More Government ALWAYS Translates into Less Freedom
# houval - How do you run a convention on a record of failure? Invoke 9/11 - Quicktime movie. Excerpts from speeches at the Republican Convention, highlighting all the fear words. [root]
George W. Bush: Keeping America Scared
# Badnarik.org - Michael Badnarik arrested - Michael Badnarik and David Cobb, the Libertarian and Green Party candidates for president, crossed a police line in St. Louis with the intent of getting to the debates or getting arrested. Mr. Badnarik was carrying an Order to Show Cause, which, had he been able to serve it, might have delayed this "debate". I watched the first ten minutes of the debate, but was so disgusted by the two school boys yelling insults at each other on the playground, that I went upstairs and watched The Alamo. [smith2004]
#
Jim Suhr at The San Jose Mercury News -
University glows in presidential debate spotlight 
- the arrest of
Cobb and Badnarik got two paragraphs in this mainstream news
article. [google]
# John Leyden at The Register - Feds seize Indymedia servers - two web server machines at Rackspace UK were turned over to the f.b.i. The likely reason for the siezure was the publishing on a French Indymedia site of the photographs of two undercover cops. More on the siezure, including the page with the photographs on this Cryptome page. [grabbe]
# Sergei Borglum Hoff at Liberty for All - I Will Scrap My Begging Bowl Will You? - Mr. Hoff will no longer beg for his liberty to government goons. Will you? [sierra]
Be always mindful that American politicians are excessively compensated public servants; not ennobled dandies from the Royal court. Scrap the begging bowl! Never kneel or stand in awe while instructing these servants on their duties. Our attitudes towards politicians must immediately change. Never request that the Constitution be obeyed. Demand, they are our servants! How much more illumination does this fact need before it can be readily grasped by the people? We are not subjects of a kingdom, and our attitude of subservience is repulsive to liberty-committed-patriots.
...
"I have said that the Declaration of Independence is the ring-bolt to the chain of your nation's destiny; so, indeed, I regard it. The principles contained in that instrument are saving principles. Stand by those principles, be true to them on all occasions, in all places, against all foes, and at whatever cost." -Frederick Douglass
Declaration of Independence: "WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness--That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness."
If not already aware that the Declaration of Independence was directed towards King George the Third, I would be convinced that the signers were addressing our own suffocating government. Our government, in its oppression of the people that formed it, has far exceeded the tyranny of Britain. As a citizen of this misused nation, my duty requires that I ask if it is now time for "the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government"? Do we the people need a second Declaration of Independence?
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Our liberty-committed Fathers were slanderously labeled and prosecuted by the British Empire as traitors and terrorists. Many lost their property or were put to death as a result. The Republicans and Democrats, spurred by the "New World Order" policies of the current and past two administrations, will do no less in order to halt resistance to their unconstitutional behavior, and destroy our present-day defenders of freedom.
Do not permit this government and media to divert your attention elsewhere. Shun these bureaucrats and their Socialist media conspirators when they identify your next friend or foe. Consult your conscience before condemning genuine American patriots who are prepared to sacrifice, fight, and possibly die for freedom and the preservation of our nation's founding principles. Indeed, they stand between us and total enslavement. Many have already forfeited their upright reputations, basic comforts, and property; some have lost their lives. We must honor and support these brave patriots; they are our fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters.
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Not one campaign trail that we have followed thus far has led us to a constitutional destination. If we expect positive change then it is essential that only genuine patriots with constitutionalist principles be elected. Neither George Bush nor John Kerry will ever honor the Presidential Oath of Office or the founding principles that many thousands of loyal Americans have died for since the year 1776.
Government is ponderous, and our constitutional foundation is now crumbling; unless we the people quickly downsize government, the rubble that it sits upon will be our children's future.
If I ignore my guiding principles, they are of no benefit to me, my children, or our nation. Yes! I will scrap my begging bowl, and support Libertarian Party candidates. Will you?
# Donna Smith at AlertNet - U.S. House approves U.S. spy agency overhaul - I'm not sure if this article is talking about H.R. 10. Thomas lists the last action on Thursday as "Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 10 as unfinished business". The vote reported in this article was yesterday, however, so it may just be that Thomas hasn't yet been updated. I'll keep checking. [grabbe]
# Ron Paul in The House of Representatives via LewRockwell.com - The 9-11 Intelligence Bill: More Bureaucracy, More Intervention, Less Freedom - Thursday commentary on H.R. 10.
Mr. Speaker, the 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act (HR 10) is yet another attempt to address the threat of terrorism by giving more money and power to the federal bureaucracy. Most of the reforms contained in this bill will not make America safer, though they definitely will make us less free. HR 10 also wastes American taxpayer money on unconstitutional and ineffective foreign aid programs. Congress should make America safer by expanding liberty and refocusing our foreign policy on defending this nation's vital interests, rather than expanding the welfare state and wasting American blood and treasure on quixotic crusades to "democratize" the world.
Disturbingly, HR 10 creates a de facto national ID card by mandating new federal requirements that standardize state-issued drivers licenses and birth certificates and even require including biometric identifiers in such documents. State drivers license information will be stored in a national database, which will include information about an individual's driving record!
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HR 10 also broadens the definition of terrorism contained in the PATRIOT Act. HR 10 characterizes terrorism as acts intended "to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion." Under this broad definition, a scuffle at an otherwise peaceful pro-life demonstration might allow the federal government to label the sponsoring organization and its members as terrorists. Before dismissing these concerns, my colleagues should remember the abuse of Internal Revenue Service power by both Democratic and Republican administrations to punish political opponents, or the use of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act on anti-abortion activists. It is entirely possible that a future administration will use the new surveillance powers granted in this bill to harm people holding unpopular political views.
# Lorne Strider - Konkin's Rebellion - fiction, I think, though it sure would be nice if it were fact. Ever notice that cases for victimless crimes are labelled, "The People vs. John Doe". What if a bunch of us "people" protested being included as complaintants in these cases? More commentary at Strider Commentary. [saltypig]
# mozilla - Mozilla Calendar - a stand-alone calendar that is compatible with Apple's iCal. Calendars can be shared via a WebDAV server. Available for Windows, Linux, and Macintosh. [madogre]
