RNS Quote of the Day: 05/11/07

5 Responses to RNS Quote of the Day: 05/11/07

1. Glenn B says:

   May 11, 2007 at 9:43 am

   I disagree, I think plenty of people want to be responsible for their own liberties. This is why most people are law abiding, why people vote, why people are active politically in other ways than voting, why people join organizations to prtoect their rights and liberties, why people go out and join a vounteer mmilitary, why people go out and enjoy their rights by way of their liberties.
2. Gman says:

   May 11, 2007 at 10:16 am

   Liberty or license? I would agree with RNS, and disagree with Glenn B. I believe we are trending more toward license than liberty. It seems like at almost every turn citizens (who purport to want to be free) pass on the costs of almost everything to their fellow citizen (e.g. education). Maybe a complement to Shaw’s quote could be from Frederic Bastiat: “The State is that great fiction by which everyone lives at the expense of everyone else.” Legalized plunder is really the order of the day, increasingly so. Look at public policy trends on anything: health care, global warming, education, etc. The trend is to pass the costs of our behavior on to others. For example, we want climate change, but we don’t want to trade our gas-guzzling truck or SUV in for a fuel-efficient vehicle. No, pass the costs of that gas-guzzler on to the public at large. Just one example of those who value liberty but lack the capacity to do what’s necessary to preserve it.
3. Linoge says:

   May 11, 2007 at 5:58 pm

   Sure, Glen, lots of people are doing those kinds of things… but lots more of other people are also signingover our rights and liberties to the government, to technology, to God alone knows what else. In fact, in lots of instances, those people are insisting that those aforementioned entities take their liberties away from them… for the good of the people/state/children/mintorities/etc.

   We would rather be nanny-stated and spoon-fed to death, than face the chance of being held responsible for our own lives. If that is not the sign of an impending collapse (yay conspiracy-theory, apocalypse-preaching goodness!), I will be buggered if I know what is.
4. Evil Conservative says:

   May 13, 2007 at 1:20 pm

   Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it

   What does that mean? It means that you MUST be willing to do whatever is necessary – however unpleasant or dangerous – when it becomes necessary to do so. Be that water the tree of liberty, shed the blood of your enemy or sacrifice yourself for the idea of liberty for ALL mankind.

   Far too many are afraid that they’ll have to do something unpleasant. Then there are those that will do so because there are those that won’t. Because we’re not afraid of what it takes to preserve liberty.

   Do what it takes to live free today. Deal with the results tomorrow.
5. Glenn B says:

   May 13, 2007 at 3:02 pm

   Tell that stuff to the men and women of our volunteer armed services. Yes there are plenty of people who would not fight for their liberty, but plenty more who would. The thing is the original comment was that very few people want to be responsible for their own liberty. That is just not so. Many people act quite responsibly regarding their liberty, holding it precious and ready to die for it if need be.

   Evil conservative seemed to grasp it best, there are those who value liberty and they who do not; and we who do often wind up fighting to maintain it for all.

   All the best,
   Glenn B

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