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Why are people so insistent that America will never become a totalitarian state? Is it because we think that because the people have a say that it just isn't possible? Or has despotism become such a distant memory that we've taken freedom for granted? Do we see ourselves as such a great bastion of freedom that we are immune from the disease of barbarianism that has inflicted so much of the rest of the world throughout history?

Are we so far separated from the rest of the world that we don't have a reason to see what's going on around the rest of the world? Is it arrogance? Maybe our nation is too large, we have enough newsworthy events happening here in the United States, to keep our attention off of the rest of the world.

We ignore the slaughters of innocents in countries such as what's currently happening in Sudan with the Darfur rebels. Oh we'll eventually pay attention, as soon as it comes out in movie theaters, much like we did with 'Hotel Rwanda'. Wasn't that so sad? How could something like that happen? Maybe we should pay closer attention to what's happening when it's happening instead of waiting for it to come out in theaters or DVD?

We have people in this country who compare Iraq to Vietnam, how 2,000 soldiers dead compares with 58,000 soldiers dead is beyond me. My calculations may be off just a little but, wouldn't that make Vietnam like 29 times worse than Iraq is? Hello? Speekun of these protestors, I'd be surprised if any of them can even find Iraq on a map, much less explain to you why pulling out of Vietnam without victory actually caused more wars, cost more lives, than had we finished with victory. Our lack of attention is why we are doomed to repeat the past. Like Vietnam, leaving Iraq short of victory will create more wars, with thousands more lives lost.

How many people realize that we have a dictator living a mere 90 miles off of Florida? 90 miles off the coast of Florida and there, it's illegal for the people to catch lobster, slaughter cattle, or even speak freely. For my more liberal readers out there, that country is Cuba.

Speekun of dictators, let's talk about Cindy Sheehan's favorite crusader of suffering, oppressor of the people, Elgordo Chavez. He has an election coming up. Fausta, yeah, she can be trusted with good info on Elgordo. Despite Elgordo Chavez's attempt to silence the masses with road blocks, 1.4 million people still showed up to cheer on the anti-Iranisfidelischavez forces of suppression. Definitely visit Fausta's, bookmark it, and, instead of Taco Bell, use her site as a reference for what's happening south of the border.

Despite agreeing with her that Elgordo Chavez won't actually get the majority of the vote, I'm less optimistic that he'll lose the election. This is a man who reportedly gave Osama Bin Laden one million dollars "for his work on 9-11." and no, that wasn't just something Pat Robertson made up. Reports also have Al Qaida in Venezuela as well as his meddling in Latin American elections in order to place anti-American leaders in power.

What's worse, if many of our conservative allies won't even admit that Elgordo Chavez is an enemy of our nation, how can we expect the rest of the nation to see it? Like it or not, we'll soon be at war with Venezuela, because Elgordo is already at war with us. That is, unless he gets thrown out of power. Even then, he won't go peacefully. I predict the results have Elgordo winning big, but dear God, I hope I'm wrong. Regardless of the election results, Venezuela is a country that is ripe for civil war.

The question is, really, with Americans so oblivious to the growing threat in Central and South America, ignorant of what's happening in the rest of the world, proud to be embarrassed as we pull our troops out of Iraq, while seeking salvation from their own local governments, how much time do we have left?

It seems to me that there are only two sides to politics, with each side having it's own set of flavors as to which direction our nation should go. Thomas Jefferson referenced the pendulum swinging to describe this. There's the ideology that society is incapable of living freely, that we need some type of overseer to make sure that everything is in balance. I can't speak well of this thinking. Though it is true that I hold it with utter disdain, it's that I favor a free society and love freedom enough that I took the initiative and studied in my spare time what the founding fathers said freedom was supposed to be.

