The left has only been concerned with “individual” liberities and freedom of speech for those that agree with them. When it comes to the opposition, they try to shut it down quickly as possible, because they don’t want to discuss either the flaws in their own logic, or their ultimate goals. The left has as much interest in big government and big corporations as the right. In that regard they are one in the same. The difference is how they want to control those entities. But they do want control.

Cut the rhetoric indeed. Take your own mandate to heart. Stop letting the left do your thinking. Think for yourself.

Oh and the wealthy have taken us for a ride. Wasn’t it the government who decided to get involved in private business? Talk about being taken for a ride. Now we have to pay taxes to keep companies alive that couldn’t do it themselves. Talk about being taken for a ride.

As far as the right rhetoric I’m sick of it too…. Most Americans are centrists whether they want to admit it or not. They want their freedoms, don’t want to infringe on their fellow man, and don’t want the government lording over them… Seems we fought a revolution for those goals…. But I may be wrong.

The left has only been concerned with “individual” liberities and freedom of speech for those that agree with them. When it comes to the opposition, they try to shut it down quickly as possible, because they don’t want to discuss either the flaws in their own logic, or their ultimate goals. The left has as much interest in big government and big corporations as the right. In that regard they are one in the same. The difference is how they want to control those entities. But they do want control.

Cut the rhetoric indeed. Take your own mandate to heart. Stop letting the left do your thinking. Think for yourself.

Oh and the wealthy have taken us for a ride. Wasn’t it the government who decided to get involved in private business? Talk about being taken for a ride. Now we have to pay taxes to keep companies alive that couldn’t do it themselves. Talk about being taken for a ride.

As far as the right rhetoric I’m sick of it too…. Most Americans are centrists whether they want to admit it or not. They want their freedoms, don’t want to infringe on their fellow man, and don’t want the government lording over them… Seems we fought a revolution for those goals…. But I may be wrong.

Wouldn’t seem fair, would it?

Furthermore, individualism is most stifled by culture, not government. What about the individuals that were burned by the Spanish Inquisition? Or in the Salem Witch Trials? What about the individuals that were persecuted during the red scares? In point of fact, the left has produced more “individuals” than the right ever has; the right has the strongest party-line vote, and conservatism is historically responsible for just as much suppression of the individual will as communism.

Collectivism is not opposite to freedom, necessarily. In fact, I’m not sure what collectivism even means. It seems to me that our republic functions collectively, whether we like it or not. Ron Paul’s recent essay (I think it was called “Democracy is not Freedom”) should shed some light here.

Who on the left is limiting freedom of speech? Historically, the left has been more concerned with individual liberties than the right. Recent trends towards libertarianism on the right are perhaps moving in a good direction, but the fact is that civil rights are originally a leftist idea (see Rousseau or the Magna Carta).

Freedom has rarely been limited by the left except in cases where large corporations and banking interests have taken advantage of their overwhelming power over the economy and the rights of their laborers. In fact, I’m not quite sure what freedoms you’re talking about. The most recent rightist government (the Bush/Cheney regime) has done more to limit the freedom than perhaps any other this century (if not longer). For example, they have largely done away with the implied right to privacy; they have revoked the right of Habeas Corpus if you are arbitrarily deemed an “enemy combatant;” they have escalated the cash-guzzling war on drugs (talk about personal freedom to choose); they have authorized warrantless search and wiretapping at least in terms of data if not in terms of physical property. Great role models, right? These wealthy businessmen have taken you all for a ride and convinced you to drive the car and pay for the gas.

Cut the rhetoric. In the end, the so-called right wants freedom no more or less than the so-called left. Attributing false motives to the left is no way to gain real, intelligent support of your ideas. At best it’s propaganda and at worst it’s stupidity. I applaud these individuals for recognizing where their beliefs differ from the party-line and for exercising their individualism in “turning their back” on the right. It’s stuff like this article that makes me wonder why more people haven’t done so already.

Wouldn’t seem fair, would it?

Furthermore, individualism is most stifled by culture, not government. What about the individuals that were burned by the Spanish Inquisition? Or in the Salem Witch Trials? What about the individuals that were persecuted during the red scares? In point of fact, the left has produced more “individuals” than the right ever has; the right has the strongest party-line vote, and conservatism is historically responsible for just as much suppression of the individual will as communism.

Collectivism is not opposite to freedom, necessarily. In fact, I’m not sure what collectivism even means. It seems to me that our republic functions collectively, whether we like it or not. Ron Paul’s recent essay (I think it was called “Democracy is not Freedom”) should shed some light here.

Who on the left is limiting freedom of speech? Historically, the left has been more concerned with individual liberties than the right. Recent trends towards libertarianism on the right are perhaps moving in a good direction, but the fact is that civil rights are originally a leftist idea (see Rousseau or the Magna Carta).

Freedom has rarely been limited by the left except in cases where large corporations and banking interests have taken advantage of their overwhelming power over the economy and the rights of their laborers. In fact, I’m not quite sure what freedoms you’re talking about. The most recent rightist government (the Bush/Cheney regime) has done more to limit the freedom than perhaps any other this century (if not longer). For example, they have largely done away with the implied right to privacy; they have revoked the right of Habeas Corpus if you are arbitrarily deemed an “enemy combatant;” they have escalated the cash-guzzling war on drugs (talk about personal freedom to choose); they have authorized warrantless search and wiretapping at least in terms of data if not in terms of physical property. Great role models, right? These wealthy businessmen have taken you all for a ride and convinced you to drive the car and pay for the gas.

Cut the rhetoric. In the end, the so-called right wants freedom no more or less than the so-called left. Attributing false motives to the left is no way to gain real, intelligent support of your ideas. At best it’s propaganda and at worst it’s stupidity. I applaud these individuals for recognizing where their beliefs differ from the party-line and for exercising their individualism in “turning their back” on the right. It’s stuff like this article that makes me wonder why more people haven’t done so already.

Happy New Year!
Rod

Happy New Year!
Rod