We have been watching our President denigrate and devalue American values and principles since his candidacy. We now are witness to the enslavement of the entire population and have set the yoke of bondage upon our own children. Yes, I said we did this. It was our vote and apathy which allowed this to happen. As De Tocqueville warned would happen, Americans have voted away liberty.
I am ashamed I let this happen. Are you? This is now the time we define ourselves and our generation. The generations before us built this nation, protected this nation, freed a race, survived the greatest economic collapse, and beat back the outside threat of communism. What will we be remembered as – the generation who allowed socialism to succeed? We must find that strength within us as Americans to do the thing that must be done and uphold the greatness that came before us.
The challenge is now set. This abomination of legislation can not stand. We must claw, scratch, protest, and do whatever must be done to undo this. I will not settle for anything less than a full repeal AND a rollback of current government regulation, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. I will do ANYTHING necessary to see that happen.
February 2011 will be President Reagan’s 100th birthday. His America is dying. Our America is dying. We must celebrate his life and commitment as a proud, liberty loving American by ensuring that liberty will exist for our following generations. Who will we hand power to at the end of this year? The war starts now and I will not settle for socialism. It is our American duty to fight against tyranny and maintain freedom for our civilization. We have no choice.
I’m right there with you, Andrew.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Fear will turn to anger and anger into action. America’s enemies have clearly been exposed and identified. Make them know there is nowhere to hide.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Anyone doing a dead pool yet?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Can’t believe I’m using a ‘Yoda’ quote here, but “Michigan” (2 posts up) came pretty close, so I figure I should mention:
As Yoda once so intelligently stated, “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. I sense much fear in you.”
As much as it seems ridiculous, that quote really does seem pertinent to the situation at hand. I am moderate, but I respect the views of rational conservatives and liberals alike. However, when I look at many of my conservative brothers and sisters, I see blind fear and hatred instead of logical and rational opposition.
There is, and should be, a real debate about whether this bill is right for the American people. Unfortunately, the fear mongering exhibited by political entertainers like Glen Beck, and mimicked in blog posts like this one around the country, serve only to hinder any rational debate. Instead, they make it an argument about EXTREME left versus EXTREME right, when this is not really the case.
The debate over this health care bill IS one that concerns differing ideologies over the size and role of government. However, it is NOT one about “socialism” or “communism” versus “liberty”. Hint: when you see grandiose, impassioned statements that use these words and attempt to paint a scenario in black and white, it should be a sign that the speaker is probably over simplifying and dumbing down an extremely complex issue.
So again, stop with this melo-dramatic, rebel-rousing nonsense. It serves no purpose other than to anger the masses of people without really giving them a factual reason to be angry. Intellectually debate the bill and offer alternatives. Vote for different candidates. And for goodness sake, stop subtly hinting at revolution. I love this country, and if you love it as much as you say you do, then you will use constitutionally approved methods to manifest your will.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I can’t believe I’m using an old quote to describe you Buddy, but “useful idiot” fits like a glove. You are no moderate Buddy, you’re a progressive. Stop wasting your time in your feeble and transparent attempt to persuade us differently.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hmm. It seems suspicious that, by your logic, my disagreement with your position automatically makes me a progressive. It isn’t so black and white. In reality, I really don’t support this health care bill. I would have preferred a government bill that had set up individual non-profit health care providers in each state (set up by the federal government but left to self-management from that point onwards) that acted as competition to private health care providers and drove down costs while simultaneously extending health care to more people. So no, I don’t like this bill at all. I just disagree with the way this blog seems to demonstrate over-dramatization and fear mongering.
Secondly, I never ‘wasted my time in [a] feeble and transparent attempt to persuade’ you that I am not a progressive. I merely stated my opinion, and at one point mentioned that I hold moderate beliefs. Frankly, I don’t really care whether you believe me or not.
Alas, you will continue to see whatever it is you want to see.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Buddy:
You’re entitled to your opinion. However, that doesn’t make it right.
Quoting a fictitious character? I mean really.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
You’re right. Who would ever quote a fictitious character?
But I guess “It’s not enough to speak, but to speak true.”
