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| Defending our 'Freedoms' |
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Posted by CN Staff on May 23, 2002 at 07:06:32 PT By Harry Browne Source: WorldNetDaily 
We are told over and over again that the terrorists aren't upset with American foreign policy – it's our freedoms they can't stand. They want to destroy us because we're free. Unfortunately, those who say this don't spell out the particular freedoms that the terrorists are upset about. Is it our freedom to divert 47 percent of our national income to taxes collected by the federal, state and local governments? Is it the freedom of senior citizens to have life-and-death decisions on medical tests and treatments made by faceless Medicare bureaucrats – who have the power to imprison doctors or patients who defy their wishes? Is it the freedom to have our retirement money hijacked by a Social Security system that squanders the money on boondoggles, so that our children and grandchildren have to be taxed in order for us to get our retirement money back? Is it the freedom to pay higher and higher school taxes that impoverish us, so that we're forced to send our children to "free" government schools – where they can be indoctrinated as good little citizens of the state? Is it the freedom to have the FDA keep life-saving medicines off the market for political reasons – so that critically ill patients have to travel to other countries to get what they need? Is it the freedom to have our tax money spent on ridiculous anti-drug ads that drug users (present and future) think are just plain silly? Is it the freedom to have our tax money spent on invasions of Panama, Grenada, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries; to have American troops stationed in a hundred countries around the world; to have American bombers attacking Serbia, Libya, Bosnia, the Sudan and countless other countries? Is it the freedom to be defended by a $2 trillion government that couldn't even protect us from a bunch of amateurs wielding box-cutters? I really don't know what freedoms the super-patriots are talking about. What I want But before you bruise your dainty fingertips typing an e-mail to tell me I should go live in Iran or some other hell-hole, let me tell you what I really want. I don't want to live in Iran, Afghanistan, Cuba, East Timor or anywhere else. I want to live in the America that once existed as the beacon of liberty, providing light and hope and inspiration to the entire world – the one that politicians from William McKinley to George W. Bush have replaced with a giant bully that tyrannizes Americans and foreigners alike. I want to live in the America where health care was inexpensive and easily accessible, where health insurance was easy to obtain and cheap, where there were charity hospitals and free clinics, where hospital stays were inexpensive – the America that existed before the politicians imposed Medicare, Medicaid, the HMO Act and their yearly "improvements" on us. I want to live in the America where government at all levels took just 8 percent of the national income, mainly because the federal government was bound down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution – where the federal government was so small that it could perform its constitutional functions on just the revenue collected from tariffs and excise taxes, with no income taxes at all. I want to live in the America of Washington and Jefferson that promoted good will and honest commerce toward all countries, and hatred toward none – one in which the politicians don't blame their own failures on faceless foreigners. I want to live in the America where people like George Bush, Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich and Teddy Kennedy can't impose their ideas on you and me – where each American is free to work out his own destiny. I want to live in the America our founding fathers bequeathed to us when they enacted the Bill of Rights – a country in which government has no power to monitor your bank account, your mail, your life; where government can't tax you to subsidize the reelection of incumbent politicians; where government can't leave you defenseless against criminals while treating you like a criminal. If such a country still existed, the terrorists wouldn't be invading America with box-cutters in the futile hope of changing American foreign policy. They'd be flooding the country with visa applications, trying to get in to enjoy the same freedoms we'd have. Harry Browne is the director of public policy at the American Liberty Foundation -- http://www.americanlibertyfoundation.org/ You can read more of his articles and find out about his network radio show at: http://www.harrybrowne.org Source: WorldNetDaily (US Web) Libertarian Party CannabisNews Justice Archives Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #17 posted by Hope on May 24, 2002 at 11:03:22 PT |
| My heart broke when I read that we had lost the baby that we were all so thrilled to know was being created. Yet, it was with great relief that I read that your wife survived the loss. I pray that you will, as soon as the time is right, receive the gift you seek. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #16 posted by Lehder on May 24, 2002 at 09:36:52 PT |
| My sincere condolences and best wishes for you and yours. You'll soon get up and fight again. We all have duty to survive this holocaust lest the human race be driven into the dark mentality of pre-civilization. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #15 posted by Dan B on May 24, 2002 at 09:21:39 PT:
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| Thanks again for the many kind words and well wishes. We had a follow-up appointment today, and my wife is recovering well. It'll be a few months before we can try again to have a baby, but we are both doing well, and the time will pass quickly. Thanks again. Dan B [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #14 posted by Nuevo Mexican on May 23, 2002 at 21:45:27 PT |
| and my heart goes out to you. You seemed very excited about the new addition, and I would've been as well! Hope your wife is doing okay! Peace! [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #13 posted by Sandino on May 23, 2002 at 19:04:05 PT:
