Painful justification.

I had never heard this, Rich;;; Thank You!!! -- j

p.s. I know that I am a true patriot, and the feeling
of powerlessness with only one vote, one phone,
one computer, one voice -- when others who are
not patriots have more of the same -- is nauseating.

I love that word! Freedom, also.

It's how I feel. And you're quite welcome, Rich! Thank you for posting this. :-)

Spoken like a true Patriot Non Mooch. Thank you.

And that's the heart of it. Simple and A=A. This needs to be plastered everywhere!

rational self interest ;)
a little clunky but apt

Really well said K. And you usually are. :-). Except when you're not. Lol

That was excellent. It explains why now we have to change it.

An interesting, almost a unique feature of American education is its compartmentalization. A person can have a very good technical education and yet be completely ignorant of other areas around him. The classical education, especially in liberal arts, included foundations in almost everything that was important in the surrounding world, but that has not been the case in the US in at least 50 years. Thus, people that appear to be educated based on their degrees or the jobs that they do are often simpletons in 90% of the subjects that surround us. Without that classical foundation to analyze the surrounding world, they rely on mass media to fill in the gaps, as that is easier than analysis and thinking. When you add to that narrow knowledge the inability to take care of most things on their own and requiring a specialist for almost everything (not being negative here; just a result of compartmentalization and specialization), many grow up with an ingrained belief that others know better about almost everything that there is to know about. The role of the “others” is best fulfilled by the government since the government preaches its competency to children from the earliest age that they come under its influence (TV, schools) and insists on its supremacy constantly. Thus, the “educated” rarely consider that the “government” is a collection of bureaucrats who often know less about the subject they regulate than anyone else does; but, they have to pretend to be experts because the pretense is their job protection; any challenge to their authority exposes the fraud, so they fight back.

It is part of their plan. It seems to be working. Just like a good martial artist, we now need to use their own momentum against them.

I doubt that, but appreciate the compliment nonetheless.

Huzzah!

Agreed--I am proud to be an American, with all that implies, having nothing at all to do with what this country is becoming, but everything to do with what it SHOULD be.

Thanks, blarman. You expressed my opinion better than I would have.

Khalling and I had an e-mail chat in the last day about guilt. Many people of faith, particularly Christians, do have guilt complexes more than they should. Khalling correctly reproached me about the difference between guilt and regret. Guilt (at least usually) carries with it an evasive aspect that denies that A = A; this in turn opens up vulnerabilities. One must acknowledge wrongdoing, apologize to any offended parties only for was contrary to one's own values, and move on. Thanks, Khalling.

AND A CURRENT AMEN TO THAT. TRY IT, IT WORKS

We are in agreement. Well put.