It's a Free Country

[b4uqzme]

When is the transition point?

sane men will probably decide too late.

[knkali]

When is the transition point?

Great question.
I don't think we are anywhere close to the point of violence. There was a smattering of hope recently in CO with the recalls and some recent judicial decisions that seemed commonsensical. I was hoping that energy would revitalize the rest of the nation at some level. Our system is built for change; however, we cannot get most people to even vote without candidates resorting to game show like giveaway prizes for doing so. Until the system is actually used to its capacity, there is no room for people taking up arms.
As Muggs said in another thread. We need to vote and then hold the elected to their promises. If we resort to mob rule as our political system, we are no longer a republic. This is something our founding fathers did not want to happen again....and again....and again.

[garyb]

YES...it is a free country. Good men and women out there keeping it that way!

[JohnR]

YES...it is a free country. Good men and women out there keeping it that way!

Out where?

I'm not trying to be an a-hole, though it does come naturally to me. Our troops are doing what, exactly, to keep the USA free? If we're keeping the Islamic terrorism fight outside our borders, I'll buy that; but there are plenty of other threats to our freedom right here inside our borders.

[muggsy]

I remember my dad saying it when he saw those hippies. In other words, it looks stupid to me but I guess they can do whatever they want.

I guess that's the spirit I miss. Not using freedom to justify (your own) poor behavior but to tolerate those you disagree with. They have their freedom too. In return, I expect those I disagree with to tolerate me too and to respect my rights.

Allow me to be the first to say that I tolerate you,b4uqzme, but just barely.

[muggsy]

I plan on following in the foot steps of the founding fathers. When the government comes for my guns that's when it will be time to rise up against them. Until then I'll continue to profess that cooler heads should prevail. The government can only do what we allow the government to do. The government is badly outnumbered by the populous. I don't fear my own government. I fear the anarchists.

[JohnR]

In our city of nearly a million residents, mostly in suburban neighborhoods, it has been illegal to keep livestock in our yards. No chickens.

In recent years, some activists have petitioned the city to lift the ban on back yard chickens.

You would think this would be as easy as repealing the municipal ordinance and done. But no, they started a pilot program where you have to go to the planning department and get a permit.

"You can get your permit from the planning department once you get your training done," said Carter. "They'll tell you at the very beginning whether [your neighborhood is] one of the ones that's exempt and then the neighborhoods that have deed restrictions."

Chickens will have to be kept a certain distance away from neighbors, and there's a limit of five chickens for people with under one-and-a-half acres of land.

Also, roosters are not allowed under the program -- only hens.
http://www.news4jax.com/news/jackson...h/-/index.html

So we went from having a few renegade underground suburban chicken ranchers (no, not jocko's kind ) raising birds as they see fit, free as can be except for the risk of being fined by the City, to now having to meet a bunch of government regulations.

That is how "freedom" is defined in the 21st Century. Don't believe me? Thumb through the hundreds of pages of the North American "FREE" Trade Agreement. https://www.nafta-sec-alena.org/Defa...language=en-US

[garyb]

Out where?

I'm not trying to be an a-hole, though it does come naturally to me. Our troops are doing what, exactly, to keep the USA free? If we're keeping the Islamic terrorism fight outside our borders, I'll buy that; but there are plenty of other threats to our freedom right here inside our borders.

Yep...so you acknowledge what our good men and women are doing for us, by keeping the battle outside our borders. Keeping us free. We are on the same page there.

[b4uqzme]

Allow me to be the first to say that I tolerate you,b4uqzme, but just barely.

Aw Shucks Now you got me all warm and fuzzy. Nah! I'll just pet the dog.

[JimC]

It certainly is a "free country" for those who vote for a living rather than working for a living.
Thank that POS Obama for that!

[ltxi]

Gotta be careful around someone with nothing left to lose...

One of the nice thing about being my age...just shoot 'em in the face comes with few real consequences.