Americans are scared. We cower and run to the government every time our security seems threatened.

We ran to the government because we feared what would happen to us in our old age...so we created social security.

We ran to the government because we feared for the well being of those we deemed less fortunate....so...we created the welfare system.

We ran to the government because we fear that our nation will be invaded taken over by some dangerous foreign interlopers...so..we allowed those in power assemble the massive industrial military complex we current have.

We ran to the government because we feared that our environment was becoming unhealthy...so...we created the EPA.

We feared that businesses and industries were unsafe places to work...so ..we created OSHA.

We fear that we cant afford to go to a physician and that we will die because we cant afford health insurance...so...this week we ran to the government and created National Health Care.

The above is just a short list of things we as Americans fear and have ran to the government for protection against. Each item adding to the bureaucracy that we are currently strapped with and the financial obligations that are associated with these bureaucracies.

We as Americans never stopped for a second and considered that the most powerful force ever generated from the liberty our forefathers gave us..THE FREE MARKET..might just be capable of handling these things without running to the government.

We have abandoned the power of the marketplace in favor of the power of government due to our FEARS. What we should have FEARED are those in power with the monopoly on the use of force,and the will and weapons to back it up. We have become slaves in a very comfortable plantation because of our fears.

How many more times will we run to the government because we are scared before we simply run out of ways to finance the solutions?

I say it is now too late. We have set the path to our demise and turning back now is all but an impossibility. Prepare for the worst.

Fear.........................the only reason fools give power to other humans (flawed, f'ed up, crazy, stupid, drug using, lame, gay...........etc.) to control them.


Me, myself and I. F U
I was born, I learned the rules, I'm playing the game.

If you think about it, fear is how governments and just about all religions keep the sheep in line.

(03-23-2010 07:08 PM)cb4029 Wrote:  Fear.........................the only reason fools give power to other humans (flawed, f'ed up, crazy, stupid, drug using, lame, gay...........etc.) to control them.


Me, myself and I. F U
I was born, I learned the rules, I'm playing the game.

Word.
Im afraid my friend... that the "game" in the future is going to played on a field where the goalpost keeps moving...further and further away with each play.

(03-23-2010 07:29 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  If you think about it, fear is how governments and just about all religions keep the sheep in line.

I don't think that's completely true.

(03-23-2010 07:48 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 07:29 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  If you think about it, fear is how governments and just about all religions keep the sheep in line.

I don't think that's completely true.

Governments keep you in line with laws that, if broken, require jail, fines, or both.

Religions keep you in line by using the fear of what will happen to you in the afterlife.

While both have good intentions, without consequences, they have no real power.

(03-23-2010 07:52 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 07:48 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 07:29 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  If you think about it, fear is how governments and just about all religions keep the sheep in line.

I don't think that's completely true.

Governments keep you in line with laws that, if broken, require jail, fines, or both.

Religions keep you in line by using the fear of what will happen to you in the afterlife.

While both have good intentions, without consequences, they have no real power.

No real power? Pointing a gun at someone (as gov't forces are inclined to do) doesn't provide power?

As for religion, I'm not sure how Buddhism uses fear.

(03-23-2010 07:29 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  If you think about it, fear is how governments and just about all religions keep the sheep in line.

This is the problem I have with you f'n atheists. You can't just say you disagree. You have to insult. Do I look like a f'n sheep to you?

(03-23-2010 08:39 PM)Rebel Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 07:29 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  If you think about it, fear is how governments and just about all religions keep the sheep in line.

This is the problem I have with you f'n atheists. You can't just say you disagree. You have to insult. Do I look like a f'n sheep to you?

I have a friend who is a devout Catholic. We went to NO for a weekend together with the wives and basically went on a 48hr bender. We left a bar that was adjacent to a Catholic church on Sunday AM...He looks at me and say.."Give me 20 minutes...I have to go to mass". I said..."Now?...damn..your drunk!". He says..."So what?..It does not matter...Man..I'm scared not to go." True story I sat and watched several others in his similar condition stagger in also.

(03-23-2010 08:39 PM)Rebel Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 07:29 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  If you think about it, fear is how governments and just about all religions keep the sheep in line.

This is the problem I have with you f'n atheists. You can't just say you disagree. You have to insult. Do I look like a f'n sheep to you?

Damn, Reb I thought your skin was thicker than this.
You ain't mad is ya.

(03-23-2010 08:59 PM)cb4029 Wrote:  Damn, Reb I thought your skin was thicker than this.
You ain't mad is ya.

I do, and you normally see me staying out of religious threads unless people like me are being slammed. I just don't like being slammed by someone that I had so much in common with. I can accept the slamming from the rest of the looters and moochers like you. That isn't a problem.

Oh, forgot,

(03-23-2010 08:39 PM)Rebel Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 07:29 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  If you think about it, fear is how governments and just about all religions keep the sheep in line.

This is the problem I have with you f'n atheists. You can't just say you disagree. You have to insult. Do I look like a f'n sheep to you?