It's the proper role of government which I consistently find myself standing up for, and often I'm standing alone. I have learned to consider the source of all praise and criticism. I've learned to enjoy the comments regardless of what they say. I've been called everything from an 'anarchist' to a 'hatemonger', from a '7 letter word that also starts with an 'A', 'to a greedy, racist Republican', and that's from the nicer people. Once I considered the source, I found that these comments serve as a badge of honor, not an insult. In fact, it worries me most when all I get in return is silence.

Let's take a look at what anarchism really is, 'no government', right? At first glance, it seems to be such a horrible idea, but I would argue that society existed without government before. Who made who? Did government create a society to support it? Or did society create government, choosing to support that government? Obviously society created government for a reason. Society can exist without government, and at some point, it did.

So let's imagine in our minds that we are back in the time when people had complete freedom, they were able to do as they pleased. Somebody didn't like them, they killed them right? And what in turn happened to them? In any society, one can not do as one pleases without consequences to their actions. In any society, one can not walk around hitting people without getting hit back. Society must have some order to it, some type of moral code, if you will.

It's when people violate that moral code set before society that the people begin to turn away from the individual and find ways to punish them. Even without government, the people of a society will seek punishment. Without government, that mentality becomes a mob rules. Though I could not lend my support to mob rules as a recourse to violations of society, it does provide for no individual being above the law.

In a free society, people must have a moral code among them, or that society would fail to exist. I know some of the more liberal readers are probably cringing at the thought of morals, but isn't that what all laws are based on? The moral values of those who put the laws into effect? Laws dictate what, or how, one ought to behave, and the consequences of such behavior.

When Government's moral values, or laws, are not in line with what the majority of people's moral code, then government has overstepped it's bounds. In some cases, it's an obligation of the people to violate those laws. The era of abolition with moonshiners, ''untouchables', and speakeasies come to mind as does the Boston Tea Party. It's an obligation of the people to revolt, as peacefully as possible.

So how did we come to create government, what is the role of government, and when does it become too much? All societies have some form of government, even in an anarchist state. Everybody follows and everybody is a leader at some point in their life. The very core government is the government of the home, in which, the parents set their rules and regulations, and the children have to obey those rules or face the consequences. That body of government feeds, clothes, shelters, teaches, and protects. None can over estimate the role of family in government. It's the most basic institution and in it's success teaches the children to live productive lives, it's failure leads to the first revolt.

I suspect that the first government was formed as a means to the common defense. If a nation is without a government, another nation would soon govern that nation. If your only options are to be governed by one of your own, or governed by a foriegner, which would you choose? Common defense is the purpose of government; it is the most basic principle that people would give consent to the formation of a government.

Still, it seems to me that common defense isn't the only reason for a governing body. There are some other benefits to having a government, the proper role of government. This is where things get grey, taken out of context, and too often to the extreme. Our founding forefathers laid out the proper role of our government in the United States Constitution. To be more specific, the role of congress in Section 8 Article 1 of the United States Constitution. Among them was to provide for a postal service, roads, govern interstate commerce, and to fund the military. Somewhere, however, we seemed to have lost our way.

In my mind, it is enough that the government has certain limitations on people, that one can not intentionally harm me, nor my property without some facing some sort of consequences. Should it happen that a person break into my home and take my property, or attempt to physically harm me, I have the ability to defend myself. If I am not there to defend myself, it is enough for me that I have a recourse available should there be harm done to me.

There are those among us that have chosen to abuse and manipulate the term 'your freedom ends where my nose begins' into meaning that any inconvenience, annoyance, or dislikes ought to be outlawed based on nothing more than the possibility of harm coming from it. We have people that want to outlaw everything from tobacco smoke, hand held cellphones, and a breed of animal (pitbulls). The possibility of harm has become enough to regulate in our society, and when government invades the pursuit of happiness in order to provide security, it oversteps it's bounds. It's not the proper role of government to prevent another from harming you, but to provide you with recourse if they do, and if it can be proven that another did harm to you. After all, if men can not be trusted to be self governing, how then, can they be trusted with the governance of others?

