Those who inadvertently (or intentionally) make this country a less pleasant place to live seem to me to be those people who want the same freedoms for everyone, but may not have any useful insight into how to achieve them.

Since I wrote this post, I’ve come to realize that not all conservatives are the way I had perceived them to be.

But hanging out on those extreme political forums, either democrat or republican, can make one feel that way.

I no longer hang out on the political forums. Especially because all my ranting and raving is saved for this blog.

What of those of us “red voters” who support Carlos’ in this?

The vast majority of conservatives are NOT in favor of a “police state” but rather more individual liberty. The problem is in the national parties which have identified themselves as liberal and conservative yet neither is true to either core value.

A “true” conservative is for LESS government and more individual freedom. Yet we find oru country in a two party system dominated by the “liberal democrats” who aren’t all that liberal and the “conservative republicans” who aren’t all that conservative.

Think about it.

The democrats (and we’re talking national party policies here not individual people registered as democrats) are for ever increasing governmental regulation and control. Each and every one of which is an infringement upon someones liberty and freedom. Yet they hold up a few specific causes (gay rights, abortion, etc.) and say “we’re liberal”. Meanwhile they attempt to dictate the foods we eat, cars we drive, requiring us to buy health insurance, etc.).

The republicans are no better. Their national party policies SAY they are for conservative (i.e. less interference with individuals) government yet they oppose a womans right to abortion, gay rights, etc.). All while doing just like the democrats and continuously passing legislation that, with each new law, takes away someones individual liberties.

I think that if you really examine the liberal/conservative chasm, after removing BOTH national parties, you’ll find a lot less distance between liberals and conservatives than you think.

I’m a right wing conservative. I believe that everyone should be free do do as they desire so long as the exercise of their individual freedom does not interfere with someone else’s rights. Isn’t that really what the majority of liberals believe?

Yes, there are extremists on both sides, and I’ve been accused of being an extremist myself because I believe the Constitution was (it’s been too “interpreted” to say “is”) a brilliant document. Unfortunately I belive Jefferson was half right in opposing the “Bill of Rights” because he feared that eventually those would be our ONLY rights. The reality is that we don’t truly have even those RIGHTS now.

The press must obtain permission, in the form of a license, to operate. Citizens must obtain permission to purchase and carry a firearm. The 10th Amendment has been thouroughly trounced since the Lincoln and the Civil War.

I have quite a few friends who consider themselves adamant liberals. Yet we agree on almost all of the issues. Yes, we have differences but the majority of the time we both find ourselves going “wow, I agree with you”.

This is not a republican or democrat issue. Not a red state/blue state issue. It is an issue of the most basic our Constitutional rights having been infringed.

When people write “when a cop says go and you don’t go you’re asking for it” there is something wrong. I’m not “anti-cop”, my father is a retired police officer, I’ve worked with many officers myself, and my wife used to the the nurse in a jail. The vast majority are doing a great job. However, there are individuals and even entire departments who routinely violate our rights, under color of authority. If we do not stand up to those individuals and departments we will find ourselves in a police state.

When asked “do you mind if ______” by an officer, you should say “yes I mind”. When an officer asks to search your car say “NO”. When asked for ID while walking down the street, refuse.

I’ve been stopped because “I noticed you drving back and forth through town, do you have a reason for being here?” My answer: “Yes officer, I do”. When asked “What reason?” I replied “That’s none of your business officer”. He didn’t like it, nor did he like it when he asked to search my vehicle and I said NO (I was in a convertible with the top down for christs sake.

Another time I had a gun drawn on me by one of 4 officers. ON a military base, standing outside my barracks, because when the car full of “hippies” (civillians) pulled to a screeching stop and said “freeze”….no POLICE, just freeze I replied “who the hell are you”. Long story shorter, there were looking for someone who had thrown a firecracker at the car of the wife of the officer who drew his weapon “or possibly shot at it” a good 6 blocks from us, where the bar was letting out. All of my superiors “suggested” that I “let it go” but I persisted that it was simply wrong for that to have happened. Eventually, I received an in person and written appology from all four officers and the one who drew his weapon got a written reprimand in his record (a big deal for military people). Yet I was “encouraged” at every step to “just let it go”.

Keep at it Carlos’ and good luck. I don’t hold your being a liberal against you, I hope you understand that not all conservatives are the enemy.

One thing i’ve noticed, consistently about “police abuse” cases. Everyone who says “we don’t know the whole story” even though there’s raw footage, people who ad hominem those reporting what has happened to them, the ones who say that the person being abused deserved it somehow… these people all vote red.

It’s as if they want a police state to keep the supposed bellyaching down to a minimum. But if they ever got harassed by police, you could bet they’d make a stink about it. blah. anyhow good site and stuff.

If not, then I will tell you again, shut Yarmouth.

You’re nothing but a fat, bald liberal cry baby. Oh, you’re probably a homo too.

Shut Yarmouth unless you’re going to do it.