Republic compared to Democracy

[freakazoid]

Galt?

Thing is... you have to put down the beer and the TV remote to git 'er dun.

I'm not much of a drinker. Nor do I do much TV watching now that I have joined the Navy.

The best war you can wage against the FedGov (if you want to) is legally absolve yourself of any income tax liability while living happily and comfortably in an independently sustainable manner.

Doing just that wouldn't help change anything.

[Jamisjockey]

What are you getting at? That we should continue to kow-tow to the government? Should the founding fathers have done that?

What I'm getting at is there is alot of chest-beating and posturing going on.  Tell me, what have you done for the revolution lately?

[freakazoid]

What I'm getting at is there is alot of chest-beating and posturing going on.

I haven't seen any.

Tell me, what have you done for the revolution lately?

Depends on what you mean by "revolution". You could say that people petitioning for bills supporting the 2nd Amendment are working towards the revolution. Or you could say that people who have joined the Navy because they wish "to defend the Constitution of the United States of America" are also working towards the revolution. But I am guessing that you are actually asking it in a fallacious way. And you didn't really answer the second part of the question. You seem to propose that we do nothing, that things aren't really bad.

[MicroBalrog]

Tell me, what have you done for the revolution lately?

No, there's no need to do anything for any revolution and you know that. We all have jobs, you know. Opposing injustice is for smelly hippies and basement-dwellers.

[freakazoid]

Opposing injustice is for smelly hippies and basement-dwellers.

lol

I forgot to add in my last post, that also when push comes to shove on our rights and the government because really oppressive that "from my cold dead hands" will be more than just a motto.

[Jamisjockey]

I haven't seen any.

Then you haven't been reading the threads on the politics side very closely.  

Depends on what you mean by "revolution". You could say that people petitioning for bills supporting the 2nd Amendment are working towards the revolution. Or you could say that people who have joined the Navy because they wish "to defend the Constitution of the United States of America" are also working towards the revolution. But I am guessing that you are actually asking it in a fallacious way. And you didn't really answer the second part of the question. You seem to propose that we do nothing, that things aren't really bad.

Sure, do something.  Wailing and gnashing of teeth on an internet forum isn't really doing something, though.

[MicroBalrog]

Sure, do something.  Wailing and gnashing of teeth on an internet forum isn't really doing something, though.

I have seen no implication that "wailing and gnashing of teeth" is the only thing FZ does. Besides, as stated elsewhere on this forum, the mere discussion of political events can in itself be productive.

[Jamisjockey]

I have seen no implication that "wailing and gnashing of teeth" is the only thing FZ does. Besides, as stated elsewhere on this forum, the mere discussion of political events can in itself be productive.

I never accused him of it, and my posts were targeted to other posters.

[freakazoid]

While I didn't believe you to be accusing me, but there is the assumption that no one, or at least very few, are doing anything.

Then you haven't been reading the threads on the politics side very closely. 

While I usually only briefly view the threads on this side. I still doubt that that is all that there is.

And again, what is meant by to go Galt?

[MicroBalrog]

Go Galt = retire from civilized society, so it doesn't benefit from your talents/input/tax money.

[Perd Hapley]

You mean, retire from un-civilized society?   

[Jamisjockey]

While I didn't believe you to be accusing me, but there is the assumption that no one, or at least very few, are doing anything.

While I usually only briefly view the threads on this side. I still doubt that that is all that there is.

And again, what is meant by to go Galt?

The posts are there and I've said my piece.

[AZRedhawk44]

And again, what is meant by to go Galt?

"Going Galt" is a reference to Atlas Shrugged.

John Galt builds an engine that runs off of atmospheric electricity.  Limitless energy.

He looks at the world around him and decides it doesn't deserve his labor or invention.  He leaves it in the lab of the company for whom he worked, complete with documentation and everything, and it lies forgotten for years.

In the meantime, he works with the best and brightest industrialists in the world (while the socialist whiners work in opposite directions) to simply "let go" of their lives in the moocher world.  He builds a small retreat hidden from the rest of the world, and as socialism eats all of man's accomplishments he draws all the talent in the world to his valley as the lights of the world go out.

Dramatic... but educational.  If you don't like how the country is going and how it is using your contributions, retreat from it.  Don't contribute.  Or reduce your contribution.

If enough talent simply says "nah, I don't want anything to do with this crap" and looks out only for its own self interest, the system that you despise will run out of fuel and come to a stop.

Once you kick out the driver you can re-prime it with the right kind of people and start it up again.

At least, that's the theory.

[longeyes]

I see a lot of chest-beating.  Unfortunately, it's mostly in Washington, D.C.

[longeyes]

Not everyone in this country will be served as a French delicacy.