These people that choose to have government abuse it's role, do so in the name of compassion, caring, safety, but at it's core it's selfishness, fear, and it's a self serving moral superiority. It's an attempt to force others to live by their moral code, after the people have long rejected it on their own. We've managed to over regulate gun ownership because of that same self serving moral superiority, yet the murder rate continues to be among the highest in the history of this nation.

The abuse of government leads to more abuse of government. My passion lately, seems to have been tied up in banning of the cellphones, so let's focus on that. The argument now is that it's unsafe for drivers to talk on their handheld cellphones, that it's a distraction. They'll point to other laws, such as DWI, road signs, speed limits, or other current laws to justify their argument.

Valid points, right? Sure, but then, doesn't that merely open the door to future laws on other potential distractions? If talking on the hand held is a distraction, then why isn't it a distraction to talk on a speaker phone? If cellphones ought to be banned, then shouldn't putting make up also be outlawed? We open the door to new laws that keep people from eating in their vehicles, which could lead to the banning of fast food drive thrus. Is it an exxageration?

Think about this, in the last twenty years, we went from taking cigerette machines out of public buildings because minors could buy smokes, to laws outlawing cigerette smoking anywhere but in ones home. If you can't smoke in your car, why should you have permission to do anything else but to drive?

Maybe the majority of people approve of such laws, but each new law only tightens the noose around freedom's neck. Eventually that noose becomes so tight that freedom ceases to be, and becomes a forgotten relic of the past. Freedom takes on a new meaning, a freedom from fear, from death, from suffering, but in the end, only leads to more fear, more death, and even greater suffering. Or as I like to say, if you want government to curb your fear of your neighbor, not only will you still fear your neighbor, but you'll fear your government too.

Post Script.. I never ask for comments, but I do want to hear your comments on what you think the proper role of government is.

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, it's time to focus on the next great Holiday. That's right, Christmas. Even, as GM called, a curmedgeon such as myself must enjoy Christmas, right? Bah Humbug. You think I'm going to change my style and start wishing Merry Christmas for the final days of this year? When am I ever a super benevolent guy?

Still, it won't hurt to try to get into the Christmas spirit so today I'm going to give you my Christmas Wish List.

I wish that I can go to the store this year without seeing a fellow customer get pissy with the help. I'm a polemic guy, but even I know how silly it is to yell at the clerk who's checking me out. Does anybody really believe that it helps matters to yell out the clerk when they have sixteen people in front of them? Do you really think I want to hear it as a fellow customer? And, if your words cause that clerk to walk off the job, and I have to wait any longer, you and me is gonna have some words out in the parkin lot buddy.

And to do this at a fast food establishment, are you trying to get special sauce on your sandwich?

I know Christmas Wish lists are supposed to be imaginative, yet achievable, but pretend I'm wishing for peace on earth. Suddenly my Christmas Wish List isn't so obscure, is it? However, since I am being unrealistic, let's include other things that ain't gonna happen.

How bout we start with the United States Constitution. Since we all love the U.S. Constitution so much, I wish this Christmas that everybody takes a few minutes out of their day and read it. It seems to me that people are writing the constitution to meet their own selfish desires. Free speech often is interpretted to say that I get to say whatever I want without any consequences, but that I have the right to shut anybody up that disagrees with me.

We think we have a Right to be happy, folks, it's the Right to pursuit happiness, a right which belongs to everybody and not just you. It does not give you the right to use government entities to legislate limitations on other people so you can be happier. This Christmas, I wish people would think a little more of the people around them before they do something to make them miserable in order to be happier.

And Speekun of legislating limitations on other people in order to make one happy, why is it that everything we don't like, every thing we think a danger, we feel we must regulate through government? If men can not be self governing, how can we ever expect them to govern others?

