And that's exactly what happens when we let the fear of terrorism get to us, when we allow the government to act outside the power granted to them in the Constitution. People like you will kill this country, you will enable the government with all it needs to secure its total power, and you'll do it with a smile. Government isn't some benevolent, all loving, all caring sort of thing; it's interest is only to proliferate its power. That's why We the People are supposed to be in control, that is why We the People chained the abilities of the government with the Constitution. But now people want to cash in our freedom for a little bit of safety, they will forgive and accept government's proliferation of its power; live with its indiscretions against our freedom, liberty, and rights, allow the government to usurp power it was never meant to have all so they can feel a little bit safer at night. Government is not a night light, it will not protect us; it will sit and gather all the power it can and then will turn on us. That is the nature of the beast, and that is why the founders warned us so animately against trusting government, told us to watch them and keep our Republic.

If we wish to remain free, we will have to work hard at it. We will have to shoulder the responsibilities of freedom, and accept all consequences of being free. As it stands today, we are not a democracy; nor should we ever become one. 60% can go suck an egg if that 60% wishes to infringe upon my rights, wants to expand the government, wants to crap all over the Constitution, and spit in the face of the founders.

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WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

Where did I EVER say I'm for giving the government "total power???" Each branch of our government has it's own set of powers and authority. And each branch is a check to the other branch. Our forefathers were pretty darned smart in how it was set up. On the NSA spying.....Pres. Bush did what he was required to do: keep the Congress and Senate infomed. And that's what he's done all throughout this program.


That's a lot of Chicken Little: "the sky is falling; the sky is falling" talk. What kind of country do you think we live in? "the government will sit and gather all the power it can and then will turn on us?" That's the most absurd thing I've heard of. Give me one example of when our government has ever turned on the people?

And you think that's what is happening? How? Give specific examples.

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"This is a time for a national imperative not to fail in Iraq." Condoleeza Rice, January 11, 2007

It is no chicken little scenario, the course of history has shown what happens when governments dominate the people. We have seen what has happened, and we have seen the course government sets itself upon. It is why the founders went to such lengths to warn against letting the government do as it wishes. Each branch is supposed to have separate powers, and each branch is supposed to be held in check by the other two. But we have most certainly seen a mixing of the branches. With executive orders and judicial oversteps; we have both the executive and judicial branch legislating with no outrage from Congress. Even something like FISA has no congressional oversight, hence no check. We have things like the patriot act, which does have a section that would allow the government a way around the 4th amendment, we have spying on American people without warrants and no check from the other two branches. The government is seizing power it wasn't meant to have, and they are doing so in the name of some fear. Make the people fearful enough, and they will happily hand over their rights. But this is why we must remember we are a Republic; not a pure democracy. We have rights, and it doesn't matter what the majority wants; if what the majority wants infringes upon the rights of others than they don't get their way. There are very important reasons to keep government in check, the proliferation of freedom and liberty is dependent upon keeping government in check. We must be careful what we allow the government to do, we must be critical in our critique of government and our leaders.

__________________
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

One of the blabbign heads had something pretty good to say on this whole thing and the Democrats attempted use of it.

Not exact words but close enough-
"What the Democrats are finding out is that the American people have Common Sense"

Wrong. What the President was required to do was uphold his oath by protecting and defending the Constitution of the United States (and of course, the laws passed by Congress (i.e. FISA)).

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"George W. Bush surrounds himself with smart people the way a hole surrounds itself with a donut." —Dennis Miller