Time columnist Joe Klein reckons being suspicious of the government is anti-American. It’s a not-so-distant echo of the sentiment President Obama voiced when spiking the gun control football in Colorado and it couldn’t be further from the truth. Our founding fathers wrote the Constitution to limit the federal government, sharing as they did the sentiment that government poses the greatest threat to personal liberty. No matter how “noble” its goals. “Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government’s purposes are beneficent,” Justice Louis Brandeis wrote. “The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding.”
This is a sword that cuts both ways. The democrats. liberals, progressives, etc are quiet about the continuation of GITMO, the PATRIOT act, wire tapping, etc. when it is their man in the white house. I remember how vogue it was to criticize the federal government and the POTUS when ole GW was in the white house. Back then I doubted the war in Iraq, even though I wasn’t fully against it, and was flat out against TARP and the PATRIOT act. No matter what side of the political fence you are on bad policy is bad policy whether they have a R or a D next to their name. Finally some of the best Americans had a healthy fear of the government, even if they were still willing to work within it. I am a patriot and I generally feel the US government is beneficial; however, blind patriotism without any qualms about the state’s actions leads to things like McCarthyism or worse Facism.
Here’s the thing, McCarthy was right.
Not sane, not sober, but right!
Exactly. It pisses me off that almost 20 years after the Venona Project was made public showing that McCarthy was right and that we DID have communists working for the enemy in government positions, they STILL try to make him out to be crazy.
Very true. The Russian archives verify the lengths the soviets went to in infiltrating Americana. McCarthy had a nasty style that hurt some innocent people, and thats all you will EVER hear from Hollyweird.
“I am a patriot and I generally feel the US government is beneficial;”
Please explain exactly how the fed gov is “beneficial”. To whom? For what reasons? How is 100 trillion+ dollars in deficit, debt and unfunded obligations “beneficial” to anyone?
Nothing wrong with patriotism. It’s calling nationalism patriotism that’s wrong.
“My country, right or wrong” didn’t fly too well at Nuremberg.
A fundamental distrust of government led to the Bill of Rights.
+1
Well…. according to Joe Klein, those there Constitution-forgin’ Fathers were ANTI-AMERICAN. “Fundamentally”. Joe isn’t “pro-American”; he’s pro-citizen disarmament. Excepting Israelis, natch.
Actually, Israelis (and Jews in general), are not fond of firearms at all. Most of them will tell you that they would gladly trade them all in exchange for everlasting peace (yeah, I know…). The settlers have a different view of them, since they are on the front lines. However, the general population (by in large), have the same view of them as democrats/liberals here do (i.e. they want the cops/military to take care of it. They don’t want to think about it.).
Shameful…
Depends on the Israeli you talk to; the political dynamic there is very similar to the one here. Those on the “left” are anti-firearm, those on the “right” are pro-firearm. Have a few IDF vets on my fiance’s side of the family, and they are decisively pro-gun and pro-RKBA.
Brilliant article here on historical development of the two opposing world views in both
Israeli and US Jews.
http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-univeralist-holocaust.html
ROTLC,
Thanks for the article. These two paragraphs are nutshell – “great jello bowl of togetherness”
“The debate over Israel is only one of many such fights between Universalists and Nationalists of every creed and from every nation. It is a struggle between those who believe that nations, religions and cultures have innate worth, and those who believe that they are obstacles to the great jello bowl of togetherness.
Even the good Universalists don’t really understand the Holocaust because they don’t believe that they are living within history, but at some tail end of history before a new era of global awareness. They call left-wing anti-semitism the “New Anti-Semitism”. The Holocaust was also a new event to them, rather than part of the continuity of Jewish history which had seen massacres in every age.”
“When the government fears the people, we have liberty. When the people fear the government, we have tyranny.” TJ
“When the people fear the government, they’re anti-American.” JK
Can you imagine that there are actually people out there who would choose the JK quote over that of TJ?
Stupid, crazy libtards.
Well add this to the VERY LONG list of idiotic statements from the gun grabbing left……
“Marshall Dillon only used one shot!”
….and yet the left constantly accuses the right of being shallow thinkers.
The left and the MFM are MORONS!!
Lucas McCain used rather more.