Life was meant to be lived, not to avoid death. Go live it, it's an adventure, with twist and turns. The prospect of death only makes it more exhilirating. Say what you got to say, do what you got to do, but don't think that you have a right not to die.

I'd like to add to my wish list drivers who block intersections. Holy smokes man, how much quicker do you think you are going to get home by stopping ten feet closer to the stop light?

I wish that people would have a little more respect for each other this Christmas season.

I wish this Christmas that I can be with the one person who means the most to me. I wish this Christmas I can be with my wife. I often take her for granted, but there is not one single person who has been with me through my toughest trials as she has. There aren't many people that are strong enough to tolerate me, and I'm very fortunate to have found her.

I wish I have more time this Christmas. It seems that each passing Christmas only gets more demanding while the time only goes by quicker. It's the most wonderful time of the year, I wish I can enjoy it more this time.

I wish to avoid politics this Christmas, especially now that the Democrats are in power. And how is it possible that the more I try to avoid politics, the more likely I'm going to get into a political discussion? How is that possible? Am I some political magnet? I mean, I can talk to a complete stranger, and somehow, they just start talking politics with me. I know, it's my fault, even when it ain't.

Which is probably a good time to talk about personal responsibilty. When I was a teenager, I took the responsibility for something that I did not do. In fact, the actual culprit blamed me. For personal reasons I took the blame and the culprit, who at the time I considered a friend, left me high and dry. I learned a great lesson from that. Several in fact, but the one lesson that I want to point out is that even when you are not at fault, take full responsibility. I suffered the consequences of somebody else's actions, but in the end, it prepared me for the future. Leadership means you are responsible for actions beyond your control.

Ah, but I ought to get back to my Christmas Wish List...

I wish for peace in each one of your hearts. It's a lot easier to be at peace with yourself, than to seek peace on earth. It also makes the world a much better place.

I wish this post had as much sarcasm as I originally intended. Bah Humbug.

Most of all, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year this year.

I know I'm supposed to write about what I'm thankful for, but what difference does it make to anybody what I am thankful for when there are plenty of things that I'm not thankful for? Don't get me wrong, I'm a happy camper, I love life. Overall, I approve of the direction that my life is going. On the other hand, I'd like my life to be better. I could sit around and be happy that things are how they are, or I can continuously strive for the betterment of it. Yeah, I can be happy now, but I'd much rather pursue happiness.

My first thing I am unthankful for are these emails that I get telling me that if I forward this to my friends I will receive a special call at 11:21 at night, or I'll have five years bad luck. You know the drill, I mean we all get them, and you probably forward them.

Quite frankly, why in the fire and brimstone would you send me something that says that? First of all, I have me one of them thar Jay Oh Bee's. I have to get up in the morning. For those of you who don't know what a Jay Oh Bee is, it's where the rest of us are at instead of sitting around the house eating Bon Bon's, watching Oprah, while waiting for our government paycheck for being a Professional Daytime Talkshow Analyst. It's what the rest of us do to build our self pride, our dignity, and what we do to support your lazy... assuming that you even have the energy to sit up long enough to read this.

So why do you think it's a good thing that I get a call at 11:30 at night? Isn't that like, past my bedtime? Do you want me to get a phone call that late? Do you really want me to go to work tired and red-eyed because I forwarded on your email? Screw that...

And what makes your message so important that you'd actually curse me with years of bad luck? Cripes folks, I have enough problems without you sending me more bad luck. As many of those emails that I received and never forwarded on, I might as well file for what? Luckruptcy? What in the fire and brimstone would you call it? I mean, I'm doomed. Thanks a lot people for sending me thousands of years of bad luck because I was kind enough to think of my friends first.

I'm not thankful for regrets. Well, I only have one, and it's really embarrassing. Okay, two regrets, which, the second ain't so embarrassing. I almost went into the military, during the Gulf War but by the time I went through MEPS, the war was over. Still, I regret not serving in the military. For those of you who do serve, has served, and will serve, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU.

