Dummy Boy wrote:
How much government oppression do you really deal with?
A lot. An awful lot. You have no idea just how much government oppression is seen in our daily lives because you do not notice it. It's a lot.
Dummy Boy wrote:
Is it a concept you just discovered? What exactly do you mean by oppression?
No. I've been screaming about it for many years. Oppression is 'prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control'.
Dummy Boy wrote:
Do you really believe that you are uniquely oppressed by the government?
Oh, no. There are millions of us. Even you, too, but you just don't know it.
Dummy Boy wrote:
Did you get a DUI?
No.
Dummy Boy wrote:
Do you walk around town calling people names?
Depends. Are they being dumbasses? Normally I don't bother, but sometimes I just can't resist...
Dummy Boy wrote:
Do you avoid paying taxes, but love having roads and fire and police services?
Taxes don't pay for roads, fire and police services. Taxes pay the interest on the debt to the Federal Reserve System. Currency inflation pays for roads, fire and police services.
Dummy Boy wrote:
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people;
Good observation. I would go further and say probably all of them recognize the powers delegated by the people to the State governments.
Dummy Boy wrote:
that they may exercise it by themselves in all cases to which they think themselves competent
Oh, you mean like the old lady who 'thinks' she can parallel park? Or the guy who just can't remember his PIN number at the checkout? Competent. Right.
Dummy Boy wrote:
or they may act by representatives, freely and equally chosen;
I see. When was the last time you wrote to your Congressman and got a letter back that wasn't some standard, boilerplate reply he sends to everyone? As for 'freely and equally chosen', not for a century or more.
Dummy Boy wrote:
that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed;
'Gun-free' zones, anyone? If it is our "right and duty to be at all times armed", why then are we scanned at the courthouse? Why are we strip-searched before getting on a commercial aircraft? Why are my children left vulnerable to mass murder in the school system? "Right and duty" my ass. Don't even start me on the convoluted process of buying a firearm. I picked one up at WalMart years ago. The counter employee actually escorted me out of the store before handing it to me. It felt like I was being 'perp-walked'. Like I was some dangerous criminal.
Dummy Boy wrote:
that they are entitled to freedom of person,
Oh, puhleeeze! Illegal searches and seizures are routine all over the country. Have you not heard of the 'stop and frisk' activities in New York City? Just stop somebody in the street and pat them down. No rhyme, no reason, just felt like it.
Dummy Boy wrote:
freedom of religion,
Oh, sure, just pick a religion. Didn't work out too well for the Branch Davidians in Waco did it? Then again, as long as it's Islam, the 'religion of peace', you should be OK.
Dummy Boy wrote:
freedom of property,
Civil forfeiture, anyone? Prohibition, anyone? Property taxes (government rent payments), anyone?
Dummy Boy wrote:
and freedom of the press."
A free national press that's owned by what, five people in total? And a few of them are foreigners. Yeah, free to advance the agenda of their buddies in Congress. For a 'small' consideration, of course.
Dummy Boy wrote:
--Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824. ME 16:45
Thomas Jefferson would be horrified to see what we tolerate today. Take a look at the list of grievances included in the Declaration of Independence (that he wrote, by the way) and see how many we suffer with to this day.