How free is a week old baby?  Is she not dependent upon her mother from minute one?  What choices does she have?  Can she exercise her will?  Will her cries be answered in the way she wants?  We are born with needs and desires — none of which can be fulfilled independently from those upon whom we are dependent.  With time and LEARNING, we 'realize' what is happening.  The baby has inherent 'rights' to life and liberty, but she is dependent.  Can you be free and be dependent upon another? 

We have the right to be free, but the responsibility for independence is acquired — it's one of life's rites of passage, from childhood to adulthood.  Liberty and liberation are constant processes.  Look at all the folks in debt and disempowered due to their free choices.  Look at the unconscious dependents taxing the rest of us — are they free, are we?  They have the right to be free, but their choices have bound them. 

When were the colonies 'free' from English rule? When they declared it.  Their assertion was that all people are born with the inherent rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, not granted from the Crown.  Just because we are born with unalienable rights, doesn't mean that we are free — asks the slaves.  I cannot abide the definition of 'freedom' as one who is dependent.  Americans do indeed think they are free, but most are as dependent, indentured, and indebted as any serf.  We certainly are not free from that delusion.  If the truth sets us free, then when exactly did/does that happen?  Not at birth.  ;-)

Schools and teachers should be facilitators in learning, not 'preachers.'  I have questions for elders with relevant experience.  I am willing to compensate them for their time and consultation as it has inherent value to me.  I will remember their lessons because their teaching was the answer to my questions.  Should they try to teach me something else, give me answers to questions I am not asking, I am less likely to accept or remember it because it does not answer the question.  Getting at the truth is the ONLY purpose of enrolling into a program taught by others — if that is not the purpose, then what is it?  Church and state all too often attempt to form the aspirant into their image, rather than to facilitate self-discovery and the uncovering of truth (and untruth).  Let the Truth stand on its own — should I reject it, there will be consequences, perhaps I will learn from them, maybe they will destroy me.  Or the truth will set me free from the false notion of who I thought I was.  'Teachers' that have helped me move through these realizations are the ones I will never forget and always hold in high-esteem.

In fact, Christians have been serving the poor for eons, before socialism became popular.  They have been providing food, water, shelter, health care, education VOLUNTARILY while the authoritarians have pushed compulsory progressive indoctrination and forced 'charity' for the common good (which apparently makes the politicians extremely rich in the process.)  "We as a society" is not as important as "we as individuals"  — my duty is MINE, not society's, and society has no authority over me or you.  Society has NEVER been needed to provide for the basics of life, every individual does that.  We drive ourselves, walk ourselves, eat ourselves, work ourselves, we do not need to be commanded to do good.  Liberty means responsibility, and it cannot be traded for security without losing it. 

Better that people are educated in being self-sufficient, not dependent upon 'society.'  Note Americans are the most charitable people in the world, and never has a cause gone unsupported — your charity is voluntary and you invite others to do the same.  Just know that many are answering their own calling.  It's the difference between service and servitude.

I like your take, Mike.  A lie is like a debt that compounds at interest.  A lie is counterfeit money.  It's giving credit where credit isn't due.  It has the purchasing power of the truth without any backing.  Reminds me of the dollar bill, now inflated 95% in lost purchasing power since its issuance.

It's not capitalism that centralizes power but socialism (statism/authoritarianism).  True capitalism is simply 'commerce' based upon the honest exchange of capital and labor.  The word capitalism was not in common usage until Marx used it to symbolize 'the enemy' of communism.  To be anti-commerce is to be pro-totalitarian — either the people are self-directed or they must be regulated (servitude).  Today's 'capitalists' are 'debtors,'  they have no capital, only promises to pay (IOU's). 

To conquer a nation, take over the issuance of money, and turn it inside out so that the currency no longer is backed by real capital but by a debt. That is the work of globalism (UN, IMF, World Bank, WHO, etc.) All the nations of the UN have been conned out of their capital (power) in exchange for interest-bearing debt. One by one they fall, never throwing off the yokes that put them there. Will there be another renaissance? Will the consciousness of the people of the world awaken to the responsibility before them?