I'm not thankful for the people who's self serving moral superiority think that they have a solution to everybody's problem and guess who get's to solve my problems for me? Government, always the government. Cripes people, if men can't be self governing, how can we ever expect them to govern others?

Holy smokes man, now they want to prohibit people from driving with a cellphone in their hand? What's next, no wives in the passenger seat? Yeah, you think it's funny, but seriously, try driving with a wife in the passenger seat, talk about a distraction. I guess for the time being it's still okay for me to change the radio station, while checking my laptop, shoving a Big Mac down my throat, and flipping the bird to the guy I just cut off. I just can't have a cellphone in my hand when I do it. I mean, we pay people to sit around and think of new laws like this? The guy ought to be fired and his position done away with. Now we aren't just talking about any genious here, we are talking about a guy who wants an unenforceable law on the books. By the way, despite an increase in the population and cellphones becoming a daily part of our lives, traffic fatalities have been on the decline since 1986 and reached a 15 year high in 2005.

I'm not thankful for the people who stole headlines with hurricane assistance mis-spending. Using money to get a sex change? Come on, get your hungry boyfriend to bite it off and save the rest of us the money.

This past week, we found out that a couple of Katrina Evacuees made the rest of Louisiana proud when they went to Memphis, TN and asked a church to help them out. The church responded by giving the couple a $75,000 home, paid for. In return, the couple showed their appreciation by selling the house for $88,000. They are unrepentant of their actions.

There is story after story of these people who have taken advantage of the kindness of the way America has opened their hearts. Let's see if America is so generous the next time around.

I'm not thankful for the quasi-Republicans that we sent up to Washington on our behalf. What's with this Republican ideology that we stand for "Less Taxes OR Less Government"? I'm a Republican because I firmly believe in "Less Taxes AND Less Government". I believe that taxes ought to be lower, yes, that's fine and dandy. I also believe that government ought not be responsible in preventing me from dying. I don't care about the second hand smoke, the guy with a cellphone, or super fat deep fryers.

Believe it our not, God gave me legs. If I want to avoid the smoker, I can walk away from him. I love having my cellphone in my car, and if I see you in an accident, I'll probably use it to call for help for you, unless of course, you don't want me too.

As for the transfat or whatever the new thing that the health police are trying to save us from, it's my choice. I've long felt that McDonald's ought to place a ten foot mirror in all their restaurants with a disclaimer in large letters that states "If the object in the mirror appears too large, please try our salads".

Really, is it really too much to ask people not to blame McDonald's for getting fat? Are you really so stupid that you are surprised you get fat after eating McDonald's everyday? And why is it the government's responsibility to keep you from getting fat, especially when you are sitting in front of the television the rest of the day eating Bon Bon's, watching Oprah, waiting for a check from the government because you are a professional daytime talkshow analyst? Get some exercise man, you won't be so damn obese.

Speakun of obesity and government protecting us from everything, don't you think it's time we outlawed obese people in bikinis? I mean, I have a right not to go blind because some super duper chubster decided to show me they have more than two breasts on their front side and a cottage cheese factory in their legs. In fact, studies show that people who drive home after witnessing such a sight are as dangerous as a person who drives while being intoxicated at twice the legal limit.

Happy Thankgiving and too all buenas noches.

I've been meaning to do this for quite sometime but haven't had much of a chance to do it. Just because we lost, doesn't mean the Revolution is over, it was just one battle.

One thing about Louisiana, the people here know how to have a good time, but something tells me that liberals will claim that our troops are cold and heartless and have some innate need to 'torture'.

I wish I could say that I wrote this letter, but it was a bigger man than I that's currently serving in Iraq.--JSB

John Kerry said, "You know education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well, and if you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."

