wtf is happening?

It really upsets me that everyday (I'm speaking in terms of the U.S. here, not sure about other countries) we see more and more of our freedoms taken away. And it pisses me off that it comes from both sides of the political spectrum- Republicans contantly take away our rights of privacy and freedoms of expression, democrats fight to make guns illegal, tax tobacco to the point of making it illegal, and restrict all kinds of things that are considered bad "for our own common good."

What the hell is up with that?! I'm sorry to rant, but really. The U.S. is a country that was SUPPOSED to be based around freedom, and yet we lose them. I can think of DOZENS of freedoms we have lost- right to choose to buckle up, drugs, patriot act, etc etc, but not one freedom we have gained. It seems like congress goes around saying "Let's see what we can do to make America a safer place, and make illegal everything that could be dangerous and put our hands all over it" instead of saying "What personal liberties can we give to our citizens."

And it drives me nuts that nobody cares! What I really can't stand is how obsessed the government has become with safety, we truly put it above our personal liberties. That is a VERY dangerous thing. But kids don't care- they have America's next top model to watch. The government should be for the people and by people, not a constricting force that decides whats best or not best for you. People need to be free to make their own decisions, stupid or not, so long as they do not infringe on others.

Sorry to rant. I guess I'll only be happy if Ron Paul wins the nomination.

Safety is a very dangerous thing?

The united states are becoming more sticter than gamespot...I do agree on that...

Yeah, it made me cry too when they made all of these laws that save lives :cry:

:roll:

no, I am not. Really. I think the point is being missed. Most people are smart enough to do those things WITHOUT a government law REGULATING them to do so. My point is that I believe we all have the right to live as individuals and live basically however we want (a libertarian ideal) so long as it does not harm others.

If you don't want to buckle up, who cares?

If you want to do drugs and die of heroin overdose a few years down the road, that is your own choice and your own stupid decision.

It's based on principle.

no, I am not. Really. I think the point is being missed. Most people are smart enough to do those things WITHOUT a government law REGULATING them to do so. My point is that I believe we all have the right to live as individuals and live basically however we want (a libertarian ideal) so long as it does not harm others.

If you don't want to buckle up, who cares?

If you want to do drugs and die of heroin overdose a few years down the road, that is your own choice and your own stupid decision.

It's based on principle.

The united states are becoming more sticter than gamespot...I do agree on that...

schoeffmaster

:lol: .

no, I am not. Really. I think the point is being missed. Most people are smart enough to do those things WITHOUT a government law REGULATING them to do so. My point is that I believe we all have the right to live as individuals and live basically however we want (a libertarian ideal) so long as it does not harm others.

If you don't want to buckle up, who cares?

If you want to do drugs and die of heroin overdose a few years down the road, that is your own choice and your own stupid decision.

It's based on principle.

The_Baymonster

no, I am not. Really. I think the point is being missed. Most people are smart enough to do those things WITHOUT a government law REGULATING them to do so. My point is that I believe we all have the right to live as individuals and live basically however we want (a libertarian ideal) so long as it does not harm others.

If you don't want to buckle up, who cares?

If you want to do drugs and die of heroin overdose a few years down the road, that is your own choice and your own stupid decision.

It's based on principle.

The_Baymonster

Those examples do effect others though.

I definitely agree with you on that (the drug issue), along with many other issue that have similar harmful implications. But, it is my belief that things of this nature should always be left to the responsibility of the individual, rather than a government watchdog, and I do not care if I am in the minority.

I am basically a libertarian but I can see how things like not buckling up can indirectly affect other people so it has to be calculated how much of an imposition it's putting on you versus how much it could affect other people adversely.

In general, I'm conservativein economics and I'm mostly liberal in social issues (pro-choice, no school prayer). So I'm against the left-left and the right-right.

well people are stupid and need the goverment to help them live good lives.fax555241

....

I definitely agree with you on that (the drug issue), along with many other issue that have similar harmful implications. But, it is my belief that things of this nature should always be left to the responsibility of the individual, rather than a government watchdog, and I do not care if I am in the minority.

