What Kind of Country Do You Really Want to Live In?

[Ethereal]

Jefferson also spoke of an aristocratic conspiracy to transform the nascent republic into a monarchy...

...Consolidation becomes the 4th chapter of the next book of their (the federalist party) history. but this opens with a vast accession of strength from their younger recruits, who having nothing in them of the feelings or principles of ’76 now look to a single and splendid government of an Aristocracy, founded on banking institutions and monied in corporations under the guise and cloak of their favored branches of manufactures commerce and navigation, riding and ruling over the plundered ploughman and beggared yeomanry. this will be to them a next best blessing to the Monarchy of their first aim, and perhaps the surest stepping stone to it.

[Thom Paine]

Stealing a movie description and a statement from that film for an answer :
Monte Walsh (1970)
An aging cowboy realizes that the West he knew and loved will soon be no more--and that there will be no room for him, either.

"I've outlived the country I loved", Monte Walsh (Lee Marvin)

personally, to the above I whisper "amen" ..

have a great day, y'all.

[nathanbforrest45]

A country that actually honors the Constitution, something this one very rarely has.

[Chris]

Stealing a movie description and a statement from that film for an answer :
Monte Walsh (1970)
An aging cowboy realizes that the West he knew and loved will soon be no more--and that there will be no room for him, either.

"I've outlived the country I loved", Monte Walsh (Lee Marvin)

personally, to the above I whisper "amen" ..

have a great day, y'all.

[Standing Wolf]

I am very concerned. I do think that the best way out of our present difficulties and conflicts is not to toss out our most important institutions, but I admittedly don't have the answer. Free speech is under assault. Look at free speech and the recent anti-cancel-culture letter and the outcry it has caused. To me, free speech is the most important thing and the largest threat to that is the PC Culture. I grew up believing (still do) in free speech. Suck it up buttercup. Nazi's march in Skokie. The Crucifix in the Urine art thingy. Don't care: It is the most despicable of speech that is the most worthy of protection. The problem I see is that media employees are supporting (even Ezra Klein) the suppression of Free Speech -- and they're all lefties. (I wouldn't care if they were all righties - they'd be as equally dangerous) The slippery slope we are on is incredibly dangerous. I don't care who offends whom. Free speech is free speech. Personally, I would never... but I have the right to - and the right to do so is very important. When we chip away at those rights eventually we'll have none.

As you well know - but as certain others, it appears, seem to easily lose sight of - the Constitution only protects speech from being abridged by the government. If a television network fires a commentator, or a sports team fires a coach, or any private business sanctions an employee for something they said or wrote, they are only violating that individual's "free speech" in the sense that the phrase has taken on in casual conversation - not in the legal sphere. When the U.S. government, or any lesser jurisdiction, begins putting people in jail for expressing an unpopular or controversial view, I will be the first to decry such a trend. In the meantime, I'm for setting a good example and for not referring to the fallout from P.C. culture as a loss of "free speech".

[DGUtley]

As you well know - but as certain others, it appears, seem to easily lose sight of - the Constitution only protects speech from being abridged by the government. If a television network fires a commentator, or a sports team fires a coach, or any private business sanctions an employee for something they said or wrote, they are only violating that individual's "free speech" in the sense that the phrase has taken on in casual conversation - not in the legal sphere. When the U.S. government, or any lesser jurisdiction, begins putting people in jail for expressing an unpopular or controversial view, I will be the first to decry such a trend. In the meantime, I'm for setting a good example and for not referring to the fallout from P.C. culture as a loss of "free speech".

That's true. However, I think the PC Culture can impact Free Speech. For example: We have a situation in NE Ohio where Meijers Grocery Store is canceling the sponsorship of a county fair b/c the vendors sell the confederate flag. They expect the Lorain County Fair Board to refuse to permit vendors to sell the flag. I'm trouble by that b/c some could see the flag as political speech. Fair Boards in Ohio are governmental entities. The Fair Board will do it and deal with the issue later, as other fair boards have done. We've seen PC cause the cancellation of speeches in public venues b/c of the outcry at colleges, parks etc. I think this is dangerous. Having said that, yes, legal Free Speech chilling or infringement requires governmental action.

[Standing Wolf]

A country with it written into its Constitution that we have the natural right to keep and bears arms to defend ourselves against violations of the Constitution by the goverment.

Where I think a useful conversation could arise from that sentiment is contained in the question, "Under what circumstances would a violent, armed response be appropriate and justified?" Almost without exception I believe most folks would agree that shooting in protecting life and property is both appropriate and justified; but I think that principle goes seriously off the rails when, as some have suggested, the mayor who directs the police to stand down and let the rioters run wild should be shot. Or that the prosecutor who brings charges against a store owner for protecting his property with deadly force should be shot. Even if we were to hold that the Constitution had been violated in some way by one or more of those officials - and I'm not saying that such a legal argument couldn't be made - is a descent into criminality, even murder, the best answer anyone can come up with?

If you had or have now some other example of a Constitutional violation by the government - past, present or theoretical - that you believe would justify and be best met with an armed response, please bring it up; I might agree with you.

[Chris]

If a television network fires a commentator, or a sports team fires a coach, or any private business sanctions an employee for something they said or wrote, they are only violating that individual's "free speech" in the sense that the phrase has taken on in casual conversation - not in the legal sphere.

Would that that were consistently held true for public accommodation laws...

[The Xl]

Our government is trash and does whatever it wants. You don't even have the right to have a business or congregate in public. What rights do we really have? The curtain has been lowered.

[Common]

Whether its a company or University stifling free speech or whatever, its the left doing it or forcing it.

A girl was accepted into Marquette they found out she was an active trump supporter and were going to deny her admission

Several shows have been suddenly canceled by the PC crowd...there are NUMEROUS incidents across the country of stifling of free speech by city govts and state

Trying to pass whats going off as just a few people or corporations acting on their own is an utter misrepresentation of the truth...its widespread and its all liberals.