Would You Rather Be Free?
 

I am going to start this thread and then head to Little Rock. So I won't be able to contribute for a few hours.

But I had a thought this morning. REAL freedom doesn't come with safety nets. REAL freedom is a freedom to succeed and a freedom to fail. The freedom brought by the founding fathers didn't have Social Security, Unemployment benefits, federal school & health oversight etc.

You were free. Governments purpose was one... to protect your rights. All of these things are nice... but they also, little by little, give us a dependence on government and eventually lead us to an invasive government that does more to take away our freedoms than maintain them.

So... If it meant losing all of the safety nets of today's society... Would you rather be free?

Re: Would You Rather Be Free?
 

Okay... I will be around long enough to contribute my vote. I would rather be free.

Re: Would You Rather Be Free?
 

Well, what kind of freedom are you talking about? Total anarchy, no rules at all?

Even at the start of this nation, we had government programs and were not totally free. The only way to be totally free would be to have no government. Even then, you would only be as free as your strongest neighbor let you be, ie did not attack you.

You should change the poll add an anarchy option, lol.

That is not even considering the fact that black people definitely are more free now than they have been in the past, even with more government.

Re: Would You Rather Be Free?
 

This is a very black and white, either/or question. I would like to go backwards in time where there was more freedom. I think some government programs can be good. But what I see today is that we have lost sight of what is important.

Re: Would You Rather Be Free?
 

I've never used any of the government public assistance programs. I can't imagine living WITH the government programs in my personal life. Social security will probably never benefit me. National health care won't help me. I don't qualify for other means of assistance. I'm facing a layoff, but wouldn't get enough unemployment to live on. If I'd been allowed to save some of the money I've paid in taxes to supplement these programs, I wouldn't need the programs. At the same time, I'd have the money to help those in my community who desperately need the assistance and can't get it. I also know who is misusing the system, and which of those misusing it are being supported on my tax dollars or government loans.

History and our lives would be much different if it weren't for the government subsidies. I'm not sure it would be better. But I'd like to try it and see.

Re: Would You Rather Be Free?
 

I'd be happy with the freedom of the 80's.

Re: Would You Rather Be Free?
 

LOL! I always think 70's but I know what you mean.

Re: Would You Rather Be Free?
 

Bingo!

Re: Would You Rather Be Free?
 

Like this!! LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0dv8Uty5js

Re: Would You Rather Be Free?
 

Since I have no faith in any of the government "safety nets" such as social security being in place when I am of the age to receive them (I am 29), I would rather be free. I realize at my age, that I and my family are responsible for ourselves, and fortunately have the time to plan. I personally thing large families are a good thing, because if a parent is ailing at some point, and they usually are, then the burden, financially or otherwise, can be spread around among the children.