Over my lifetime, I have watched personal liberty and freedom slowly ebb away by what appeared to be reasonable explanations about what was “for the public good” from our federal government.
But I am horrified to see how quickly, in the last few months, the federal government has encroached on so many of our individual rights and freedoms – to the point of total socialism. Perhaps the former Soviet leader, Kruschev, was right when he said that America “won’t accept communism outright, but we’ll keep feeding you small doses of socialism until you’ll finally wake up and find you already have communism.”
Our own government now wants to force me to have health care, pay even more taxes, limit the amount of money I can make, limit the size of car I drive, and not allow me to choose the school my child attends. What on earth has happened to the Land of the Free?
I have had it. I, along with many Americans, have had it. I want my country back! But I am exasperated that so many people seem to swallow this without thought.
I encourage others to call, email, fax, and personally visit on a regular basis their state and federal senators and representatives to express their opposition to anything that expands government.
I don’t consider myself an activist but I will gladly join the ranks at the Capitol Steps in Salem on September 12, 2009, in a show of numbers supporting the March on Washington, D.C. on that same day to protest taxes, the socialization of our nation, and violations of our constitution.
Others like me can sign up for the March on Salem at www.marchonsalem.com.
Dane Smith, Springfield
This article appears in Aug 13-19, 2009.
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Wow, if you are angry now about “rights” being taken away I can only imagine how angry you were when your “rights” actually were taken away by George W. Bush. I can only assume you are so angry now because you campaigned against the Republicans when you saw this wrong done by them and now feel slighted somehow.
You really need to learn something called “critical thinking”. Unfortunately it seems the majority of American citizens no longer know how to do this. You provide an excellent example by spouting about socialism when you obviously don’t even know what socialism is and are willing to accept what some pundit spouts as fact.
I’ll tell you what, the biggest form of “socialism” we currently have in this country is social security and medicare. Since you are so opposed to “socialism” how about agreeing to not collect any payments from those programs?
Gurky,
Name one right that was taken from you under Bush. Can you do that?
The too, people like you seem to ignore the fact that Social Security, Medicare, etc., are consuming the majority of the budget, and will be bankrupt before the “baby boomers” can collect what they have put in to it.
And then there is the common argument from those of little understanding that one who disagrees with the programs should not collect from it. So, tell me, are you then willing to return all that has been taken from the individual if he agrees not to collect any payments? Or should he just allow that money to be redistributed to others?
Would you agree to make contributing to SS, or medicare, voluntary?
Swipiece at it again!!!
“not to collect any payments? Or should he just allow that money to be redistributed to others?”
I’ll agree to this if I can have all my money that has been wasted on the Iraq war…
Also. Can you tell all the people 65+ that you know that you don’t want Medicare anymore, that it should be gotten rid of? Then duck
See… this is the problem with the “libertarian minded” amongst us… they just don’t GET that we live in a society. With them, it’s all ME, ME, ME, ME, ME
Steerpile says:
Swipiece at it again!!!
“not to collect any payments? Or should he just allow that money to be redistributed to others?”
I’ll agree to this if I can have all my money that has been wasted on the Iraq war…
Also. Can you tell all the people 65+ that you know that you don’t want Medicare anymore, that it should be gotten rid of? Then duck
See… this is the problem with the “libertarian minded” amongst us… they just don’t GET that we live in a society. With them, it’s all ME, ME, ME, ME, ME”
Ahhh, the Iraq war excuse again hey.
Can I have all of the money I have put in that pays for the welfare of the lazy, and slovenly? How about all of the money spent on a failed education program, orf for Pell Grants to kids that never graduate? How about all of the worthless research that the feds pay for such as for “global warming”? How about all of the money given to Planned Parenthood so they can perform abortions? How about all of the money that is wasted, or fraudently spent?
What you clearly show is the truth about you, and your “me,me,me” attitude. Seniors have paid into the system for 40+ years, the welfare bums have never paid into the system.
As I pointed out before, medicare is not that great of a deal. One still has to purchase private insurance to cover what medicare does not pay, or for medications not covered.
However, it is your “opinion” that those who have never contributed to the system have just as much “right” to the healthcare others have earned.
That is th e problem with those who only think of how they can get something for nothing, and deprive others of what they have earned.