The_Baymonster

well people are stupid and need the goverment to help them live good lives.fax555241

Seatbelts? Drugs?

It's because people are too stupid to save themselves from these things that they need the government to help keep them alive. People die from not having a seatbelt on, which every vehicle is equipped with and is a very simple device. Drugs harm your body and that's it. It's like I, Robot, we need to be protected from ourselves.

..... and it is stuff like that which scares me. I really do not want my kids to live in a world where the government decides what you can eat, what you can wear, what vehicle to drive because it is safest, and must live under a camera in your house so the government knows you are not doing anything illegal. I'm afraid that within a few generations it may come to thatThe_Baymonster

Then I have nothing to worry about. :]

I definitely agree with you on that (the drug issue), along with many other issue that have similar harmful implications. But, it is my belief that things of this nature should always be left to the responsibility of the individual, rather than a government watchdog, and I do not care if I am in the minority.

The_Baymonster

Come on, the right to do drugs? You're crazy. I'm all for the legalization of pot, but some are illegal for good reason. And the "right to choose to buckle up?" Now you're just really stretching.Mumbles527

..... and it is stuff like that which scares me. I really do not want my kids to live in a world where the government decides what you can eat, what you can wear, what vehicle to drive because it is safest, and must live under a camera in your house so the government knows you are not doing anything illegal. I'm afraid that within a few generations it may come to thatThe_Baymonster

[QUOTE="Mumbles527"]Come on, the right to do drugs? You're crazy. I'm all for the legalization of pot, but some are illegal for good reason. And the "right to choose to buckle up?" Now you're just really stretching.sca321

[QUOTE="The_Baymonster"]..... and it is stuff like that which scares me. I really do not want my kids to live in a world where the government decides what you can eat, what you can wear, what vehicle to drive because it is safest, and must live under a camera in your house so the government knows you are not doing anything illegal. I'm afraid that within a few generations it may come to thatEJamison

There is definitely a chance of that.

....And for the other post about being a parent. That is a different situation, and a child is not the same as an adult. The main difference, however, is that a parent is different and can look at their child as an individual human being, where a federal body attempts to control millions of different people as one giant mass.

Seatbelts? Drugs. It's because people are too stupid to save themselves from these things that they need the government to help keep them alive. People die from not having a seatbelt on, which every vehicle is equipped with and is a very simple device. Drugs harm your body and that's it. It's like I, Robot, we need to be protected from ourselves. OfficialJab

[QUOTE="EJamison"][QUOTE="The_Baymonster"]..... and it is stuff like that which scares me. I really do not want my kids to live in a world where the government decides what you can eat, what you can wear, what vehicle to drive because it is safest, and must live under a camera in your house so the government knows you are not doing anything illegal. I'm afraid that within a few generations it may come to thatThe_Baymonster

There is definitely a chance of that.

....And for the other post about being a parent. That is a different situation, and a child is not the same as an adult. The main difference, however, is that a parent is different and can look at their child as an individual human being, where a federal body attempts to control millions of different people as one giant mass.

True, but they both are still trying to control something whether that is an individual or millions of people. Why do they do this? For people's own good. If we were to give people what they want; i.e drugs, weapons etc. Then there would be no point in a government. People will become reckless, do stupid stuff, and this will lead to many other things. I suspect that crime will go up and many people will lose their homes, jobsand families to drugs. Their are irrational people out there and that's why the government needs laws to restrain them.

If the government however, starts to censor and invade our privacy; then thats something else. But I don't think they would, as this will cause many riots and unrest. And we don't want another China.

The united states are becoming more sticter than gamespot...I do agree on that...

schoeffmaster

And that's saying something. By the way, I totally agree. This country was designed around freedom, and just like you mentioned, it is being taken away piece by piece, everday. Another idea would be to at least have discussions regarding which laws can be taken away. It doesn't really matter whether drugs are illegal or not, people will still find a way to do them. However, people who choose to not do drugs think those laws are perfectly fine. I think that the entire nation needs to be reformed in a way where the government is run by the people, as it once was, and not by special interest groups or political parties for that matter either....

