Subject:
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Re: Libertarian Propaganda
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Wed, 13 Jun 2001 12:04:28 GMT
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Viewed:
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383 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Larry Pieniazek writes:
> (5) Reduce the size and power of the federal government.
>
> "No, we're not saying that the growing power of the federal government
> justifies what Timothy McVeigh did," said Dasbach. "But the fact is,
> millions of Americans view their own government with suspicion and
> distrust.
>
> "Americans see a government that can recklessly seize our property
> under asset forfeiture, eminent domain, or environmental laws; that can
> detain us at roadblocks for not wearing a seatbelt; that forces banks
> to spy on their own customers; that shoots innocent people dead in the
> name of the War on Drugs; that can secretly read our e-mail; that
> allows the IRS to seize our bank accounts; and that can violate our
> civil liberties in a thousand different ways.
>
> "A government that was limited to its Constitutionally defined role
> would be smaller, less intrusive, and less threatening. It would be a
> government that honors fundamental American liberties, instead of
> undermining them. And it would be a government that gives Americans
> little reason to view it with apprehension."
It really annoys me when people clamor for a "smaller government." The first
things to get cut are usually civil services, government publications, and the
like. As an example, many years ago, the Coast Pilot division had some 25 or
more people doing two very important tasks. Now they have three. It is a
struggle to keep publishing the books (which are required by law to be on all
large ocean-going vessels), due to budget constraints and understaffing. To
compare, the German governmental body responsible for the same thing has around
thirty people.
Calling for a "smaller government" does nothing but hurt the people who use the
services the US Government provides. Besides that, most people that dislike
certain things the government does (such as the seatbelt example above) just
want free reign to break laws they find inconvenient.
Just adding my two cents...
Jeff
"There goes the fanboy vote."
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Libertarian Propaganda
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| There isn't enough to debate around here these days ( grin) so here's some fodder. Rather than excerpting, here it is in its entireity. Note in particular point #3, which I think may be the most significant of the 5, although I'm rather fond of #1 (...) (23 years ago, 13-Jun-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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