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Politics : Dutch Central Bank Sale Announcement Imminent? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Alan Whirlwind who wrote (14424)	6/14/2002 5:30:57 PM
From: sea_urchin	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 80904

Al >Personally I find there is more freedom now than say 20 years ago I was particularly struck by this point which you made which, after all, is the "bottom line" of what it's all about. So if you, as a US citizen, are happy with the arrangements being made, particularly in a changing society, then who am I to cast aspersions. I am also aware that the USA of today is a very different place from what it was 50 or 100 years ago. In fact, in terms of its racial composition and diversity of languages, it is very different from the predominately white, Anglo-Saxon country it once was. In the circumstances, I accept that a "universal" ideology and pattern of thinking is impossible to achieve. Indeed, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the US has gone thru, and is going thru, a social revolution, and indeed to some extent, similar to that which we in South Africa have experienced. It is, perhaps, for this reason that I, as a non-American, am so concerned about what happens in the US. Because the US provides the template for government which all other governments have to align with, if the US government becomes tyrannical or fascistic or overtly dishonest then so do the others. Indeed, if it were not for the Magna Carta, the French Revolution and the US Bill of Rights then it's conceivable that all governments would be tyrannical. I can assure you that freedom of the citizenry and respect for individual rights is not something that comes easily to governments in Africa. However, it's my observation that, despite your assertion that your "freedom" has not been violated, 911 has been a watershed in the balance between freedom and tyranny in the US and since that time the present US government has taken unto itself powers which were previously considered necessary only in war-time. Yes, I know the US considers itself to be at war etc etc........as the piece by Harry Browne suggests. --------------------- I have to say Harry Browne has been one of the most important luminaries in my life. For many years, and through many difficult times, his book, "How I found Freedom in an Unfree World" lay next to my bed and I used to read it, like a bible, almost every night. When I had difficult decisions to make, I would refer to it because, to me, freedom is even more important than happiness. So, in the circumstances, because of my special relationship with him (a relationship which he doesn't even know about!), I regard whatever he says as "gospel".