are reflected in "societies", "government". Where governments fail is when they lose touch with society. Reagan was not stating a fact here just a poetic starting place from which to screw us.

In N.J. a woman was arrested because her dog killed a bear cub, and a young boy was like wise arrested because he swung a wiffleball bat at, and hit a seagull. They were arrested by the animal police and face very heavy fines and prison time. Now I love animals and would never do anything to willfully harm any living being of any kind. However this is a pure indication of a government that is out of control. It is imperative that we regain control of our government before we become total slaves. The abuse of power started in little steps and is now coming in waves. They are showing total contempt and disregard for their masters, (the people). It is time to act. It is easier to put out a match, then it is to put out a forest fire.

That was nothing but sick, Waffler.

Can you express yourself a little clearer Warren?

Excellent Green and Waffler to stand up against these neocon fascists. Obama is our only chance (our only hope) to rid us from corruption, lies, and greed. Our philosophies are so far apart that we are different people and therefore I suggest America splits in half - if not the people in the end will do it. Reagan like the two "Fiscal Conservatives" after him, Bush one and Bush two, gave us a $200+ billion deficit - so much for the "trickle down" theory. Bush two is now the most despised President in our history with and has given us our biggest deficit of all $500 billion. It will take Liberals and Democrats who are the true fiscal conservatives yet again to pull us out of the mire. We are the true Patriots we are the ones who question authority and refuse to blindly go where we are told. Don't worry, you already have socialism in America (Big Time) it's called socializing corporate losses while we privatize corporate profits. Oh yes, McCain will just be another tax the poor, give tax breaks to corporate America and spend and spend and spend. McCain and Palin will be the last straw - they will get us into a war which may end all wars.

Interesting takes on the quote everyone. Rights are either inalienable or alienable. If we are endowed by our "Creator" with rights (however you define or deem a "Creator" figure), then they are inalienable; if man (government) gives us our rights, then they are alienable. It's not a hard concept to understand: Force does not equal legitimacy or sovereignty. Whether man's government accepts or impedes upon natural inalienable right is a matter of what form of government society wants. Just because a society may choose to reject the forces of gravity, does not mean that gravity does not exist -- gravity being a constant in nature. Just because governments may forcefully restrain inalienable rights, this does not mean that such rights have been "alienated" -- it simply means that such government is tyrannical and has forcefully rejected the protection of nature's gift of freedom. This does not alter, abolish, or alienate the inalienable; however, tyrannical government DOES reduce the ability of expressing such natural and inalienable rights. If we were to say that government grants natural rights, then we'd assume the postulate that simply by Congress mandating it -- children would instantly suffocate should Congress enact a law against children breathing! Such is utter stupidity. However, a government may send enforcers out to personally restrict the breathing of children to accomplish its goals. The concept is not hard to understand, common people -- don't be sheeple. As for Reagan, he's a bit to epochcentrist for me -- every generation has faced its monsters that want to disregard inalienable freedoms for some type of perceived security. Our generation simply plays off the one before it, as the following generations will play off us.

"Perception is a tricky thing and doubt will lead to questioning.As every summer follows spring -Real Eyes-Realize-Real Eyes."

I would like to see what RobertSRQ has to say about Obama's $1.4 TRILLION deficit. I bet he blames Bush.