(By the way, I am in no means putting Shakespeare and George Lucas in the same category, haha)
Sam Adams doth protest too much, me thinks
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
And alas, I’ve met you before Buddy, many of you.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Buddy, there is nothing wrong with fear. Fear is the catalyst of the reasonable and responsible to go forward and do what must be done.
I think you are not grasping the idea of your own liberty, and you certainly do not understand how liberty turns into socialism and beyond.
You talk about “factual reason” and have given not one fact.
The factual reasons for our anger are based in the Constitution. Take a look at the Commerce Clause, then visit the Heritage Foundation, and you will understand that the legislation is unconstitutional. A new Constitutional Doctrine will likely be demanded by the Supreme Court, before this can become law, and believe me, you and yours will not get that new Doctrine.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I agree with you that there is nothing wrong with fear. You’re correct: fear is a catalyst, and can be used for both good and bad (though I would have to heavily disagree with your point that it is a catalyst of reason; I think we can all agree that, more often than not, fear blinds reason instead of sharpening it).
I do grasp the idea of my own liberty. I also do see how a mandate that everyone must have insurance is an invasion, on some level, of personal/natural liberty. Further, I also understand that men, as political creatures, must enter into a social contract in which they give up some of their natural liberties in exchange for things such as safety, property protection, and civil society (and no, these ideas don’t come from Karl Marx; they come from John Locke).
I just disagree with you about the extent to which this is being dramatized. Of course, this public option idea reflects various socialist tendencies. However, we already live in a country that has many elements of ‘socialism’ embedded into daily life: public transportation, NASA, public libraries, public services (fire departments, police departments, hospitals), etc. All of these institutions are publicly owned means of production or allocation of resources. Do you complain about these? Do these represent a ‘slippery slope’ to the enslavement of the American public, to the destruction of freedom? No, of course not.
So, yes, it bothers me that when the government institutes health care reform with a public option, all of these blog writers begin whispering of revolution in response to the takeover of tyrannical, socialist government. Is Canada socialist? Is Great Britain under the firm grip of a tyranny?
Oh, and I didn’t give “factual reasoning” because I was simply stating my opinion about my distaste for the author’s tone and language. I wasn’t discussing any objective content of the bill. Contrarily, the author of this blog was actually discussing this bill itself. It’s funny that you don’t point out his or her lack of factual information, only mine.
Next, don’t try to sound objective and then give the Heritage Foundation as a source. It’s an openly conservative (and therefore, openly biased) think tank, so of course it will have editorials that support a conservative viewpoint. Also, I am familiar with the US Constitution, so telling me to ‘read the Commerce Clause’ is ridiculous. We both know that Justices and constitutional scholars smarter than both you or me have interpreted constitutional clauses in various ways that don’t seem obvious to the virgin eye. For example, where in the Constitution does it say that the US can purchase other territories and incorporate them into the state? Nowhere. And yet, Thomas Jefferson (whose quotes are constantly employed by those opposed to health care on the grounds of it being unconstitutional) went through with the Louisiana Purchase, an act that is essentially ‘unconstitutional’.
Finally, thanks for discussing what “[me] and [mine]” will get or not get, because I definitely think of myself as inextricably tied to Barack Obama and the Democrats. I just got out of the bath tub with my Reid-ducky, dried off with my Pelosi signature towel, put on my Obam-undies and read this post. I can’t wait to send Barry a text about it later.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Further, I also understand that men, as political creatures, must enter into a social contract in which they give up some of their natural liberties in exchange for things such as safety, property protection, and civil society…
If there is one thing that identifies a statist it is the idea of a ‘social contract’. You must be able to control the entering into of an act by which you’ve agreed to any implicit contract.
Your social contract isn’t worth the paper it isn’t written on.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
That is an extremely ignorant statement. Either you are uneducated or you hold extremely radical views.
As I said, the ‘social contract’ idea is not Marxian; it developed out of the modern political thought of the Enlightenment (and, I would argue, has roots in Aristotelian philosophy about the political and social nature of man). You’d probably best recognize it in the works of John Locke, especially in his 2nd Treatise on Civil Government. You know… John Locke… the guy whose ideas were among our founding fathers’ central influences?
