Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Clinton's Scandals: Is this corruption the worst ever? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: D PARKER who wrote (11724)	2/15/1999 3:58:00 PM
From: mrknowitall	Respond to of 13994

D - re: "It is generally agreed to that the most basic function of government (in this country) is to secure the rights and freedoms of individual citizens." I'm sorry, I have to respectfully disagree to a large extent. The most basic function of our government is to justify its existence by performing certain tasks that individuals abrogate to it. Its most basic role today is more the opposite of "securing the rights and freedoms." It is, by and large, in the business of broadening and securing its power over individuals. Were it not, we would have fewer laws and regulations instead of more. Our government has convinced too many of us that we are incapable of handling our own affairs and that it must be the answer. Our freedoms include life (to some degree as we see fit as long as we don't condemn certain lifestyles or actions publicly), liberty (to the degree that we accept the ruling class' political whims) and property (only to the extent that we are perpetually in debt to some government entity for the taxes thereon). Your quote of Paine is particularly appropriate - we are now being bludgeoned into another politically-correct idea: If you are powerful and are popular enough among the ignorant, you not only can, but you in fact, should be able to avoid consequences, and woe be unto those who dare to challenge you. We are indeed, on a slippery slope, and I don't see any lifelines being thrown our way. Always remember - it is good to be King. Mr. K.