We all have vices,some are just worse than others. The trouble starts when goverment laws turn vices into crimes. Making drug use a crime is just one example and has filled our jails with non-violent citizens. LEAP.cc

Public men rob citizens of their property on a daily basis from the wonderful people in D.C. all the way down to local governments. Imminent domain is one of the most popular methods being used today. Restrictive licensing laws are another method to prevent people from doing business. The best group fighting this sort of thing today is The Institute for Justice. They don't just write papers and articles, they do something about these injustices.

Here's a good one, If the cops find one hemp plant anywhere on your property they can and will take your property. Hemp was so useful in many products that some of the original States required that citizens grow a certain amount. Now you go to jail for growing it or even having a leaf or seed in your possession, plus having your property confiscated. Nixon instituted this war on drugs in 1970 and now our jails are full of non-violent offenders. His war on drugs is 100 times worse than anything he did at Watergate.

Waffler, you are truly nuts. Our government pays absolutely no attention whatsoever to the people. The majority wanted nothing to do with B.O's "health" plan but we got it shoved down our throats anyway. Waff, the local reds must love you.

Tricky Dick Nixon appealed to the "Law- Abiding Sentiment of the People" and gave us this horrible war on drugs in 1970. It's still going strong and worse than ever. I could go on, but just go to LEAP.cc on the web and see what cops , former police chiefs, judges, etc think about this mistake.

1913, an interesting year for this quote, when we got the Fed and the 16th ammendment. It's been downhill ever since.

"Government is not eloquence, not reason, it is force, and like fire it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." George Washington

If he thought they had a lot of laws then, he should see the mess we have now. Laws spawned by this War on Drugs are among the worst.

Bernie Madoff is in jail for life for doing things that Congress does on a routine basis. Roger Clemens was on trial for lying to Congress while they lie daily to the citizens of this country. A crime for us is business as usual for the boys and girls inside the beltway.

Actually it started around 1860 here in this country.

Elaine, USA, please explain your comment, it makes no sense.

The commies try to get 'em when they are young, sort of like in our government schools.

This monstrosity known as the War on Drugs is a perfect example.

I might add that if you are expecting the police to protect you, think again. After a thug comes into your gun free home and rapes your wife and then kills you both, the cops will be happy to make a report and try to find who did it. This will be a great comfort to your remaining friends and family.

Some things never change and this quote was true then and now more than ever. Mike and J are right on target with their comments.

Hello Reston, it's good to get the hammer and sickle viewpoint. What does teen suicide have to do with anything and how many kids have been killed by overly nervous gun owners. Teen suicides are sad but if someone wants to kill themselves there are many ways to do this. The "overly nervous gun owner" thing is so preposterous as to need no comment. Little children sometimes drink Draino, by your reasoning should we ban drain cleaners. Read, assuming you can, the quote again and compare it to your nonsense.

Written in 1769 and applicable today. Some things never change.

J, they "get it" but after all, they are commies.

I'm with J on this.

For a real education about the causes of the global economic meltdown of 2008, get the movie documentary, "Inside Job". You get a pretty good idea who is really running things in this country and the ending is amazing.

Though I am not a hunter, I know several hunters who have Phd's and are pretty "articulate and literate."

It's great to see Reston back, always happy to get the Communist point of view.

CHN, it was the rascal Sherman who should have been hanged. The "Great Emancipator" only freed the slaves in the states that wanted to secede. Lincoln didbn't care a whit about slavery, this was added later to give this horrible war some degree of morality and get Lincoln reelected.

This was on the Op Ed page and was simply stating a real possibility. It wouldn't surprise me if the current administration caused a calamity in order to declare martial law in this country. I wouldn't put anything past this Obamunist bunch.

Traci, the problem is that we don't "win" wars anymore, as in Korea,Viet Nam, and the mess we are in now. Wonder why that is.