To deviate from the truth is to give life to a lie.  Nature's laws cannot be broken, but they can be bent, and they will spring back.  Everyone is putting on the act that works best for them — we buy the best act, and strive for it.  ;-)  But the laws of Nature have limits, and when treating falsehood as reality, there are bound to be some barriers that come up due to ignorance. The only true path to the Truth is to always tell it, even if the answer is "I don't know."  Once a lie is revealed, it has no more power.

Crime does pay — lawyers.  Everybody wants in on the racket.

Theft is the business of politics, pure and simple.  And they will never be satisfied.

The quote is applicable whether under the thumb of Bush or Obama.  In the Trump era, broadcast media is all in for the supremacy of leftist thought, any dissent is grounds for censorship in order to 'protect the community.'  Communist propaganda is preferred nowadays. 

Absolutely!  This is the very premise of the American ideal.  It all begins with the Rights of Man, inherent at birth, and unalienable.  In any voluntary association people enter into, they give up no rights, nor can they grant themselves rights.  The purpose of their association is for their mutual protection — should the association assume powers not agreed to, the members have no obligation to obey and can leave the association or disband it altogether. 

A county's statutes apply only to the county that agreed to them — they cannot dictate to other counties or states.  The individual is the true sovereign and comes in an infinite number of combinations of race, sex, age, abilities, size, knowledge, religion, tastes, desires, etc.. 

All ideas are individual, all acts are individual, all choices are individual.  The attempt to group people into political classes in order to oppress a minority is pure statism, supremacy of the state.  It is individualism vs statism (not right vs. left).

"The things that are up for vote shall be decided by the majority..."  That means that a vote decides what can be voted on.  Might makes right, pure and simple.  American Independence is based on the premise that people have inherent rights that can not be voted away — ever.  The only things up for vote are established by agreement by representatives of the people.  They have no power greater than the people themselves, and cannot dictate to the people AT ALL.  It is the Commerce Clause that has subjected the people to government dictates treating them as commercial 'persons' thus subject to the Uniform Commercial Code.  The government can only command its employees and commercial entities.  The con job is that we the people are subject to the UCC and thus all the reams and reams of statutes that apply.  The limited 'jurisdiction' of our servant government is only limited by how much power they can take from the people.  The bureaucrats in DC were originally confined to their swamp — now they lay claim to every state and person in the US (and beyond).

Socialism IS Puritanism!  The same premise, the same tactics, the same self-righteousness.  It never ceases to amaze me to see rabid leftists professing the same virtues as Christianity all the while trying to tear down religious association.  Russel is right, it is power they all seek, for moral reasons.  5 stars for the truth of it.

Excellent!

Wow, right on the money!  By voting for either of the government approved candidates, I essentially consent to their rule.  And their jurisdiction ever widens to eventually include everyone and everything.  American government was chartered to protect the people from being ruled by church or state, to protect them in their lives, liberty, and property.  However, now the government has become the predator and plunders the people just like the emperors of old.

The primary facade being that the US is a democracy.  The game has been rigged for a long time now.  Public education is the training ground for socialism, in which American History is now optional.  Then the students are conditioned in socialist rhetoric, ignoring the very premise of American independence.  We now learn that the election process is completely fixed and biased.  The Justice Department, FBI, CIA are all tools of the Left with the media on contract and delivering the daily propaganda necessary to delude millions into redefining themselves, to deny themselves and adopt a narrative of excuses and blame.  It is just another form of servitude, self-imposed.