Whatever. I think some laws are stupid (required to wear a seatbelt?). However, drug laws, i think are perfectly fine. Oftentimes the drug user harms other people, putting them in danger also. I'm ok with Pot being legalized, but the hardcore ones should stay illegal.

But really, none of my freedoms have been taken away yet. My life hasn't changed one bit since the Patriot Act. Although i would like it to be removed (i hope the next administration removes it), so far it hasn't affected me.

I think you are exaggerating this "Freedomes taken away" thing.

well people are stupid and need the goverment to help them live good lives.fax555241

True story

Whatever. I think some laws are stupid (required to wear a seatbelt?). However, drug laws, i think are perfectly fine. Oftentimes the drug user harms other people, putting them in danger also. I'm ok with Pot being legalized, but the hardcore ones should stay illegal.

But really, none of my freedoms have been taken away yet. My life hasn't changed one bit since the Patriot Act. Although i would like it to be removed (i hope the next administration removes it), so far it hasn't affected me.

I think you are exaggerating this "Freedomes taken away" thing.

helium_flash

Yes... so dumb people won't hurt themselves :P

[QUOTE="sca321"][QUOTE="Mumbles527"]Come on, the right to do drugs? You're crazy. I'm all for the legalization of pot, but some are illegal for good reason. And the "right to choose to buckle up?" Now you're just really stretching.Mumbles527

Edit: And who said I could only think of 4 things to complain about the government?

I think one of the main problems with saying "well nothing has bothered me yet" is that this gives ruling bodies a chance to take away our freedoms peace by peace.

One small thing gets taken away, and it only affects a few people, and so only a few complain. Then another small thing gets taken away, and only a few are affected and complain- after all- it's for the greater good, right? But then something else small gets taken away, but nobody really notices because it effects such a small portion of the population.

But what happens when this happens so much we step back and see how much we have really lost as a whole?

oh, and for posters like helium- thank you for keeping this civilized and intelligent. I'm suprised this discussion as stayed for the most part respectable thus far;)

[QUOTE="Mumbles527"][QUOTE="sca321"][QUOTE="Mumbles527"]Come on, the right to do drugs? You're crazy. I'm all for the legalization of pot, but some are illegal for good reason. And the "right to choose to buckle up?" Now you're just really stretching.sca321

Good, maybe Communism will slowly take over.

we haven't gained freedoms? see: alien and sedition acts, espionage act

but I have to agree with you on the patriot act. its totally ****ed up

we haven't gained freedoms? see: alien and sedition acts, espionage act

but I have to agree with you on the patriot act. its totally ****ed up

mig_killer2

Then there would be no point in a government. People will become reckless, do stupid stuff, and this will lead to many other things. Golfer4Life

Internal security is police and courts to deal with thieves, assault, murderers and other such serious crimes.

External security is the military to protect us from aggression by other countries.

Everything else the gov't tries to do is a stretch.

[QUOTE="sca321"][QUOTE="Mumbles527"][QUOTE="sca321"][QUOTE="Mumbles527"]Come on, the right to do drugs? You're crazy. I'm all for the legalization of pot, but some are illegal for good reason. And the "right to choose to buckle up?" Now you're just really stretching.Mumbles527

Truth in those words. Let our people die or try to help them? You decide.

[QUOTE="sca321"][QUOTE="Mumbles527"][QUOTE="sca321"][QUOTE="Mumbles527"]Come on, the right to do drugs? You're crazy. I'm all for the legalization of pot, but some are illegal for good reason. And the "right to choose to buckle up?" Now you're just really stretching.Mumbles527

You also realize that a lot more women are beaten every sunday afternoon after their husband's football team loses?? Should the government ban football then too? Hey, it's not really a joke- numbers back it up- maybe one day we will see stuff like this proposed.

Are you missing the point? If the government keeps it going, we will lose ten times as many freedoms in the name of "safety."

There was a very famous person who had a very good quote on this whole issue, btw;)

AND THIS ISN"T JUST ABOUT FREAKING SEATBELTS!!!!

:D