Lucas was a realist and a single father. He had a kid to take care of.
It’s amazing to me how far our country has fallen just in my lifetime. Remember when Presidential candidates actually had the balls to say stuff like this?
“I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not pass laws, but to repeal them. it is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution, or that have failed in their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is “needed” before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents’ “interests,” I shall replay that I was informed their main interest is liberty and that in that cause I am doing the very best I can.”
Barry Goldwater.
And that’s why he was never President Goldwater.
Much to this country’s shame and detriment.
Without Goldwater we’d not have had Reagan. It was stumping for BG in a televised speech in Oct 1964 that put Reagan on the political map. Even then, he had to lose two primaries (one a squeaker against a sitting President Ford) before he got his turn at the plate only to go on a win in a pair of landslides. Even today, we have a new crop in the form of Cruz, Rand Paul, and quite a few others who came of age under Reagan and seem to be trying to carry that torch in their own way. If our fortunes hang on individual personalities, we will not win this political war. The other side certainly understands “message persistance” through generations.
I love that speech…still gives me chills everytime I hear it!
That’s it, we need to work out time travel so we can bring Barry Goldwater to the present and fix this country.
Barry Goldwater was god.
I remember the 1964 election, I was in D.C. at the time. Lyndon Johnson was god, CBS, NBC & ABC said he was, & Barry Goldwater was this nuclear madman. The joke afterward went, “They told me if I voted for Goldwater our Vietnam involvement would escalate, there would be race riots and our currency would be devalued. I voted for Goldwater and by golly they were right!”
“Young man, I was mistaken. When someone points out to me that I’m mistaken, I change my mind.”
Truman, to a reporter
Remember when dissent was patriotic? I wonder if Joe Klein was afraid of government when Reagan and the Bushes occupied the White House.
Klein is fundamentally dishonest as his denial of writing Primary Colors ptoved. His accusations of paranoia and anti-patriotic belief reveal more about him and the State Run Media outlets most especially MSNBC.
I love how the Democrats, who are by and large a product of the 1960’s hippie movement, are now taking to heart the “my country right or wrong” line they used to criticize their parents for using. A wonderful hypocrisy.
Nick, it’s more like “my Obama, no matter what, he’s so dreamy!”
With the exception of some hard leftists like Glenn Greenwald (a total jerk, but consistent), today’s left-libs-progs would not be concerned if Obama built a giant bonfire on the WH lawn, kindled it with the original Constitution, and then used it to burn every single inmate of Gitmo. Ok, the greenies might be a little concerned about the CO2 release.
Greenwald is a solid defender of liberty. He’s alright with me.
Nick, your “hippie horde theory” will not stand, I’m afraid. I know where it comes from, but it has fundamental flaws, and I’m going to have to hash it out myself before taking it on. There is some merit in it, but I think in the end it’s built on sand, and will fall.
Saul Alinsky was definitely not a ‘sixties creation. Lyndon Johnson was not a ‘sixties creation. Pres. Obama’s tutors, including Frank Davis, weren’t ‘sixties creations. The ‘sixties music and politics were sold to the Baby Boomers, that crowded generation which faced the greatest competition in schools ever, but lucked into “The Pill.” The ‘Silent Generation’ peddled the music and clothing. The middle-aged Mob peddled the drugs. The adult journalists glorified the flourishing of every aspect for editors and owners who also weren’t of the ‘boomer generation, but who collected the money. The Boomer story is a myth. It’s about sub-groups in society and their trans-generation goals. The generation focus is a con. Look at the interest groups that transcend any one generation, both on the left and the right.
Nick, youre absolutely right
its deliciously ironic.
i wouldn’t have used the headline as i sorta agreed with it thinking “that’s right, the gov’t should fear us!”
but being suspicious of the gov’t? absolutely, we should!
Mistrust of the government isn’t a new idea. That’s how this country got started in the first place! To remove that from our culture is to remove a fundamental and essential aspect of being an American. You might as well tell the French not to eat cheese and drink wine!
It’s “Time”, so his comments are predictable. His audience is minimal. His influence is negligible.
I suppose if I got a degree in Arts and Crafts from Penn, I’d be worthy of speaking my mind about the 2nd Amendment of the Bill of Rights too.