Very good, Mike.  Political zealots are as religious (and self-righteous) as any fundamentalist Christian or Muslim.  They may not believe in a metaphysical god, but they believe in collective POWER to force their will upon others (just like fundamentalists of all stripes).  The power to command, to rule, is what they want — of course, for our own good.  Robert, can you not see the similarity between your socialist religion and the others?  Interesting, too, that while Buddhism does not recognize a 'god' per se, they do recognize the devil called 'Mara.'  What is the devil?  Our lies and hatred incarnate.  Starve the beast, and let the truth set you free.  ;-)

My humanitarian work is mine to offer, it is not through charities but charity.  You are so stuck in groups and social work mindset.  As for due diligence, perhaps you should brush up on your Karl Marx and the 10 planks of communism.  The only brilliance in them is the amount of power it centralizes.  Central fiat bankers rule the world — it's the Vatican of Vatican's, the theocracy to which all must pay tribute.  Socialism is the tool by which the nations become indentured.  And also note, socialism never saved any country from tyranny — the libertarians did that.  Socialists use central banking to overthrow the power of the People.  Socialists call this capitalism, but it is in fact debt-ism as the capital is all claimed and owned by the state and our 'money' is all interest-bearing debt markers.  I know you are against the Federal Reserve, so pick a side, you can't have it both ways.  Socialism is akin to chemotherapy — it makes a lot of people rich, may work for a while, but kills most, and is called health care.  Socialism is a bill of goods — don't buy it.

Authoritarianism leads to totalitarianism, in many forms, not the least of which includes communism, socialism, fascism, monarchy, oligarchy, theocracy.  All these forms of statism consolidate power and rule the people.  The fascists are only to the right of the communists.  Socialists are admittedly thieves with a Robin Hood complex — acting as high and mighty as the religionists they abhor.  Robert, I do not want your form of authoritarianism — Marxism is just another power grab and is only suitable for social workers, psychiatrists, academics, politicos, bureaucrats and all who live off the state.  The producers become slaves, the workers beasts of burden.  Communist China is the proud embodiment of Marxism.  There is not a socialist alive that wants to admit that socialist governments around the world have murdered millions of political dissenters.  NEVER has that happened in America, but you can believe it could if Marxist theology is embraced in the US.

;-) Robert, I am not responsible for the wars in Yemen or Palestine.  I am responsible for some other things that need to be addressed, and that is what I am doing.  My humanitarian work has not been giving to charity but on site, hands-on, years long and I am honored to be doing it.  Good luck with your own battles, but try not to be so judgmental about everyone else that does not share your interests.  You have a somewhat illogical sense of responsibility and blame — it is common with progressive liberals, altruists, and utopians. 

Robert, are YOU to blame for Yemen and Palestine?  Are you responsible for the war there?  Are you responsible for ending it?  Say so, then I will know who you are.  Until then, you blame ME for war without blaming yourself.  That's OK, because it is illogical.  You can only take responsibility for what you are responsible for.  Why aren't the warriors in Yemen and Palestine listening to your letters?  The war should be over by now according to that logic.  ;-)  Oh, that's right, I am responsible for the atrocities, you are responsible for telling me.  Start a sentence with "I am responsible for ..." and I will listen.  You caused a lot of trouble in your life, fess up, make amends, and take correct action.  Those are the only wars that are yours to end, and they need ending as much as any other.

My goodness, your self-righteousness would give Jerry Falwell a good run for his money.  I am not to blame for Yemen or Palestine, nor do I have the power to impose my will upon them, nor am I arrogant enough to believe that I have the cure to their political ills.  What, are we going to vote peace into Palestine?  You are free to pick your battles, but I doubt you will join their front lines. 

As I said before, if you want peace and support, I suggest less self-righteousness and more specific requests for action — where is the root that is mine to strike?  As someone that does not believe in God, you sure sound like someone who wants to play  God while holding the moral high ground above the common person (well 90% anyway).  By the way, you promote authoritarian policies almost exclusively based on this very premise.

As one with the Tao, why are you getting sucked into all this maya?

Take responsibility for your own mess and clean it up.  Start there.  Blaming the common person for wars around the world does nothing.  There is war for a reason, and until that reason is addressed, it will continue.  I want peace as much as any hippie and an end to powerlessness of the common people (otherwise referred to as poverty).  But these ills have causes, and not to address the cause but to treat only symptoms does not heal but merely lend support to 'the long war.'  My advice to you is the same as I give to fundamentalist Christians with we must "save the world" rhetoric:  It is precisely due to those that wish to save us from ourselves that the power of the masses has been co-opted by 'authorities' acting in official capacity.  Believe you me, there are billions caught up in this — it is THE racket in the world, and getting people to demand it as their rights enslaves them willingly.

