The Public Opinion Soapbox

Mavis · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 73

Regarding today's letter to the editor from a self-described borderline anarchist who despises all goverment and hopes for its collapse, http://www.publicopiniononline.com/opinion/ci_7877073:

Have we gone too far in this country with our government-hating sentiment and rhetoric?

The democratic form of government is government by "we the people." If we hate government and oppose it at every turn what happens to the democratic system?

Admittedly some politicans have hijacked government and use it to serve their own ends. But how do "we the people" take it back without destroying it in the process?

Jo · Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 94 Location: Chambersburg

For the sake of argument:

Sometimes it is easier to tear something down and start from scratch than to try to repair what is beyond repair...
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Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow. ~ Henry David Thoreau on hiking

Torgo · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 12:48 pm Post subject:

Also for the sake of argument:

Some might say that's exactly what's going on right now, just not by "the people."

springhill · Joined: 09 Dec 2007 Posts: 177

seems to me its a free country... even for anarchists.

in the marketplace of ideas, i believe all viewpoints are valid, and sometimes even useful.

we really do get the government we deserve.
maybe if more people would get off of their duffs and VOTE, and follow up with letters to their representatives, and get more involved and organized, politicians would lend a better ear to "we the people".

after all, they can be voted out just as easily as they can be voted in.

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2265 Location: Chambersburg

To Mr. Forister, I would simply say that he's free to move to whatever country he feels best exemplifies his anarchist ideals. I can understand a lot of political points of view; particularly the libertarian ideal of personal freedom and minimized government.

However, we live in a democracy that is far from perfect, but is perhaps one of the longest-lasting and successful in all of the industrialized world. In fact, our government has been the model for every advanced, industrialized, successful government since the birth of our nation.

But, as Benjamin Franklin said, two things in life are certain: death and taxes. If you think a nation could be successful without government or taxation of any kind, then I would encourage you to explain exactly how that would work and provide specific examples of its success.

And I'll end with one other quote:

"Democracy is the worst form of government, except all others that have been tried."
-Winston Churchill