I don't know of anyone on this forum who really salivates over having to lock horns with Authority.  We're not really stupid fools, you know.  But it's obvious that there are times when you have to push back or get trampled.  For a lot of Americans that time is fast approaching.  Those in power appear to have no problem with posturing and chest-beating.  I can see that display on prime-time tv pretty regularly now.  There are plenty of people in government today who have clearly forgotten they work for US and are beholden to US.  If you find that a militant statement, so be it; I call it being a responsible citizen.

[longeyes]

Then jump, if you're so hellbent on causing the revolution.  Just remember, the outcome might not be what you're hoping for.  Hop, hop.

You're the one jumping--to wrong conclusions.  But I'll tell you this: we don't have to guess at what the outcome is going to be if we all just let that water keep boiling.  We have plenty of historical evidence to tell us what goes down when ruthless people seize control and bully others. 

[Jamisjockey]

You're the one jumping--to wrong conclusions.  But I'll tell you this: we don't have to guess at what the outcome is going to be if we all just let that water keep boiling.  We have plenty of historical evidence to tell us what goes down when ruthless people seize control and bully others. 

And what is your plan to stop the impending doom?

[freakazoid]

What is yours?

[Jamisjockey]

What is yours?

For starters, I don't subscribe to the same utter doom and gloom stance that some do.  So my big question, for those preaching about "Divorce" and other doom scenarios, is what are they doing about it?

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

For starters, I don't subscribe to the same utter doom and gloom stance that some do.  So my big question, for those preaching about "Divorce" and other doom scenarios, is what are they doing about it?

It would seem that "they" (if by "they" you mean longeyes) are spreading awareness of the problem and provoking thought about it and its potential solutions.  What more would you have "them" do here in our little corner of the intarwebz?

[MicroBalrog]

For starters, I don't subscribe to the same utter doom and gloom stance that some do.  So my big question, for those preaching about "Divorce" and other doom scenarios, is what are they doing about it?

Unlike longeyes I believe the problem is not uniquely American, but international in scope.

I donate to the appropriate educational charities - CATO has branches operating throughout the world, in Russia, Europe, the Arab world and Iran, and so does Bureaucrash - and write columns for a variety of periodicals. I also volunteer and attend various protests, rallies, and so forth, having to do with a variety of issues like drug legalization and anti-unionism. Of course, Israel has no dedicated libertarian activist network - which is sad - but one does what one can.

[Jamisjockey]

It would seem that "they" (if by "they" you mean longeyes) are spreading awareness of the problem and provoking thought about it and its potential solutions.  What more would you have "them" do here in our little corner of the intarwebz?

I'm seeing plenty of "spreading awareness of the problem and provoking thought about it"  and not much "and its potential solutions.", besides some obtuse references.  He's not the only one.
My solution?  If you've identified a problem, maybe adding a solution besides bleating about the impending "divorce".

Unlike longeyes I believe the problem is not uniquely American, but international in scope.

I donate to the appropriate educational charities - CATO has branches operating throughout the world, in Russia, Europe, the Arab world and Iran, and so does Bureaucrash - and write columns for a variety of periodicals. I also volunteer and attend various protests, rallies, and so forth, having to do with a variety of issues like drug legalization and anti-unionism. Of course, Israel has no dedicated libertarian activist network - which is sad - but one does what one can.

Like that.  Good stuff.

[longeyes]

"Unlike Longeyes...?"

Excuse me, but you really don't know what my state of awareness is regarding the "problem" on an international scale.   I read widely and have friends abroad.  I do have some inkling of what's going "over there."

***

I don't do any bleating, by the way; I leave that for the sheep.  Rather than propose large-scale assaults on our enemies I prefer to suggest that "drawing a moat" around ourselves and our values is quite possibly the most pragmatic, if not the only, course.  To many it will not seem that way yet.  Yet.  But if you look at the way the show's evolving, in terms of demographics, culture, and policies, you may begin to realize that my remarks regarding "divorce" aren't so wild-eyed as they might initially appear.  We can begin by making clear to our socialist countrymen that they are perfectly free to create their own paradise somewhere inside these hallowed borders, only not with our help or on our dime.

There's nothing opaque or obtuse about taking a stand on Constitutional liberties, at every turn, in every way, and promoting states' rights or even wider political autonomy.  It's happened in other nations; it can happen here.

[Silver Bullet]

There's nothing opaque or obtuse about taking a stand on Constitutional liberties, at every turn, in every way, and promoting states' rights or even wider political autonomy.

Very well said.

[roo_ster]

Power only respects greater power.

Cede your ability/willingness to use power from the get-go and you can expect others with power to treat you with less respect.