How has world socialism made such strides in the last 100 years?  When the Western world agreed to turn government debt into currency, replacing real capital as the backing, the ultimate power was transferred to the money-making authority.  All the nations of the world (via the UN) were roped into this con — it is the racket of rulers.  With this system of money, all are perpetually in debt.  Banks are the shadow government, determining who shall get the power.  Nothing is built without 'credit' — whoever has the power to create billions with the click of a mouse has the power to buy up the world.  They succeeded, and the Monopoly game continues, we are but pawns, and in the end, it all goes back in the box.  If/When a global currency backed by real-commodities becomes popular, nations can rebuild with fair trade.  Economic servitude is how socialism/fascism/communism (i.e. dictatorship) keeps its power.  Return that power to the people!

The spark of Liberty has been spread around the world.  The battle continues.  We must remind those other failing nations that the solution is not to immigrate to America but embrace a republican form of government in their own country that recognizes the inherent rights of the people as supreme. Meanwhile at home, every effort is being made to reduce us to socialist progressive authoritarianism in denial of each person's life, liberty, and property.  The American Revolution continues!

Damage control.  Sycophants agree.  We see the same thing today every time some nation tries to exercise their sovereignty against the will of a council that lays claim to regulate them.

Brilliant! Here's the thing, ultimately, the rest of the civilized world must come to the same conclusions and embrace Liberty above 'authority.'  America is supposed to export the concepts of Liberty, not import the concepts of totalitarianism.

It seems clear to me that the 'occupying statist theocracy' is demanding tribute from the People for their 'security.'  That is war — will we ever fight?  

Seems to be an eternal truth.  Perhaps the people are ready for another renaissance?

Classic!!  This is the very basis of the founding of America.  When the rest of the political world starts to embrace this fundamental truth, then you will see a real 'transformation.'

Absolutely!  It is a great con that we are duty-bound to contribute a third to a half of our property every year to the government.  In the only country where land can be owned outright without any liens and encumbrances, the process has long been buried in order to obligate everyone to 'pay their fair share' of property and income taxes every year — essentially renting their own property forever.  The US has re-adopted most of the British system of property taxation.  Read the fine print, you don't own anything, but merely are liable for your property.  It's the State's property, you are the designated caretaker and 'beneficiary', must raise revenue to pay the Crown for the 'title' — if you don't, the Crown takes it back — after all, it is the property of the Crown, you only have title to it.  Americans are not taught about their real rights and obligations to the free American republic.  But people are awakening, and educating themselves -— which has always been our responsibility.  I don't put myself in a school where I am taught to be an obedient worker, but learn how to be self-sufficient and live an honorable life.  To do that, I have to ask my own questions and discern the possibilities.  A good teacher is hard to find. ;-)

The blame is not just reserved for the Governors who usurp power, but rests mostly with the People who demand from their Governors actions they have no Constitutional power to do.  Most are elected on promises they are not authorized to make or keep.  This is the fatal tendency of a limitless democracy — people voting for the fruits of their neighbors, simple mob rule.  'Governing' is a racket, and while America may not have a king, now all want to live like kings — on the backs of the governed.   Only it doesn't work out that way...

Beautiful!  I like:

Nor can Mortals assume a Prerogative not only too high for Men but for Angels, and therefore reserv’d for the Exercise of the Deity alone.

The regulations are designed to funnel wealth to themselves and keep the producers in debt.  Dependency is encouraged in order to promote the police welfare/warfare state.

Pretty much.  America was one of the only nations in the world that recognized private ownership of land by the common man, but the process has been hijacked by a fiat money system.  The Queen of England owns all the land of the British Commonwealth countries in the world — she is the largest land holder in the world.  To live on the land, one must submit to being taxed on the fruits of the land and labor.  Servitude is still the number one racket in the world.

Ah yes, the Art of Folly.  ;-)  Yes, intent is integral — what are we laboring for?  We are in a constant process of growing, and our wants grow with us.  Do we ever wise up?  None-the-less, honest, diligent labor is honorable work, even if the laborer is narrow-sighted and even foolish.  The intent is as important as the labor, but intent without diligent labor is irresponsible and furthers delusion.

I like it.  The world works because of the sum total of everyone's labor — the 'government' does not produce at all, it merely attempts to control, usually to fix the game in their favor.  Trying to control masses of humanity is the goal of totalitarians — as soon as that is accomplished, most 'good fortune' is stopped and funneled to the top of the pyramid.

Labor is the exercise of Life.  That inherent power is a gift, prized above all -— it is the source of 'value' and 'worth' in the material world.  All value is determined by the effort and the labor required.  But what is the Life of a man/woman worth?  Is the apple in the tree worth the effort to harvest it?  Unless the fruit drops from the tree into my hands, labor will be required.  Systems have been put in place to attempt to 'cheat' these natural laws, but all they have done is put a lien upon the labors of the People perpetually, indebted forever.  The command of labor is the goal of all would-be rulers.

Yes! Love it.

I heartily agree!

I agree. The 'classic' liberals were 'libertarian' in nature; today's liberals are 'statist' in nature.  The word 'equality' has different contexts to both.  What does today's liberal mean by 'equality?'  For the most part the Statist is a ruler that dictates what can and can't be done with the threat of force always present.  The classical liberal is not to be commanded — he commands himself and takes responsibility for it.  The classic liberals formed republican forms of government at all levels — county, state, and nation to protect the equal rights of all, not to engineer society, picking winners and losers, 'leveling the playing field' to junior varsity league.  The two mindsets couldn't be more different.

Indeed!  It's the only way 'progress' has ever been made.  Dogs gotta dig and cats gotta scratch — what do humans gotta do? ;-)

Thus concepts such as 'hate speech' are anathema to liberty.

Yes, but what is true?  ;-)

Excellent!  Party politics is what leads to an unlimited democracy of arbitrary rule.  "A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume."

Jack, it is neither a right nor a duty to call people to task for their opinions.  Should you option to do so, you must bear the consequences of making such accusations.  What gives you the moral high ground to put people on the defensive for nothing other than offending you (who are neither Jewish or black)?  You've been enrolled into the PC Police.  People who call others 'racist' are being the accuser, judge, and jury — the 'racist' is guilty, with no defense acceptable.  You have no 'right' to accuse people of what you believe are their prejudices — you only expose your own. You are trying to start a fight, nothing more.

Ain't that the truth! ;-)

It's amazing how flippantly people are being called racist.  Who does that?  Talk about hate speech.  Calling someone a racist IS racist!  It is an attack — an offensive act.  And how does one defend against such an attack? "Hey, I'm not racist!" Honestly, how does one define racism?  Who is the judge?  And what is the crime?  I am hated by racists — what do they want from me?  Love? Because of their 'oppression'? 

'Colored people' fought against segregation — now 'people of color' are demanding it.  It looks to me to be nothing more than trying to stir up trouble and controversy to distract from the purposes of their unseen handlers.  It's classic political science.  Having grown up in the big city, I am able to make distinctions between personalities, character, and culture — race has little to do with it.  There are nice kids and mean kids — race is not a factor.  There are people you like and people you don't — usually because of their actions and attitudes, not race.  If you do not like a person who calls people 'racist' you take the risk of being called a racist for not liking them.  Has it ever occurred to those screaming obscenities with the calls of racism that they perhaps are not likable due to their actions rather than their skin tone?  It's nothing but a cover for saying 'f*** you.'