So I wrote him a letter:

I am a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. I am currently on my second tour in Iraq, a tour I volunteered for. I speak Arabic and Spanish and I plan to tackle Persian Farsi soon. I have a Bachelors and an Associates Degree and between deployments I am pursuing an M.B.A. In college I was a member of several academic honor societies, including the Golden Key Honor Society. I am not unique among the enlisted troops. Many of my enlisted colleagues include lawyers, teachers, mechanics, engineers, musicians and artists just to name a few. You say that your comments were directed towards the President and not us. If we were stupid Senator Kerry, we might have believed you.

I am not a victim of President Bush. I proudly serve him because he is my Commander and Chief. If it was you who was President, I would serve you just as faithfully. I serve America, Senator Kerry, and I am also providing a service to the good people of Iraq.

I have not terrorized them in the middle of the night, raped them or murdered them as you have accused me of before. I am doing my part to help them rebuild. My role is a simple one, but important. You see, Senator Kerry, like it or not, we came here and removed a tyrant (who terrorized Iraqis in the middle of the night, and raped and murdered them). And we have a responsibility to see to it that another one doesn't take his place. The people of Iraq are recovering from an abusive relationship with a terrible government and it's going to take some time to help them recover from that. We can't treat this conflict like a microwave dinner and throw a temper tantrum because we feel like it's taking too long.

Senator Kerry, you don't have to agree with this war. You don't have to say nice things about those of us who choose to make sacrifices for the rights of every American rather than sit back and simply feel entitled to it. But please, Senator Kerry, if you're going to call me a stupid murdering rapist, stick by what you say. Don't tell me that I misunderstood or that you would never insult a veteran because you are one too. Having been there and done that does not give you a free pass to insult me.

My suggestion for you, Senator Kerry, is to remember that your speeches are recorded, and broadcast to us simpletons over here. You may want to write down what you want to say before you say it; maybe have somebody look at it before you say it and tell you what others might hear. Remember that we can't read your mind; if there are any misinterpretations in what you say, it's because you didn't communicate clearly.

Good luck to you, Senator Kerry; if nothing else it's always entertaining to watch you try and climb out of the holes that you constantly dig for yourself.

Sincerely,
Somebody who is watching his daughter grow up in photographs so that you can have the right to say whatever you want about him.

Due to the stealing of Elections in the past by Republicans and GEORGE W. BUSH (evil supreme dictator of the world) there have been rule changes. Republicans are allowed to vote once and only once and MUST GO TO THE POLLS TO VOTE. Democrats will no longer have to leave the comfort of their homes. Instead, all they need to do is sit in front of their computer and cast at http://vote.com.

Once you cast your first vote, all you need to do then is sit back and wait for the Democrats to "GIVE a FREE link to YOU!" You will do what Democrats do best, take from others without having to pay a penny!!! You get a FREE link! You can vote as many times as you like so vote early and often. This however will mean that you can't go to the polls and vote since you will only be allowed to vote at one location.

If you choose to go outside and vote, you will be contributing to global warming, unless of course you walk, which is actually like WORK ing out, and we all know work just isn't the Democrat way. Plus, the only free thing you'll get is a sticker that says you voted. You'll actually have to sign your name, which sounds like more work (like filling out a job application) and might even get ink on your fingertip, which will mean you will probably have to wash your hands early and waste water, which in turn will lead to Global Warming.

Plus, what if you some across an evil smoker? Then you are putting your life at risk by inhaling his second hand smoke. Or what if you get hungry and the only place close is a McDonald's? You can turn obese! What if you get hit by another car because the person who was driving actually was talking on their cell phone, or worse---TEXTING?

And we already know that drunk drivers kill people with their cars, but what happens if a drunk driver hits you with his car, and you have to go to the hospital? We all know Doctors are Republicans and that means he'll keep you in the hospital all week long trying to save your life.

So Democrats, your option is simple, either go to the polls and vote once, or sit at home, vote on your computer, and get revenge on those evil Republicans by voting several times. The choice is clear, stay home and vote several times!!!