If you are sounding a clarion call over the corruption in the world, including in the USA, UK, EU, Middle East, Africa, etc., welcome to the club!  Others on this blog have been doing so for decades.

In any debate about war or power, I will bring my attention to the source of the power, the funding, the people.  It's a big chess game that has been going on for 12,000 years at least.  Where are we now in the game?  It takes power to wage a war (which is to acquire power).  Who is funding it?  Or more importantly, what is the process of transferring power?  Who controls the flow?  Why?  The only ones that can stop a war are those that are waging it, either by winning or losing or truce.  

The only thing the common people in these war-torn nations can do is snap out of their hypnosis.  Enlightenment is the destruction of everything one thought to be true, but unfortunately, a free nation requires the consciousness of a fairly enlightened person that knows he/she is not the subservient of another nor bound to the dictates of others — we speak for ourselves and are responsible. 

How to awaken people?  I don't say 'save people,' because if there is any saving to be done, they must initiate it, make it their own.  It's more to facilitate their own self-realizations and declarations.  That's certainly what I look for in a teacher, someone to facilitate the process of my learning as someone who has been through it before.  

My humble advice is to not wage war to end war -- don't feed the beast.  Do not use the same tactics as the fascists, communists, authoritarians of all stripes to force your ways onto others.  Can you expect anyone to respect your individuality any more than you respect others'?

Secondly, pick your battles.  What's it going to be, Palestine, Wall Street, Medicare?  (I have no interest in any of the causes you mentioned — I certainly do not want any government health care services which drug and poison the hell out of everyone.)  Your suicide prevention and Roatarian work fits the bill better than all the rest, in my opinion.  Are you not also aware of the millions of people contributing their time and money to their own charities and causes?  I have been involved in several humanitarian efforts to help the poor in 3rd world countries, and only if the people we are helping want to become self-sufficient will the work we started continue after we leave.  As ever, only the poor can raise themselves up.  Victim consciousness is the enemy, not a rallying cry, Robert.

Thirdly, Strike at the root! And always be ready for the response!

Yes "dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike" sounds so "charming."  The actual processing of 'dispensing a sort of equality' leaves a lot of room for personal interpretation, the dispensing of which is just a matter of one's taste for plundering the opposition.

It's not so much 'democracy' as with the 'jurisdiction.'  The US federal government's jurisdiction was restricted to a 10 square mile patch of swampland, all else belonged to the sovereign and free states who formed the federal government with explicit duties and some explicitly prohibited powers in case clever lawyers might find a way to pervert the plain meaning of words. 

242 years later, the federal 'jurisdiction' has expanded across the entire nation and even into other countries' sovereign territory all over the world.  By redefining through judicial precedent the boundaries of 'jurisdiction' and 'elector,' the fox is now guarding the hen house. 

Through judicial fiat, power has been and continues to be centralized to the nations' capitals and to their central bankers running the Monopoly game.  Is anything and everything up for vote?  And what are the limits to what those elected can regulate and tax/take?  Who are the ultimate decision makers really?  Not the voters ...

Good luck with all that, Robert.  "I'm tired of people just going about their daily lives without giving frig about [enter your favorite political cause here]."  This is 'progressive' liberal-speak, virtue-signaling, blame-game, rhetoric.  You are 'tired of' a whole lot of other people whom you judge and attempt to shame who are merely living their own lives in their own country.  Textbook ;-)  Thanks for the invitation, but I have my own causes for which to fight for which I am taking responsibility — I don't blame you for not knowing or caring about them.  Your post is more of the 'sky is falling' approach that is the stock-and-trade of every con foisted upon the people of the world.  I do not take responsibility for war in Israel/Palestine — if you want to own it, go for it.