A Revolution in Liberty

[Gaspar]

Many of us have been quite critical of this administration for more reasons than we can count, but most are related to increased dependence, decreased liberty, and far overreaching policies related to everything from surveillance and global assassination policy, to forced commerce.  I think many of us saw this as the "full-court-press" towards the final and terminal stage of a typical democratic republic.  However, the unexpected is happening.  Liberty movements are gaining an influx of young people, who owe their new understanding on "lessons" not taught in university by socialist professors, but learned through experience.  President Obama has provided an exhibition, condensed into 5 short years, illustrating policy flaw, executive ineptitude, and political self service.  He has provided invaluable lessons on how government acts when it views itself as above and more powerful than it's citizenry.

Most importantly, those who used to clamor for prosperity from the golden hand of government, have learned that government is the primary source of their limitations, and if left unchecked, or worse, given unlimited executive privilege, would only strive to preserve concentrated power at the expense of individual rights. 

I never thought I would say this but Obama was the exact wake-up call we needed, because any administration that follows will have to campaign on expanding freedoms, limiting executive power, and bringing back a degree of transparency that we lost.  In doing so, future administrations will have to deliver more than lip-service, because a new young constituency now (finally) demands it. 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/02/23/license-plates-guns-news-federal-government-column/5759933/

[Cats Cats Cats]

Wow you have been really out of touch the last 10 or 12 years.

[Hoss]

Wow you have been really out of touch the last 10 or 12 years.

Probably more.

[cannon_fodder]

I'm not disagreeing with the tone or overall message of the post, but I will disagree fervantly that any of this is a change.  I'd say the biggest escalation was under Bush (with a largely Democratic Congress) making power grabs using "security" as a catch all do quash liberty, increase secrecy, and in the end curtail prosperity for most Americans.  With Obama (with a largely Republican Congress), many were convinced or had Hope© that there would be drastic Change© and have been sorely disappointed on many fronts (notebly transparency and faux security status quo).

To say either started it would be false.  To say Obama has significantly improved transperency or trust in government wouldn't be right either.  I would argue that Uncle Sam has thought he knows best since about 1942 (maybe even the new deal) and has long since outgrown the constraints of limited government.

Is it getting worse? Probably.  Do I hope some savior comes and immediately starts giving up power... sure.  But I also want a unicorn that eats sunshine and happiness and craps rainbows.  I will probably never get either one.

Thanks Obama.

[Cats Cats Cats]

I'm not disagreeing with the tone or overall message of the post, but I will disagree fervantly that any of this is a change.  I'd say the biggest escalation was under Bush (with a largely Democratic Congress) making power grabs using "security" as a catch all do quash liberty, increase secrecy, and in the end curtail prosperity for most Americans.  With Obama (with a largely Republican Congress), many were convinced or had Hope© that there would be drastic Change© and have been sorely disappointed on many fronts (notebly transparency and faux security status quo).

To say either started it would be false.  To say Obama has significantly improved transperency or trust in government wouldn't be right either.  I would argue that Uncle Sam has thought he knows best since about 1942 (maybe even the new deal) and has long since outgrown the constraints of limited government.

Is it getting worse? Probably.  Do I hope some savior comes and immediately starts giving up power... sure.  But I also want a unicorn that eats sunshine and happiness and craps rainbows.  I will probably never get either one.

Thanks Obama.

What he said

[Gaspar]

I'm not disagreeing with the tone or overall message of the post, but I will disagree fervantly that any of this is a change.  I'd say the biggest escalation was under Bush (with a largely Democratic Congress) making power grabs using "security" as a catch all do quash liberty, increase secrecy, and in the end curtail prosperity for most Americans.  With Obama (with a largely Republican Congress), many were convinced or had Hope© that there would be drastic Change© and have been sorely disappointed on many fronts (notebly transparency and faux security status quo).

To say either started it would be false.  To say Obama has significantly improved transperency or trust in government wouldn't be right either.  I would argue that Uncle Sam has thought he knows best since about 1942 (maybe even the new deal) and has long since outgrown the constraints of limited government.

