WHAT IS YOUR FREEDOM WORTH?

In one word: Priceless.

In fact, it's priceless enough to me that I'd gladly see everybody in the country go without that $20/paycheck. Forever.

But, hey, here's a better idea. Let all those crooked politicians and grasping CEO's and other filth who have been gutting this country, and selling its jobs and businesses out of the country--let them pay for this critical stimulus. They can patriotically donate their offshore accounts and all those other ill-gotten gains toward stimulating the economy. Course, if they hadn't dicked with it, it wouldn't need any stimulation. Would it?

Even better idea. Why don't we just relocate all those guys, especially our congressmen, to the middle of the Atlantic, or even the Baltic, and confiscate all their offshore accounts, then plow those dollars back into the regular guy's economy? They did this sh*t to us, they can pay to fix it.

Dude, I've read your stuff before. Thanx for "thinking" you were keeping us free in the Gulf; we weren't free even then. Your time there, your losses, and those of your friends were simply wasted so the ruling class could pay back some campaign debts.

I hope I don't offend you, but I gotta tell you straight: You're confused as to what "freedom" and "liberty" are.

True freedom means that companies can pay whatever wage employees are willing to work for; Freedom means that companies are allowed to base their manufacturing plants anywhere they choose; Liberty means a people able to buy products manufactured anywhere and still be considered "patriotic".

To be a productive American requires some education. As boring as it might seem (it is NOT) a basic understanding of economics is required. All this whining and bellyaching about the poor abused worker in America and the lamenting that all the jobs are going overseas, and evil Walmart is selling stuff made in China is a sign that the person doing the crying has been steeped in the ideals of communitarianism and has now embraced that philosophy as his own.

There is nothing that pains my heart more than reading the words of a man who fancies himself a patriot, spouting socialism and denouncing socialism at the same time.

It is the stranglehold that unions, over taxation, and other intrusive government regulations brought to bear on American industries that led to their lack of competitiveness - and the subsequent transfer of entire industries to other countries. Businessmen are just that; men and women seeking to generate money by conducting business. If the United States' government (at all levels) interferes excessively in the conduct of business and unions place unmanageable conditions in the workplace in terms of who can do what and at what cost to industry, it is in the businessman's interest to seek alternatives. Though nobody seems to make the connection, or is willing to talk about it if they do, the boost in minimum wage preceded massive job losses and caused many businesses to dramatically reduce their workforce or close up altogether because it was unsustainable. Many of those who lost jobs because of this ended up on public assistance, and they are among the poorest. Who does social engineering of this kind benefit? Only the few who retained their jobs, but now have to accept more labor in the wake of getting a government-mandated raise to compensate for those reductions. There was a time when 'building a career' was just that - working with what you could get until you could get something better, and the more dedicated that you were to 'climbing the career ladder', the better your outcome. We have entered an era that vilifies people who 'go for the gold', for if they do it will be seized by the state and redistributed to others who did not invest their time and effort into building a business or career, but rather made a career out of sucking the government teat. It is the failure of socialist policies like this that when you remove the incentive to reach for the sky, people will stop trying to do so and settle for less. Why bother when to gain rewards is to have them subject to being stripped from you by an overbearing and self-destructive government employing an economic model that eats its own tail to stave hunger? Eventually, the snake will die, but kick that can down the road to a future generation and all is well. If you get government out of the way, true freedom will return - not only on an individual level, but also in the business world, where job options are available to the working class and wages increase accordingly due to the competition for skilled (and non-skilled) labor. That is not the direction we are heading in currently. Free enterprise is true freedom for all involved, and twenty bucks a week for those who manage to keep decreasing numbers of jobs is selling the American People short.

It is my duty to stand and yes, fight for what I believe in, namely my country.

I had two brothers who fought side by side in Vietnam and I never saw an ounce of indignation or arrogance in them upon return to the US. I told the elder brother once how proud I was of him and he said, "I was just doing my duty. " His stance was strong, firm, committed and yet humble.

Has our country declined to the point there are no more of this type of individuals left?

There is no room for question here...you will fight for your country or hand the reins to someone else. Isn't it just that simple? Must we play these political checkers while time just ticks away and with each passing moment it sinks deeper and deeper into non existence.

It seems that some have a mind set of, the running of this country is like playing a game and may the best man/woman win...the stakes are far too high to take that gamble.