No insult intended. Most of my family is extremely religious as is my wife. I respect people who are religious, and, at times, envy them a little bit. I would imagine they have a better sense of comfort believing there's something waiting for them when they die. Trust me, I would not insult religion just because I'm not religious, but I might be a little critical if religion intrudes into my life....like what Muslims are trying to do these days.

BTW, in the early 1900's I believe one of the reasons Russia outlawed religion was because they wanted the government to lead the people, not the churches.

(03-23-2010 06:25 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  Americans are scared. We cower and run to the government every time our security seems threatened.

We ran to the government because we feared what would happen to us in our old age...so we created social security.

We ran to the government because we feared for the well being of those we deemed less fortunate....so...we created the welfare system.

We ran to the government because we fear that our nation will be invaded taken over by some dangerous foreign interlopers...so..we allowed those in power assemble the massive industrial military complex we current have.

We ran to the government because we feared that our environment was becoming unhealthy...so...we created the EPA.

We feared that businesses and industries were unsafe places to work...so ..we created OSHA.

We fear that we cant afford to go to a physician and that we will die because we cant afford health insurance...so...this week we ran to the government and created National Health Care.

The above is just a short list of things we as Americans fear and have ran to the government for protection against. Each item adding to the bureaucracy that we are currently strapped with and the financial obligations that are associated with these bureaucracies.

We as Americans never stopped for a second and considered that the most powerful force ever generated from the liberty our forefathers gave us..THE FREE MARKET..might just be capable of handling these things without running to the government.

We have abandoned the power of the marketplace in favor of the power of government due to our FEARS. What we should have FEARED are those in power with the monopoly on the use of force,and the will and weapons to back it up. We have become slaves in a very comfortable plantation because of our fears.

How many more times will we run to the government because we are scared before we simply run out of ways to finance the solutions?

I say it is now too late. We have set the path to our demise and turning back now is all but an impossibility. Prepare for the worst.

I believe an important understanding of government HAS to include the realization that outside of a very few very specialized security / military / law enforcement individuals, every single government employee is just a regular Joe, putting on his pants just like you and me, BBQ'ing on the weekends, going to soccer games on Wednesdays, and fvcking around on the internets on Friday afternoons. In effect, the government is just people exactly like you and your neighbor, simple, Average Joes.

And yet we as a society has ceded our security, our individuality, our liberties to people, who in every way shape and form, are no more important, no more spectacular, no more skilled than your neighbor..... Maybe even less so! I know it is so, because I was once one of those Average Joes helping to direct public policy!!

Tyranny of the masses, indeed. Pavlov's Dogs, Zimbardo's Stanford Experiment etc. So completely aggravating.

If I wanted the government to protect me as much as the government wanted to protect me, then find those few exemplary individuals who deserve our cower.

(03-23-2010 09:57 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 08:39 PM)Rebel Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 07:29 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  If you think about it, fear is how governments and just about all religions keep the sheep in line.

This is the problem I have with you f'n atheists. You can't just say you disagree. You have to insult. Do I look like a f'n sheep to you?

No insult intended. Most of my family is extremely religious as is my wife. I respect people who are religious, and, at times, envy them a little bit. I would imagine they have a better sense of comfort believing there's something waiting for them when they die. Trust me, I would not insult religion just because I'm not religious, but I might be a little critical if religion intrudes into my life....like what Muslims are trying to do these days.

You just called us all sheep. Yeah, no insult intended.

Whatever.

(03-23-2010 09:46 PM)Rebel Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 08:59 PM)cb4029 Wrote:  Damn, Reb I thought your skin was thicker than this.
You ain't mad is ya.

I do, and you normally see me staying out of religious threads unless people like me are being slammed. I just don't like being slammed by someone that I had so much in common with. I can accept the slamming from the rest of the looters and moochers like you. That isn't a problem.

Oh, forgot,

LOL

(03-23-2010 10:20 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 06:25 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  Americans are scared. We cower and run to the government every time our security seems threatened.

We ran to the government because we feared what would happen to us in our old age...so we created social security.

We ran to the government because we feared for the well being of those we deemed less fortunate....so...we created the welfare system.

We ran to the government because we fear that our nation will be invaded taken over by some dangerous foreign interlopers...so..we allowed those in power assemble the massive industrial military complex we current have.

We ran to the government because we feared that our environment was becoming unhealthy...so...we created the EPA.

We feared that businesses and industries were unsafe places to work...so ..we created OSHA.

We fear that we cant afford to go to a physician and that we will die because we cant afford health insurance...so...this week we ran to the government and created National Health Care.

The above is just a short list of things we as Americans fear and have ran to the government for protection against. Each item adding to the bureaucracy that we are currently strapped with and the financial obligations that are associated with these bureaucracies.

We as Americans never stopped for a second and considered that the most powerful force ever generated from the liberty our forefathers gave us..THE FREE MARKET..might just be capable of handling these things without running to the government.

We have abandoned the power of the marketplace in favor of the power of government due to our FEARS. What we should have FEARED are those in power with the monopoly on the use of force,and the will and weapons to back it up. We have become slaves in a very comfortable plantation because of our fears.