Is it getting worse? Probably.  Do I hope some savior comes and immediately starts giving up power... sure.  But I also want a unicorn that eats sunshine and happiness and craps rainbows.  I will probably never get either one.


Thanks Obama.

I don't think it is really a change at all.  I think it has simply been a magnification.  It's like watching a bad magician.  My point, and I thought it was fairly clear, was that the current administration is so bad at it, that unlikely groups of people are actually waking up.  The list of "intensions" were so grand, the "results" so divergent, and the acceptance of "responsibility"  so absent.

[Townsend]

I don't think it is really a change at all.  I think it has simply been a magnification.  It's like watching a bad magician.  My point, and I thought it was fairly clear, was that the current administration is so bad at it, that unlikely groups of people are actually waking up.  The list of "intensions" were so grand, the "results" so divergent, and the acceptance of "responsibility"  so absent.

Probably should've started the thread with

"Many of us  I have been quite critical of this administration for more reasons than we I can count,"

[Gaspar]

Probably should've started the thread with

Hey Towney, there is something to be said for loyalists like yourself!  You have to give a nod of recognition to those willing to devote themselves without waver to an individual or ideology, even after they suffer the slings of its failure. I can't say I understand this degree of faith or the accompanying worship, but it cannot be denied as powerful and important to a politician.

President Obama may be one of the most successful politicians in his ability to cultivate such fervor, but you may count yourself as one of the dwindling few remaining. Hang in there.  Perhaps the faithful shall be rewarded.  

Ok, now that's just me being all snark.  

[Hoss]

Hey Towney, there is something to be said for loyalists like yourself!  You have to give a nod of recognition to those willing to devote themselves without waver to an individual or ideology, even after they suffer the slings of its failure. I can't say I understand this degree of faith or the accompanying worship, but it cannot be denied as powerful and important to a politician.

President Obama may be one of the most successful politicians in his ability to cultivate such fervor, but you may count yourself as one of the dwindling few remaining. Hang in there.  Perhaps the faithful shall be rewarded.  

Ok, now that's just me being all snark.  

You must be dizzy after that...

[Townsend]

You must be dizzy after that...

Before that too

[guido911]

^^^together again.

[Hoss]

^^^together again.

Yep, here comes the stalker.  Guess Gweed has a sad because he doesn't have real friends.

[Gaspar]

Millennials are growing up, and with that comes a degree of maturity, and for some, the loss of the "rock-star worship" of adolescence. Disillusion in Obama and his policies is a strong factor in this Change®.  The Republican party will likely continue to bar the door with outdated social policies and unless Hillary can re-invent herself, she will also lose out on a small percentage of these newly enlightened.

Hopefully it will be a long time before a political leader causes his followers to faint in the United States again.  We should never be that country.


Harvard offers some interesting insight:
http://www.iop.harvard.edu/blog/iop-releases-new-fall-poll-5-key-findings-and-trends-millennial-viewpoints?utm_source=email&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=Fall2013Survey

[RecycleMichael]

I think gaspar is just too focused on President Obama as the catalyst.

This "new" trend for Liberty is not new at all. It is just another cycle. This is just coming back around again. I believe that these thoughts and movements are like fashion and if you wait long enough, they will again be popular.

I see it happening in the environmental movement. We have real passion for celebrating Earth day about every ten years and it lasts for a couple of years and then fizzles. I see it in simple things like knitting, which is suddenly huge with celebrities doing it. TV shows used to be all about rural America (Green Acres, Beverly Hillbillies, Mayberry RFD) and now include Duck Dynasty, Swamp People and Honey BooBoo. These are all cycled and have little to do with one single starting point or person.

If anything, the catalyst for people talking about liberty is probably more focused on what local police forces or airport security workers are doing. The NSA has been scary for much longer than Obama has been President. Blame them, not the President.

[Townsend]

I think gaspar is just too focused on President Obama as the catalyst.

He posts things spinning about in his noggin as reality.  There are multiple issues going on.