This political back and forth is a tactic, just full of words and stalling techniques designed to buy time while America falls apart.

How in the world can we be so blind as to allow the coming events to occur without at least trying to do something about it.

It's worth my Breath and my Life. There is something worth more though and that is the Breath and Life of my Children and Grand Children which I Truly Believe are at risk with this giant serpent of a federal government steadily constricting it's coils around each individual state and each individual citizen!

Hell, Just take a look at what has happened in the last ten days!!!!!!!!! WE HAVE A NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO WANTS TO TAKE AWAY OUR GUNS!

People!!! Please Educate Yourself BEFORE You VOTE!!! AFTER..IS ALWAYS TOO LATE!!!!!!!!!!!!

edit: Ben..You are either a Moron school kid or a future Terrorist! If you actually are a Canadian citizen then you Dishonor the memory of both the Canadian and American and other allied troops who have Died For Freedom!

The government already has more say than what they should. For instance: Telling our banks how to make loans, regulating our schools, enforcing trivial laws that should be up to the individual, making companies buy health care for their employs, etc. Although some of that may sound good and makes sense, it's still our government sticking their noses in where it does not belong. I certainly don't want our government making decisions for me and think we should start telling them to butt out. Look at the mess the Clinton administration made in our economy with Fannie Mae. I certainly don't want our government, whom can't make sound decisions, tell me how to run my business.

Socialism is one step closer to communism. Although I'm 59 years old and a woman, I still have enough spunk to take up arms and fight to the death for my capitalist country.

Edit: Although I am neither Democrat or Republican and vote for whom I believe has the most integrity, good leadership qualities and less questionable character, I joined Grassfire and think it will make my voice heard on some issues I'm very concerned about. Thanks for the link.

Edit: In reading Foolosifer's last comments, I petition we support him in running for President next term. Unfortunately, most in our country does not want an honest, level-headed politician in office that has integrity, defends our Constitution and wants to place less government controls into our lives. Maybe I'm the only one, but you've got my vote. Think that will get anywhere? LOL

My freedom is not for sale -I would rather live in a country that rebuilds itself based on freedom rather than be enslaved by debt which I never asked for in the first place .

The federal reserve must be dissolved and replaced with a sound asset backed dollar .

We should let banks who over extended themselves go out of business .

We as a country should live within our means and thus keep the American dream alive (it is currently a Ponzi scheme which wont last forever if things dont change quickly )

everything and yet nothing

It is up to us to make the difference we want to see And sadly the Left has more drive at this – they will more willingly go to the extremes necessary to get their point across – and we on the Right need to learn from that. Talk is cheap and action begets action sitting around thinking people will use common sense to overcome is a crock. It takes one to change the world and If we don’t get a few grass roots leaders to step up and step out we are doomed. Our founding fathers knew that and they left nothing to chance. It is time we make haste and start leaving nothing to chance, no what ifs, should beens or could have beens, We have to be the change we want to see and we have to come out of the comfort zone and act and act now or we are doomed

It is worth the lives of the men and women who died for our freedom. It is our responsibility to live up to their expectations and honor their memory and sacrifice. My own family has many who gave all for our country.

What is Freedom worth? It is priceless

Ben...I think we should liberate Canada next.

EDIT: The tenets of capitalism in a free market versus the ideology of a "free" democratic society based on human rights and liberty for it's citizens are often at odds with one another. Democratic being the key word here. Democracy is socialistic in a sense.

But in an attempt to fulfill the dream....to balance an absolutely free society (which is self destructive in nature) usually leading to tyranny with socialism (self defeating and apathetic as well) we have what we have. It's not perfect BUT if you can do better.....run for office.

The two are not mutually exclusive but they are also not dependant on one another. Theoretically the two can exist together but in practice, greed usually destroys it all.

You are arguing apples v. oranges.

(Economics v. philosophy/sociology)

My freedom is worth everything. Everything.

Edit: One person cannot be free in a country that is not free. So when I say that my freedom is worth everything, I mean the freedom of my entire country, my state, my city, my community, and myself.

I have fought to defend the freedom of this country, and of the free world. I have almost died in doing so, 4 times. I will do so again if necessary. I stand with all others who fight, or have fought, to make and/or keep us free.