This begs the question, though, will this be another in the succession of more than 2 centuries of Independence Day celebrations, or is this the first birthday of official tyranny and oppression in our great land?

Truly, the fruits of freedom are spread more widely amongst our citizens than at any other time in history, but it hasn’t just happened in the last 6 months. Our story is generations old. America has been blessed not only with incomparable natural bounty from which to mold this national success; it has also been personified by legions of hardworking men and women who, by their toil, sweat, and sacrifice have wrought those widespread fruits. Ours is a story of rugged individualism writ large.

Freedom and liberty are best embodied in that rugged individualism, as those who live so are the movers and shapers who have committed themselves to the hard work and personal responsibility that concepts such as freedom and liberty demand. They are the beacons of how to excel at wringing the most from life, the models of how to accept the legacy of opportunity that has been passed from generations gone by. Those are the ones who, should this be another in a long line of birthdays, will prevail over the unjust tyranny – the social assault on freedom and liberty – that has been thrust upon us in this new millenium.

We find ourselves under seige from the very government we have established “for the common good”. It has lost its way, it has enslaved us for its own advancement, it has moved to fortify itself against our cries for transparency and legitimacy, it has usurped our good name and used it against many other nations in this world, and it has become the type of oppressor that our forefathers fought and died against so that we could be free.

It now stands to bankrupt us – financially, socially, spiritually, ethically – in the name of saving our banks, in the name of public welfare, in the name of managing the planet, in the name of world harmony, in the name of all things un-American. There is no place for rugged individualism and the fruits that will bring. There is almost NO freedom and liberty.

Happy Birthday America or Rest in Peace.

You people clearly have no idea what “enslavement” means. How dare you demean that concept by comparing it to your status in life.

I strongly suspect that when you got up this morning you were not enshackled, were not beaten to start the day, and had some decent food to eat. Then you had numerous choices of what news sources to attend to (from newspaper to TV to radio to “Ethernets”)–none of which is controlled by any government. Let me repeat that. Not only do you have access to SOME sources of non-governmental and anti-governmental news, you had access to an INFINITE variety of non-governmental news sources…most of which freely partake of the freedom to criticize whatever political individuals or organs of governance that they choose. And you couldn’t find an actual government owned newspaper or TV station if you tried.

You were able to walk out onto the street if you chose to, not subject to any curfew or partisan interdict, and head off in any direction you chose…in your private auto if you chose.

Nobody told you where to go to work, or if you had to go to work at all. Slightly different for slaves.

You then had the liberty to open your bleating yaws and bleat out whatever blather you wished. No consequences. None. Tough slavery!

Get back to me when you have something to complain about that is legitimately a government imposition.

Please try to have a thankful Independence Day, thankful for the conditions you actually have, as opposed to those you fantasize about.

Epictetus

You dishonor the meaning of this holiday and the memories of those that risked life and limb to deliver this country from tyranny – only to come full circle again.

This is a day for patriots, not partisans. This is a day to celebrate the advancement of ideals that are nothing more than a punchline these days. This is a day to celebrate the animated contest of freedom, not the lifeless submission to a corrupted Political Class.

What the authors of this article fail to point out is that the evolution of free market capitalism and its relationship to “freedom”, corporately speaking as well, have made it necessary for the government to be involved in our food, auto safety, equality…

I would urge all those that voted for an R or a D in this past election to stay home this weekend and suck your thumbs…You’ve got no right celebrating something you don’t even believe in or can’t comprehend.

You dishonor the meaning of this holiday and the memories of those that risked life and limb to deliver this country from tyranny – only to come full circle again.

Unquote

F*CK you griff, you pontificating SOB!

Kent Shaw

Can you say the same, that it has been “made necessary” for the government to be supporting dictators “friendly” to the U.S. government, for constantly starting and continuing unnecessary and needless wars like Korea and Vietnam, including fomenting the civil war now raging in Pakistan, for borrowing trillions of dollars from Communist Red China to support these wars and occupations, putting every man, woman and child in the U.S. into debt to the tune of $37,000, with no end in sight to the continued borrowing, for gutting the constitution (habeas corpus, military commissions act, Patriot Acts I and II, NSA spying on everyone at all times, for stealing from the taxpayers to bail out fraudulent “financial institutions”… shall I go on?

Has all of this been necessary as a result of the ‘evolution of free market capitalism and its relationship to “freedom”,’? Because if it has, then maybe its time for a change from “free market capitalism”.

I don’t know. Just wondering. Just asking. Maybe I missed your point totally.

Kent Shaw

What is the definition of freedom? Epictetus was the only one who even attempted to address it, and I think he nailed it. Now, those who think regulating corporations strips America of its freedom should consider Jerry G’s statement,

“…the evolution of free market capitalism and its relationship to ‘freedom’, corporately speaking as well, have made it necessary for the government to be involved in our food, auto safety, equality…”

The history of un-restrained corporate greed is the history of the erosion of individual freedoms. Once the “haves” got theirs they locked the door behind them. Start a “soda pop” company and see how many markets will carry your brand – once the big guys explain things to the market owners. Invent a car that gets 80 mpg and see what road blocks are thrown up by the established makers. Design a new windshield wiper only to have a big car company rip off your idea and make you spend a million dollars in legal expenses to get your due. “Free market” is a myth.

Food and drug companies don’t sell healthy, safe and effective products because they love America. They are regulated because they have shown how they would act if they weren’t regulated.

Ekaton asks: “Can you say the same, that it has been “made necessary [for government to be involved]…” Our political policies have long been tailored to suit corporate interests. From our choice of allies, to our wars, to where the next freeway off-ramp will be built have been for the benefit of the big businesses. Chiquita Banana gets the US to say who can sell bananas to England. The Saudi ruling class is our special ally because the oil companies want it. We went to war in Viet Nam and Iraq for the sake of oil. Where is one’s freedom to live in peace when a large real estate developer wants to take your home to build a shopping mall? Eminent domain can be bought for the price of a politician’s fund raising dinner. Do we even need to mention how financial institutions get our tax dollars when they f**k up? Ekaton, I’m just as indignant as you, but I think politicians are driven by corporate interests.

Once again, Happy Independence Day America, a country where patriotism is not the sole property of the armed forces, R’s or D’s or L’s or whatever, it’s a country where we can celebrate this great work-in-progress; a place where no one can keep you from celebrating even if some self-righteous curmudgeon tells you you can’t — you see, that’s one more freedom we have.