Well, it's good to know that we have fundamental philosophical differences.
We have more to fear from chaos (at this point) than authority.
My response: I am much more afraid of tens of thousands of police in riot gear on the streets and the suspension of the constitution than I am of few vandals who could be controlled easily by a few arrests.
But then I LIKE repression
Whew. Okay. Let's just say I hope you never get your like in my lifetime!
when I have to balance two
Constitutional issues, I am inclined to be repressive and reactionary, because most
people are not cerebral and restrained enough to handle freedom correctly.
Well, there goes the basic principle on which our form of government is based. As Matt Drudge pointed out the other day, when Clinton spoke of the responsibility of governments to empower citizens, he said clearly, Mr. President, you have it backwards. In our country, it is the citizens who empower government.
Let's keep firmly and unequivocally in mind that our country was founded in direct opposition to the concept that governments draw their power (as had been previously believed) from God. Our government is of, by, and for the people. No "the state is I" here. (Would have been more impressive if I could have recalled the original French, but I can't right now.) The state here is WE THE PEOPLE. We formed this government, we can unform it any time we don't like it.
Jefferson: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots." The Seattle protestors are, among other things, reminding us just whose country this is.
I think it keeps the truly weird
and aberrant in check better than anything else
Hmmm. But some might well think that a respectable married woman who takes on the nom-de-internet of the science fiction character X the Unknown is herself one of the weird and aberrant! <g> |
