I found these this weekend and thought I'd share them here...

A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the people discover they can vote themselves largess (gifts, money, favors, etc.) out of the public treasury. from that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits from the public treasure, with the result that democracy always collapses over a loose fiscal policy--to be followed by dictatorship.

--Lord Woodhouselee

The first thing necessary to control the people is to separate them from their heritage.

--Karl Marx



I have hope that McCain will prevail, but am also a realist. And because of my faith, in a sense it doesn't matter because I believe that God sets up rulers and tears them down, so regardless, He is in control.

I know that some will argue, but we have been separated to some degree from our heritage, this country was founded on Biblical priciples and we have moved farther and farther from that. With an Obama administration, that will only continue.

No matter what happens, it ought to be interesting. God has a plan.

(yes I googled the woodhouselee quote, I realize that it may or may not have originated with him...nonetheless, it rings true)

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Melissa

The last 8 years have been filled with war and greed. McCain committed adultery for money and power. Your faith, which I absolutely admire, is being used as tool.

I appreciate your kinds words regarding my faith. But your opinion that it is being used as a tool is untrue and offensive.

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Melissa

My faith tells me to beware of materialism, improper use of power, greediness, coveting the assets of others (countries,) Those are the things we will be judged by when judgment day arrives.

"History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes. " - Thomas Jefferson.

"Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we called it the word of a demon, than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness, that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind." -Thomas Paine

"During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the Clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution." - James Madison



These are some other interesting quotes from our founding fathers. The primary principle upon which this country was founded was freedom.

And it's worth noting that under a 'Christian', Conservative, Republican president, abortion is still legal and gay marriage became legal or recognized in, what, seven states? And the part that really chaps my butt is that so many Cons voted for Bush based only on those two issues and look where that got us. Religion is losing its chokehold on this country and on the world...hallelujah.

Maureen

(cough, cough) unless you were black or female

As you should be. . .but all of those things are shared equally among the parties.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

“When fascism comes to America, it’ll be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross” — Sinclair Lewis

"What pushes the masses into the camp of socialism is, even more than the illusion that socialism will make them richer, the expectation that it will curb all those who are better than they themselves are."
Ludwig von Mises

That's a very odd choice of quotes. I am different than other people, but I do not consider myself to be inferior to anyone else on the planet. I am no better than anyone else either.

Who are you better than?

"First, the federal government will use a portion of the $700 billion financial rescue plan to inject capital into banks by purchasing equity shares." - Dubya....in a speech that could've been called "How A Con brought Socialism to the US but y'all keep banging the 'Obama is for Socialism' drum cuz it sounds right good and might distract from what I'm doing".

That part of the quote was in reference to the envy and jealousy that some have to the "rich".

The rich are better than me? Why?

14 POINTS OF FASCISM


1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism

From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.

2. Disdain for the importance of human rights

The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.

3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause

The most significant common thread among these regimes was the use of scapegoating as a means to divert the people’s attention from other problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in controlled directions. The methods of choice—relentless propaganda and disinformation—were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite “spontaneous” acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, and “terrorists.” Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.

4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism

Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.

5. Rampant sexism

Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.

6. A controlled mass media

Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses.

7. Obsession with national security

Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting “national security,” and questioning its activities was portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous.

8. Religion and ruling elite tied together

Unlike communist regimes, the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite’s behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the “godless.” A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite was tantamount to an attack on religion.

9. Power of corporations protected

Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of “have-not” citizens.

10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated

Since organized labor was seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin to a vice.

11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts

Intellectuals and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal. Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist.

12. Obsession with crime and punishment

Most of these regimes maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked power, leading to rampant abuse. “Normal” and political crime were often merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or “traitors” was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more police power.

13. Rampant cronyism and corruption

Those in business circles and close to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example, by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely unconstrained and not well understood by the general population.

14. Fraudulent elections

Elections in the form of plebiscites or public opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters, destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to a judiciary beholden to the power elite.

NOTE: The above 14 Points was written in 2004 by Dr. Laurence Britt, a political scientist. Dr. Britt studied the fascist regimes of: Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile).

You have to keep the whole quote together to understand the true meaning.
That somehow people think that socialism will make them richer. The only way that they think they can become rich ... is to take from the rich. Then the rich is the same as them.

Not meaning to be a better human being, but rather that they think the rich have a better life (financially)

"I do not mean to exclude altogether the idea of patriotism. I know it exists, and I know it has done much in the present contest. But I will venture to assert, that a great and lasting war can never be supported on this principle alone. It must be aided by a prospect of interest, or some reward."

-George Washington. Letter, April 21, 1778.


A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.

-Thomas Jefferson

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

"the expectation that it will curb all those who are better than they themselves are." This is the part of the quote that says some people are better than others. There is no other way to interpret these words.

Nobody currently running for president is proposing socialism. I hope that you know that.

"it will likely take some strong medicine to cure America of its infectious flirtation with socialism. I believe that medicine, believe it or not, is named Barack Obama.

But their education is coming. It is not coming from me. It is coming from the inevitably failed policies of Barack Obama and his party over the next two years. It's going to be a painful awakening. Just wait until you see how expensive "free" health care really is. Just wait until you see how little wealth you have after he spreads it around. Just wait until you see what it's like to have to ask a government bureaucrat for permission to do things you once took for granted.

That's what's wrong with socialism.

People have to see it for themselves.

They have to experience the misery and the control.

They have to see it with their own eyes.

Then, maybe then, we will have a chance to get America back on track.

Then, maybe then, we will have enough courage and desire to fight to regain what we have lost.

Then, maybe then, our experiences will protect us, for awhile, from the freedom-stealers.

Then, maybe then, we will have enough sense to educate our young people as to the inherent evils of socialism – so they won't be fooled, again." -- Joseph Farah

I googled Joseph Farah. World Net Daily is a highly dubious source with great thinkers like Jerome Corsi and Chuck Norris.

The rich keep all of the money, pay none of the taxes.
The middle class pays all of the taxes, does all of the work.
The poor are there to scare the sh*t out of the middle class!

George Carlin

Thanks for posting this. It is great. And unfortunately all too true.

An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth
become error because nobody will see it.--Gandhi

An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that
it will also make better soup. H. L. Mencken

The men that the American people admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars;
the men that they detest most violently are those that try to tell them the truth. H. L. Mencken


The world always makes the assumption that the exposure of an error is identical with the
discovery of truth--that the error and truth are simply opposite. They are nothing of the
sort. What the world turns to, when it is cured of one error, is usually simply another
error, and maybe one worse than the first one. H. L. Mencken

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

SHARKIZ great quote by the late wonderful truly missed comedian George Carlin who in many people's views certainly did talk the truth and that quote pretty much said it all, so that for the great quote... Catherine

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
George Washington