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| Today, I would like to write a little on a number of topics. To begin, I would like to say that I was saddened to read about your wife's situation Dan. But, I am happy that she is ok and I hope that your desire to have children in the future is fulfilled. This web-site is a most wonderful place and what I enjoy most about it is; that it is for real. The fokes who post here, write their own truths, some very sad, some very joyous and all the inbetweens, what ever the case may be. Dan, I was most amazed at the time and energy that you put into freeing the Steves and today they are free. No one knows for sure what the future holds for any of us, but we must keep our heads up, never stop trying to make our world a better place and find our own peace. Dan, Take Care. I am also very happy to have been able to vote for Harry Browne, a most honest and truthful person. I vote Libertarian for two reasons: to keep our Constition and Bill of Rights alive and to end the war on drugs. To find Truth, Justice and Freedom within our government the republowcrats must be removed. The massive pile of dung that this government is presently is not going to be changed into a brilliant faceted diamond over night. Removing the current people within this government needs to take place as soon as possible. A new day, a new beginning. Another most wonderful place to find interesting information and truth is at the Yippie Group web-site. This site was put together by Aron Pieman Kay, the Yippie Pie Thrower. Find the new steps to the shrub shuffle and check it out at: Yippies Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/yippies/ And be sure and check out the link to the 1977 Yippie Smoke-In video which is the prelude to the marijuana march at: Yippie Smoke-In http://www.crrh.org/hemptv/docs_yippie.hlml [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #12 posted by BGreen on May 23, 2002 at 15:22:36 PT |
| I share the sentiments that the others have expressed. I'm so sorry. I thank God your wife is OK. I know it's hard to see through the grief, but I think you're a lucky couple to still have each other. Your kids are going to have some great parents. Bud [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #11 posted by letsgetfree on May 23, 2002 at 15:07:21 PT |
| best wishes to you and your wife... from what I've seen of your posts your future child will have a good father to help him in this troubled world. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #9 posted by FoM on May 23, 2002 at 12:09:59 PT |
| You're doing exactly what you should be. Take it easy and the news will be here when you're up to the fight. Please tell your wife she is in my thoughts and prayers. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #8 posted by Dan B on May 23, 2002 at 12:04:05 PT:
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| I appreciate all the well wishes and expressions of concern and support. You're a great bunch of folks, and I'm glad to know you, if only via the Internet. Aside from taking care of my wife, I've been taking it easy today--goofing off on the Internet, etc. I'll be back in the thick of things soon, commenting on articles and lambasting prohibitionists, but for now I just need a break. Thanks again, and I'll be back soon. Dan B [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by SParker on May 23, 2002 at 10:33:18 PT |
| Dear Dan ~ While I can make no claim to know how you must feel, my heart has also been torn between sorrow for your loss and gratitude for your wife's good health. The love, strength and hope that you so visably share for each other honors us all. I have every faith that this will someday be rewarded. Steve Parker Santa Cruz, CA [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #6 posted by kaptinemo on May 23, 2002 at 08:29:46 PT:
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| Everybody here knows I am a wordy b*st*rd, but I'm struck speachless at your loss. Our prayers go with you with a swift recovery...and a second chance. Be well... [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by ekim on May 23, 2002 at 08:10:02 PT |
| I have enjoyed reading your posts. Plase know you are helping many young people you are part of the village. see you mike. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 23, 2002 at 07:55:24 PT |
| Oh Dan, That brings tears to my eyes. An ectopic pregnancy is very bad. My one sister had one. She went on to have more children. She had a total of 7. I was never able to conceive after my son and I know how painful it is. I know you can have more children but you will grieve for the child you lost and that is normal. God Bless you and your wife. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #3 posted by Ethan Russo MD on May 23, 2002 at 07:53:12 PT:
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| Sorry about your recent difficulties. It is a hard process, this having children. (I've been blessed with two teenage challenges). I wish you and your wife every success and happiness. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #2 posted by Dan B on May 23, 2002 at 07:47:59 PT:
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| First, I'll never regret my vote for Harry Browne in the 2000 presidential elections. The man speaks a whole lot more truth than just about anyone else out there. His words often help me to retain my hope in the future for this country and the world, and for that I am thankful. I am also thankful that my wife is alive and well today thanks to the care of some great doctors. You may recall that a little more than a week ago I announced that after two years of trying, we finally were expecting a baby. During the past week, we were sent on an emotional roller coaster--one minute the baby was in jeopardy, the next it was fine. Finally, on Monday our doctor told us that we might lose the baby--that it looked like an abnormal pregnancy of some sort, but he wasn't sure, and it might just be slow in taking off. Yesterday, his suspicions were confirmed: the pregnancy was ectopic (in the fallopian tube, rather than in the uterus), and they had to operate. Of course, we lost the baby in the process. But there is some good news here. First, we know that we can get pregnant (as I said, we had been trying for two years, so we were technically infertile). Second, we caught the ectopic pregnancy early; women can and do die from ruptured tubes, usually from blood loss, so we are very thankful that we had a doctor who was on top of things. Third, it looks like the doctor was able to save the tube, which means that when we are ready we can try again. So, we still have hope, and while we are sad that we lost the pregnancy, we are thankful that my wife is alive and recovering. Thanks to everyone who wished us well and offered congratulations. I really appreciate the "family" atmosphere we have developed here, and I look forward to announcing that you will all be "aunts" or "uncles" to our next baby. You'll hear about it when we do. Dan B [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 23, 2002 at 07:13:35 PT |
| Drug Enforcement Administration and Legislators Partner To Fight Drugs and Narco-Terrorism
From staff reports http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2002/as-state-0523-0-2e22w2510.htm The Drug Enforcement Administration is teaming up with the National Foundation of Women Legislators in a new, nationwide attack on drugs and terrorism. The "Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign" kicks off today in all 50 states. Efforts will focus on two issues: the link between drugs and terrorism, and the dangers of "club drugs." "Since 9-11, the War on Drugs has developed into a War on Narco-Terrorism. Drug trafficking has become a national security issue because it is often drug money that finances terrorist operations," said DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson. For more information on the "Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign" in Alabama, contact Rep. Barbara B. Boyd, D-Anniston at (256) 236-4603. [ Post Comment ] |
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