Ken I do write and email my congressman. Recently concerning evironmental concers. His email and phone system were full so I guess many wrote to him. He did not vote the way I would have wanted, since he is an Alabama Democrat and former mayor of Montgomery. The difference between you and I is that you expect your letters and emails to be followed to the T. You probably are a would be dictator expecting your every word to be followed. Democracy does not work that way my friend.

While his statement is true it fails to point out that in this country anyone can own and manage a press or printing shop and I suggest they do. Diverse opinion is everywhere.

Sounds like he is talking firstly about NPR, the McNeal Laurer Report, Katie Couric in the first part and Rush Limbaugh in the second part.

I guess I am to assume that you did not and do not vote Ken. I'm sorry and saddened I really am.

This quote reminds me only of Rush Limbaugh who imposes his big mouth stupidity on millions of willing and adoring ninconpoops. David will you prove that you are a natural born citizen!

I think Teddy meant "those who vote". Freedom loving people are those who vote. As far as handouts in the US it is Alsakans that "take the cake" with every man, woman and child getting close to $2,000 of socialized oil money. Outside the US it is the oil rich Kuwait'is who are on the the oil dole and we fought and died to defend the socialist slobs. So why do y'all complain about others here that might get a little help when they need it. What am I missing in your argument Jim K. or is it that you love Alaskans and Kuwait but hate Americans.

The man was an idiot and yes as Reston said still pulls wool over floks eyes. If he had known anything about America and Self-Government he would have known that government in the US is US or WE. By the way did all you folks vote, if you did you are the government, if you did not well you are not the government.

The dilemma is one of short term vs. long term. Pleasure being short term and happiness long term. All work and no play makes us dull. All play and no work makes us dull.

Carlton, Mr. Mencken wrote this some time prior to 1956, so what government is he talking about. You obviously think he wrote it yesterday and his target was Obama. Shallow you are today my friend.

"Everyone" knows no such thing Archer. No such thing. The failue of you and others to support your constabulary whether local, state, or national is what we need to fear. Lack of such support is the height of ninkcompoop behaviour.

Histories of democratic institutions (congresses, parliaments etcetera) will bear out the truth to what I have written

Totally and absolutely false. Democratic institutions evolve and change and are at the whim of the people. This whim is the essence of freedom, to be free to change. Those of you, and you know who you are, that would like things written down hard and fast like or dictated by one or just a few (or preferable by yourself) to be followed by the many are the ones to be feared as a threat to the freedom of the many.

What kind of government is he talking about. The US people and their society have been among, if not the most, inventive and creative people in history and may still be. If you accept that premise then it would appear to say that our government has not been the kind that is uptight about inventiveness or one that has many established superstitions or taboos. As usual the above three commentators our out there in some kind of strange voodoo land where up is down, left is right, and facts are fictions, and fictions are facts.

Law defines are relationships to each other and to our natural environment. Children no nothing of law and parents teach them one day at a time the rules to be followed if they choose to live among men. Traveling out west a 12 year old niece of mine carved her name in a beautiful natural rock point of interest. I rubbed it out and explained to her that it is okay for her but if every visitor carved their name there wouldi be no point of interest left. This is what laws and rules do preserve and protect mans relationships with each other and his environment. The best law common sense.

And the Feds have to become more vigilant at the SEC, the IRS and all of those other vigilant enforcers. As soon as they lack vigilance we get the Madoff's and 100's of others that will rob us of our liberty, money and lives.

Is this any different than what Jesus taught us, if you will but listen and learn. Did he not say "Love your enemies". Now you may not have to stap them in the back but you can disarm them if you show them love. Hate begets hate and violence begets violence. Tokugawa or his translators need to check their spelling on thoughg. Certainly it is not defence but defense.

While we all treasure the idea of self-government the greed and avarice of the rich and powerful apparently knows no bounds. Take Madoff for exhibit 1. What does not get checked or audited goes awry. History has proven that those who are able to put their hands in the cookie jar are not capable of self-government and must be watched very closely.

To much stuff J really to much stuff. As Shakespear said I thinketh thou protesteth to much. When Clinton passed assault weapons control Reagan and Bush one said "Why yes that is just common sense and Reagan added, hell we already have that in Californina" While they called it common sense they had no balls to do anything about it when they could." Where has all the common sense gone and where have all the brave politicians gone men like Clinton." An Ernest Hemingway son said the other day, "My dad hunted and played with guns becasue it made him feel more like a man." The son further went on to say "I think my Dad was really insecure about his manhood, that is why he plays with guns." I have but don't play with them to much. Anyway as you well know all the guns, at least those in the hands of men under age 45, are ultimately under the command and control of Obama as Commander In Chief. All men under 45 are part of the militia, either the organized or unorganized militia. Now presumably if the old folk with guns attack the government we could have a generational war of the young under The President against us old timers. Now the young could become traitors to The Constitution, but God forbid such thoughts. As a knowledable friend told me if a criminally minded person is close enough for you to use a handgun he is already to close, better off with a shotgun.

Slavery was a form of socialism,, jobs were assigned, you had no freedom of choice but you were such as it was provided for. It is just a little ironic that Jefferson was able to right his wonderful words but overlook his slaves at times, that is all.

PS: Read the previous quote, once declared independence must be defended. The several colonies could not have done it independently, which raises an interesting philosophical question. Can pure independence ever truly exist? Does independence need allies?

I agree but the independent colonies would have not stayed that way without cooperation and union. They would have gotten picked off one by one by European powers. They would have started dissembling and arguing and yes fighting among themselves. Cooperation among mankind in larger and larger spheres brings peace and prosperity.

I don't think Cal knows a thing about what socialism is or is not. The Pilgrims and Puritans were highly organized and planned communities, not to mention things like the Shakers, Amish, and Amana communities. Jefferson himself ran a large plantation on which it could be argued he ran a form of socialism. Cal or his friends and neighbors probably drive cars made in foreign countries where they practice so called socialized medicine and he probably buys most of his goods made in Communist China. Lets get real and quit talking in labels.

Yeah hand guns are about useless. As knowledgeable gun owners have told me if a criminally minded person is close enough to you for you to use a handgun he is already to close and you probably do not stand a chance. They are basically useless but do fulfill some pscho purpose in us is what I think. As far as owning them to take on government always remember that all men under the age of 45 are part of the militia and come under the command of the Commander In Chief. That is Obama.

They were not declaring independence from rule, organization or order. They were operating within an organization and acting to rule themselves by creating a Continental Congress and raising an army. Reading the Declaration as if it were a broadside against any and all rule is a false reading, it was a declaration against the rule of King George.

That the patriots had no nationalist, fraternal or feelings of brotherhood as Archer would have us believe is a damnable lie. No war is ever won without unit cohesion and the Continental Army and George Washington had unit cohesion. We have had it ever since.