How many more times will we run to the government because we are scared before we simply run out of ways to finance the solutions?

I say it is now too late. We have set the path to our demise and turning back now is all but an impossibility. Prepare for the worst.

I believe an important understanding of government HAS to include the realization that outside of a very few very specialized security / military / law enforcement individuals, every single government employee is just a regular Joe, putting on his pants just like you and me, BBQ'ing on the weekends, going to soccer games on Wednesdays, and fvcking around on the internets on Friday afternoons. In effect, the government is just people exactly like you and your neighbor, simple, Average Joes.

And yet we as a society has ceded our security, our individuality, our liberties to people, who in every way shape and form, are no more important, no more spectacular, no more skilled than your neighbor..... Maybe even less so! I know it is so, because I was once one of those Average Joes helping to direct public policy!!

Tyranny of the masses, indeed. Pavlov's Dogs, Zimbardo's Stanford Experiment etc. So completely aggravating.

If I wanted the government to protect me as much as the government wanted to protect me, then find those few exemplary individuals who deserve our cower.

yes. BTW...I hold no animosity towards bureaucrats. I understand they are just trying to earn a living. I would just rather them do so in the marketplace. Currently that is not the paradigm we live under.

(03-23-2010 11:01 PM)Rebel Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 09:57 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 08:39 PM)Rebel Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 07:29 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  If you think about it, fear is how governments and just about all religions keep the sheep in line.

This is the problem I have with you f'n atheists. You can't just say you disagree. You have to insult. Do I look like a f'n sheep to you?

No insult intended. Most of my family is extremely religious as is my wife. I respect people who are religious, and, at times, envy them a little bit. I would imagine they have a better sense of comfort believing there's something waiting for them when they die. Trust me, I would not insult religion just because I'm not religious, but I might be a little critical if religion intrudes into my life....like what Muslims are trying to do these days.

You just called us all sheep. Yeah, no insult intended.

Whatever.

Don't priests call their parishioners their flock?

(03-24-2010 10:23 AM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 11:01 PM)Rebel Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 09:57 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 08:39 PM)Rebel Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 07:29 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  If you think about it, fear is how governments and just about all religions keep the sheep in line.

This is the problem I have with you f'n atheists. You can't just say you disagree. You have to insult. Do I look like a f'n sheep to you?

No insult intended. Most of my family is extremely religious as is my wife. I respect people who are religious, and, at times, envy them a little bit. I would imagine they have a better sense of comfort believing there's something waiting for them when they die. Trust me, I would not insult religion just because I'm not religious, but I might be a little critical if religion intrudes into my life....like what Muslims are trying to do these days.

You just called us all sheep. Yeah, no insult intended.

Whatever.

Don't priests call their parishioners their flock?

(03-24-2010 10:23 AM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 11:01 PM)Rebel Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 09:57 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 08:39 PM)Rebel Wrote:  

(03-23-2010 07:29 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  If you think about it, fear is how governments and just about all religions keep the sheep in line.

This is the problem I have with you f'n atheists. You can't just say you disagree. You have to insult. Do I look like a f'n sheep to you?

No insult intended. Most of my family is extremely religious as is my wife. I respect people who are religious, and, at times, envy them a little bit. I would imagine they have a better sense of comfort believing there's something waiting for them when they die. Trust me, I would not insult religion just because I'm not religious, but I might be a little critical if religion intrudes into my life....like what Muslims are trying to do these days.

You just called us all sheep. Yeah, no insult intended.

Whatever.

Don't priests call their parishioners their flock?

Wouldn't know. I don't have a parishioner.

(03-23-2010 06:25 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  Americans are scared. We cower and run to the government every time our security seems threatened.

We ran to the government because we feared what would happen to us in our old age...so we created social security.

We ran to the government because we feared for the well being of those we deemed less fortunate....so...we created the welfare system.

We ran to the government because we fear that our nation will be invaded taken over by some dangerous foreign interlopers...so..we allowed those in power assemble the massive industrial military complex we current have.

We ran to the government because we feared that our environment was becoming unhealthy...so...we created the EPA.

We feared that businesses and industries were unsafe places to work...so ..we created OSHA.

We fear that we cant afford to go to a physician and that we will die because we cant afford health insurance...so...this week we ran to the government and created National Health Care.

The above is just a short list of things we as Americans fear and have ran to the government for protection against. Each item adding to the bureaucracy that we are currently strapped with and the financial obligations that are associated with these bureaucracies.

We as Americans never stopped for a second and considered that the most powerful force ever generated from the liberty our forefathers gave us..THE FREE MARKET..might just be capable of handling these things without running to the government.

We have abandoned the power of the marketplace in favor of the power of government due to our FEARS. What we should have FEARED are those in power with the monopoly on the use of force,and the will and weapons to back it up. We have become slaves in a very comfortable plantation because of our fears.

How many more times will we run to the government because we are scared before we simply run out of ways to finance the solutions?

I say it is now too late. We have set the path to our demise and turning back now is all but an impossibility. Prepare for the worst.

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security."
~Benjamin Franklin