This idea of a social contract is reflected in the language of the declaration of independence itself.
I never said that the contract was without consent. When I said that “men, as political creatures, must enter into a social contract,” I was simply implying that it is in the nature of man to live in a society, and therefore some sort of contract must be willingly entered by all citizens.
But alright, I’ll tell Locke and Rousseau that you don’t think their idea of a social contract is worth the paper it’s written on. I’m sure your comments on conservative blogs are much more insightful than their treatises and essays.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
So again, stop with this melo-dramatic, rebel-rousing nonsense. It serves no purpose other than to anger the masses of people without really giving them a factual reason to be angry
I’ll stop with the ‘rebel-rousing’ [sic] the second you stop with the concern trolling. The most overreaching power-grab by this government in generations rammed through by a single-party over the objections of their constituents and you’re here tut-tutting talk show hosts and bloggers [while quoting an imaginary green creature, I might add]…..with ‘moderates’ like you, who needs Nancy Pelosi?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Sorry, I’ll stop “trolling”. I didn’t realize that this blog frowned upon differing opinions.
Have fun constantly agreeing with each other. That’s definitely productive and educational.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Buddy:
First of all read the Declaration of Independence. Secondly, the debate was controlled by the Dems. Commentary on the radio is not counted as floor debate. The debate you refer to occurs between parties discussing legislation in congress – which was impossible because no Dem could have possibly read the entire bill to know what they were debating. Besides, the bill already passed. Thirdly, socialist ideals are sprinkled heavily within this legislation so why is debating socialism off limits? It’s funny how the left can re-define and trample the Constitution so badly that action against tyranny is now considered un-constitutional.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
We have to go after the supreme court decision from
the 1930s that said that the federal government can
regulate under the commerce clause, and the tenth
amendment is irrelevant. That is the justification
they use to uphold the INDIVIDUAL MANDATE.
If the Feds can regulate whether a farmer grows wheat
for his own use then it can punish you for being a ‘slacker’
who does not purchase insurance.
Totalitarians love that interpretation because it
gives the federal govt the power to regulate ANYTHING. That was never intended by the framers
and it needs to be REJECTED. The Libs get away with
this just as they got away with trashing the second
amendment.
Timothy Jost on c-span this morning said that the
Mass court threw out a challenge to their mandate
as frivolous – on that basis. What a flaming Lib.
Those nitwits have a pre-existing condition = stupidity +
arrogance + totalitarianism.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Andrew,
This is nothing more than a money grab. Anyone that thinks otherwise is in for a rude awakening. If the Dems really wanted to increase access to health care and make it more affordable, they would have created legislation that increased market competition within the health care industry. An action that would not require the creation of a new bureaucracy. However, we are now in store for a massive new bureaucracy, tax increases, private sector job losses and reduced accessibility to healthcare (as the industry contracts)… just to name a few. Having said the above, I am less concerned by the manner in which they reached this terrible result and more concerned by the degree of disregard that our elected representatives have for our Constitution. God help us all.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Greg:
+1 Dude!
Money AND power.
As time goes on more aspects of our lives come under the purvue of gov’t.
The more gov’t has power the less freedom we have.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Buddy Glass said:
However, it is NOT one about “socialism” or “communism” versus “liberty”.
No Buddy, it is the case. If today were 1910 and this same universal health measure had just passed, this is exactly the terms that would have been used. Instead, decades of creeping government intervention have so diluted the meaning of true liberty that labeling such a program as “socialist” today is greeted with “extremist” jeers. Socialism in any particular industry is control of the means of production of that industry. Can there be any doubt that this is what our mandated and regulated health care market will soon become? The fact that it is regulated a third of the way there already is no indictment of this “socialist” label – and certainly no reason to call the label extreme. We are frogs in water that is coming to a boil and yet we dare not label this water as “boiling” yet? By the time you agree that we can call it “boiling” there may be no semblance of a constitution by which we can fight back through “approved methods”.
I love this country, and if you love it as much as you say you do, then you will use constitutionally approved methods to manifest your will.
