Just Don't Do It

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. - Lyle

Applies to atomic bombs as well as pink houses.

Battles and Wars

Free men cannot start a war, but once it is started, they can fight on in defeat. Herd men, followers of a leader, cannot do that, and so it is always the herd men who win battles and free men who win wars. - John Steinbeck

Free men following an inspirational leader win both battles and wars. Churchill and Patton come to mind.

Loss of Liberty

I see people accepting incremental loss of liberty without protest. This is death by a thousand cuts. Loss of liberty for your neighbor cuts you as well. - Lyle

Joy of Being Human

One of the joys we have in being humans is in exercising our freedom to choose and to take each case as it comes to us. We are not robots who are forced into behaviors by their programming. We see things; we think things; and we choose our course of action or beliefs appropriately. And as long as that remains true of us, we will live every day of our lives on one slippery slope or another. There is no reason to fear this. - Real Live Preacher


When your freedom to choose is in danger re-read the above.

They're On Their Way

When Hitler came for the Jews... I was not a Jew, therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the Catholics, I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists, I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned. Then Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church; and there was nobody left to be concerned. - Pastor Martin Niemoller


Advocate for others liberty as well as your own.

Limitations

The freedom of speech is worthless without the freedom of offensive speech. Goebbels and Himmler were for freedom of speech that was inoffensive to the state. - Noam Chomsky

  If you decide someone needs to be limited prepare to be limited yourself. Is it worth it?

Free and Equal

A society that puts equality ahead of freedom will end up with neither. - Milton Friedman

Remember the distinction between equality and equality of opportunity.

First Amendment Freedom

Not only Freedom of Religion, but Freedom from Religion. - Lyle


Don't forget this distinction when defending the first Amendment.

Gospel Flaw

So much blood has been shed by the Church because of an omission from the Gospel: "Ye shall be indifferent as to what your neighbor's religion is." Not merely tolerant of it, but indifferent to it. Divinity is claimed for many religions; but no religion is great enough or divine enough to add that new law to its code. - Mark Twain

A theocracy will never foster freedom for its citizens.

Freedom From Bailouts

Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes. - Mahatma Gandhi


Who knew that Gandhi was opposed to bailouts! What a capitalist!

Full Measure of Liberty

If you want to be free, there is but one way; it is to guarantee an equally full measure of liberty to all your neighbors. There is no other. - Carl Schurz


That is why central planning has no place in a free society.

Insight

If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. - James Madison


It is impressive how insightful Madison and Jefferson were.

Rights and Duties

The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master, unless he transforms strength into right, and obedience into duty. - Jean-Jacques Rousseau


There must be a slave for there to be a master, so beware of those who invent new rights and duties.

Efficient Tyranny

If anyone ever tells you that something you love is “inefficient,” and the cure is to shove something you hate down your throat, then “efficiency” has become a mere rationalization for tyranny. - Alex Epstein


e.g. Light bulbs; doctors; building design; food; cars; fuels; appliances; fireplaces; etc, etc, etc

Rightful Liberty

Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual. - Thomas Jefferson 


Tom would be appalled to see how much the tyrants have willed and how much voluntary servitude there is today.

Step Toward Freedom

Free people do not accept restrictions from which their government is exempt. This is one of the differences between leaders and rulers. - John Hayward


Interesting thought - putting government workers and Congressmen on Social Security as a step toward greater freedom.


(Other posts on Government)

Restricted Freedom

Absolute liberty is absence of restraint; responsibility is restraint; therefore, the ideally free individual is responsible to himself. - Henry B. Adams


Hate to see a man of letters make such a mistake. Absolute Liberty is absence of all governmental control. Freedom is seldom if ever absolute. I am free to run around to bars with loose women but I restrain that freedom because it is not right. Words do make a difference.


(Other posts on Liberty)

Freedom's Importance

For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail? - Ralph Waldo Emerson


Thank you, Ralph, for reminding us how important freedom is; we stand on the precipice of losing a bunch of it.


(Other posts on Freedom)

Say what?

If atheism is a religion then not collecting stamps is a hobby. - Amy Alkon


If healthcare is a right then not wanting healthcare is also a right. So much for Universal coverage.
(Check your premises)


(Other posts o Logic)

Credulous About Credit?

A creditor is worse than a slave-owner; for the master owns only your person, but a creditor owns your dignity, and can command it. - Victor Hugo


Throw away your credit card. Save, then spend - spending to save doesn't make sense.


(Other posts on Money)