I’m just not as worthy as Joe Klein however.
Second amendment of Constitution.
Second article of the Bill of Rights.
unless a republican is in power.
Betcha $20 he was singing a different tune when Bush was in office.
Tyranny is only bad when the tyrant doesn’t share my political party, right Joe?
Wait till the next Republican gets into office. His tune will change. I remain consistent. I’m not afraid of government, but I am always suspicious of it, regardless of who’s in power.
Joe Joe,
Government is supposed to be the servant of the people and not the other way around. Matt Dillon had a gun that had the same capability as the federal government’s troops. Things couldn’t be more different today. Today’s American government is unlike any American government of the past. It is natural and patriotic for the people to stand by our historic codes of laws and values and to call out the corrupt and unethical people in today’s government for violating those principles.
“Marshall Dillon only used one shot. You know, what do they need all those bullets for?”
Unless there’s a DGU that involved someone by the same name that I’m not aware of, did he just use a fictional character as an example as why we don’t need multiple bullets? I sincerely hope that it’s the former, because I would hate to think that someone it THAT stupid.
Yes, he used a fictional character to make an argument for gun control. It’s very difficult to take anything seriously from him after that.
“Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him had better take a closer look at the American Indian.”
– Henry Ford, founder – Ford Motor Corporation
Under what BOLDER has this crack pot been living? Politicians and lawyers are the butt of most jokes but, this guy is an @$$ of immeasurable proportions.
I’ve tried to find the rock he lives under but shockingly, I can’t seem to find an email address at Time.com for this particular critter.
Odd how they love to sling their ideas around but never want to put themselves out there for responses.
This is the same government that has around a 10% approval rating, right?
I love my country. I have all my life and nothing’s changed that. Now ask me how I feel about the shite birds running, or ruining, my country. Go ahead, ask me.
If Mr. Joe Klein expects the public to trust government with guns, then it is only fair to expect government to trust the public with guns.
After all, government employees are nothing more than the public working for a government paycheck.
TO: All
RE: Yeah….Right….
Then maybe Klein can explain away THIS…..
No man’s life, liberty or fortune is safe while our legislature is in session. — Benjamin Franklin
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[The Truth will out….Klein is either ignorant or something much, much worse….]
P.S. My money is on the latter…..
Questioning the government is one of the best ways to be an American, if we didn’t, wed be Germany or England. Anti-American to question the government? Then I suppose having the freedom of speech to do so makes us (anyone with the ability to think for themselves) all terrorists then?
Klein!!! What nationality is that?… Not another one.
Why the hell don’t you people wake up and realize who the enemy is.
Get your heads out of the sand
I believe Mr. Klein is American.
As for your suggestion that Jews are conspiring to take away your gun rights, true! But Jews are also conspiring to protect your gun rights. Dan, me, Ralph the head of the SAF, the JPFO etc.
The enemy is anyone who would infringe upon any of our natural or God-given rights, regardless of any other factor.
Please Mr. Farago, ban the IPs coming from Stormfront. We don’t need those knuckle draggers around here.
Niceguns, you didn’t realize TTAG is run by a Jew did you? It’s a conspiracy within a conspiracy! Chemtrails and mind control calcium water!
I know full well they are Jews… that does not hide the fact that the JEWS IN THE GOVERNMENT POSITIONS AND THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA ARE GUN GRABBERS…
Far more than the two or three on our side..
Shove your politically correct comment…
That’s the attitude that got us here… MAN UP YOU SISSY PACIFYING IDIOT…OR ARE YOU ON THE GUN GRABBER SIDE YOU UNPATRIOTIC FOOL
American? I bet if you ask him he would say, I AM A JEW.
American only when there is a benefit!
hey guys did you hear? if you believe in the constitution you are anti american!
any liberals wonder why newpapers are going out of business
To be skeptical and resistant to the governments laws, regulations, taxes and studies is a time honored American tradition dating to the founding!
would be nice if the talking heads would read a little history
Not only do I fear the government, I despise and loathe it as well. Just to be clear…
You should fear politically correct idiots… they appease everyone and stand for nothing.
“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” – Mark Twain
“Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else.”
― Theodore Roosevelt