It is precisely a disdain for “constitutionally approved methods” that got us to where we are today. “Constitutionally approved methods” are whatever some judge says they are – no matter how clear you and I think the language is. By all means, lets go ahead and limit ourselves to “constitutionally approved methods” while our freedoms continue to erode. The Constitution is said to be the law of the land and yet I think you and I would agree that there are many current laws which are unconstitutional – even while ruled to be within the bounds of the constitution by the Supreme Court.
What options are left to constitution loving men? I submit that there is only one. Civil disobedience.
“If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so.”
– Thomas Jefferson
Are we willing to undertake this option?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Andrew, fine essay.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I_am_a_lead_pencil,
Do you mind if I call you Pencil? Pencil, most Americans do not understand the Constitution. They do not realize the degree to which their freedoms have been restricted. They do not understand that their rights are given to them by our Creator and not the govt. The people need to be educated. Once educated, the disobedience will begin, but it will take time. The good news is that the seeds of disent have been planted and as long as Obama and his ilk continue their relentless efforts to expand govt control over the people the time frame for public disobediance to take shape will be relatively short.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Greg said:
The people need to be educated.
I don’t mean to sound hopeless today but frankly, I am. How does one do such a thing when the mass media mouthpieces are the gatekeepers? Even Fox only occasionally skims the surface of the topics.
Sheldon Richman had it right:
“No matter how much the government controls the economic system, any problem will be blamed on whatever small zone of freedom remains.”
How does one educate the masses against this backdrop? It’s a losing battle when these same masses are only interested in bathing in other people’s money. The desire for liberty is also a desire for autonomy, self reliance and personal pride. Try instilling that in several generations of dependence-reliant-world-owes-me-a-living sloth’s.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I share your frustration… We have to do it, one person at a time.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Absolutely need to BLOCK any Supreme Court appointments
by Obama, and prevent infiltration of the Judiciary by
these useful idiots. And if they legalize the illegals
and they all get free health insurance – you will be
paying for it. There is definitely a script for the
destruction of america.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Duty Honor Country
These words do not seem to be in the lexicon of the Dems/Libs/Progs.
I spent 21+ years defending the Constitution on the frontiers of freedom both in Europe and the DMZ in Korea. Along the way I helped free Kuwait from Saddam’s tyranny.
I did NOT vote for Obama. I do NOT support the Socialist agenda of those in power.
This heinous action in DC only serves to reinforce my resolve. I will double my efforts and do whatever it takes to counter tyranny.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I’m with you, Andrew. We outnumber the socialists, so we have to charge the front lines. We can beat them.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Lisa makes a great point. We DO OUTNUMBER THE SOCIALISTS. This is a war now and we have defend this Country for future generations.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“I will not settle for anything less than a full repeal AND a rollback of current government regulation, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.”
Been saying this since 7th grade and they all called me crazy. As long as Americans are okay with the status quo we are all doomed. The boomer generations need to think about sacrifice and personal responsibility. When my grandparents were in their twenties no one went to the hospital for free; no one got a handout. You were expected to take care of yourself and your own or perish, and many thrived by their hard work and determination. Now they are old and tired and being taken care of by the government, what a disgrace. Many are drugged and hooked to machines funded by their children and grandchildren. Its really sad so much for letting them finish their lives with dignity, they are being held prisoners by the charity of taxes and inability of “US” to let them go. Boomers your next, step right up, oh wait there are no more drugs and no more machines, whatever shall you do. Take more from the young struggling to start up, that seems fair, you have worked you 40 for 40.
All of this talk is good and all but, what can we do about removing all this New Deal stuff that has been around longer than “we” have been.
Voting for the 3rd party didn’t work out. Remaining silent didn’t work. Being “hard little workers” didn’t do any good, they want us all to be weak and surrender our rights what little was left when we came to be.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The system that was created by these leftists and the resulting devastation to our Nation we a re seeing now is completely unsustainable and will cause a huge redirection. It is which side that redirection will break that is our concern. Will it break left into socialism or will it break right into a restoration of American constitutional repulic principles? That is why this huge movement of the TEA party is important. I AM of those who believe this will be a defining generation and with the continued push and fervor of the TEA party movement the country will break to the side of the constitution. We have to keep our voices strong and weather the onslaught the left with throw at us.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0