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suninvited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 06:34 PM
Original message
Help me answer this email.
An actual email I recieved today from an ex boss of mine. She has sent me a lot of crazy emails before, and I have always dashed off a response that said: Why do you send me these emails, knowing I am a democrat?

Can you help me compose a response to let her know, I cannot tolerate these kinds of emails anymore?

HOW LONG DO WE HAVE?

This is the most interesting thing I've read in a long time. The sad thing about it, you can see it coming.

I have always heard about this democracy countdown. It is interesting to see it in print. God help us, not that we deserve it.

How Long Do We Have?

About the time our original thirteen states adopted their new constitution in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh , had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier:

'A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government.'

'A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury.'

'>From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.'

'The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years'

'During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:


1. from bondage to spiritual faith;



2. from spiritual faith to great courage;


3. from courage to liberty;


4. from liberty to abundance;


5. from abundance to complacency;


6. from complacency to apathy;


7. from apathy to dependence;



8. from dependence back into bondage'

Professor Joseph Olson of Hemline University School of Law, St. Paul , Minnesota , points out some interesting facts concerning the 2000 Presidential election:

Number of States won by: Democrats: 19 Republicans: 29

Square miles of land won by: Democrats: 580,000 Republicans: 2,427,000

Population of counties won by: Democrats: 127 million Republicans: 143 million

Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Democrats: 13.2 Republicans: 2.1

Professor Olson adds: 'In aggregate, the map of the territory Republican won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of this great country. Democrat territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government welfare...' Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the 'complacency and apathy' phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation's population already having reached the 'governmental dependency' phase.

If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal invaders called illegal's and they vote, then we can say goodbye to the USA in fewer than five years.

If you are in favor of this, then by all means, delete this message. If you are not, then pass this along to help everyone realize just how much is at stake, knowing that apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.

WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE,
ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE






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Deja Q Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 06:38 PM
Response to Original message
1. What exactly is 'freedom'?
Edited on Fri Jun-13-08 06:39 PM by HypnoToad
"the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints"?

freedom
Also found in: Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
free·dom (frdm)
n.
1. The condition of being free of restraints.
2. Liberty of the person from slavery, detention, or oppression.
3.
a. Political independence.
b. Exemption from the arbitrary exercise of authority in the performance of a specific action; civil liberty: freedom of assembly.
4. Exemption from an unpleasant or onerous condition: freedom from want.
5. The capacity to exercise choice; free will: We have the freedom to do as we please all afternoon.
6. Ease or facility of movement: loose sports clothing, giving the wearer freedom.
7. Frankness or boldness; lack of modesty or reserve: the new freedom in movies and novels.
8.
a. The right to unrestricted use; full access: was given the freedom of their research facilities.
b. The right of enjoying all of the privileges of membership or citizenship: the freedom of the city.
9. A right or the power to engage in certain actions without control or interference: "the seductive freedoms and excesses of the picaresque form" John W. Aldridge.


Noun
1. the state of being free, esp. to enjoy political and civil liberties
2. exemption or immunity: freedom from government control
3. liberation, such as from slavery
4. the right or privilege of unrestricted access: freedom of the skies
5. self-government or independence
6. the power to order one's own actions
7. ease or frankness of manner


Freedom
autonomy
independent self-rule free from outside influence.
democratism
a doctrine of or belief in social equality or the right of all people to participate equally in politics.
eleutheromania
Rare. a strong desire for freedom.
eleutherophobia
an abnormal fear of freedom.
franchise
1. a condition of freedom.
2. a right or privilege, especially the right to vote.
libertarianism
1. the advocacy of freedom, especially in thought or conduct.
2. Theology. the advocacy of the doctrine of free will. See also necessitarianism. — libertarian, n., adj.
liberticide
1. the destruction of freedom.
2. the destroyer of freedom. — liberticidal, adj.
manumission
the act of setting free or being set free from slavery; emancipation.


Did we have freedom before 09/11/2001?

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/freedom

(on edit: Added source)
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suninvited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 06:46 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. AMAZING
Hypno..

Did you come up with that so fast? I must have composed and decomposed 10 answers in about 50 times that time.

I think it is an amazing response, and I am going to copy and send with your permission!!
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Deja Q Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 07:02 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. Thank you :)
In part due to my own forgetfulness of the definition 'freedom', which is the crux of so many arguments these days. Given its frequent use in the first place, it seemed logical to ask "What is 'freedom' as that person defines it to be?"



Please do copy.

And please let me know their response too!

:pals:
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suninvited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 07:04 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. Oh, I sure will
but, somehow I doubt I will get one.
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KamaAina Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 07:15 PM
Response to Original message
5. The esteemed Professor Olson appears to have missed this whole statehood thing
Professor Joseph Olson of Hemline University School of Law, St. Paul , Minnesota , points out some interesting facts concerning the 2000 Presidential election:

Number of States won by: Democrats: 19 Republicans: 29


That adds up to 48 states. Hawai'i and Alaska both took the plunge in 1959, well in time for the 2000 (s)election. Even if he's not counting Florida as won by either side :evilgrin: , he's still a state short, not to mention a couple of tacos short of a combination plate. :dunce:
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Pierre.Suave Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 07:19 PM
Response to Original message
6. tell him that MN does NOT have a Hemline University
Edited on Fri Jun-13-08 07:20 PM by jasonc
and therefore, it can be surmised that there is no School of law there either...

And if we did, they would teach sewing, not law...

We do have a Hamline University, but I do not know if they have a Law School...

edit: I just checked and apparently, they DO have a law school.
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SalmonChantedEvening Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 07:25 PM
Response to Original message
7. A lil snopes
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pokerfan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 09:28 PM
Response to Reply #7
16. Snopes
I have a aquaintence who sends out this stuff on massive email lists, someitmes a dozen or more per day. My normal response is to either ignore it or replay to all with the link to the debunking on Snopes.

He eventually removed me from his list.
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SalmonChantedEvening Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-14-08 04:55 AM
Response to Reply #16
17. Lately I've been deleting them as I get them
Without even reading the body of the email. You can tell by the sender and title what's in store.

I may be missing out on some fun here ;)

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skygazer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 07:34 PM
Response to Original message
8. Dear ex-boss
Please do not send me any more of these idiotic and infantile e-mails. As any person with half a brain could tell you, they have been circulating the internet for years and are simply a bunch of nonsensical talking points strung together with a few important-sounding names thrown in.

If you would like to actually debate politics, in your own words and with your own opinions, I would be delighted to accomodate you. Until then, please keep this rubbish to yourself.

Signed, etc.

Include the Snopes link.

Hit "reply all."
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suninvited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 09:08 PM
Response to Reply #8
13. I wish I had the nerve
I am so mugwumpish I suck.
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mainegreen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 07:38 PM
Response to Original message
9. FUCK OFF
Or some reply to that effect. Should send the message to him.
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frickaline Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 07:53 PM
Response to Original message
10. Start signing this person up for every liberal mailing you can find
or just start sending him a bunch of your favorites. Maybe he'll ask for a truce. :)
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suninvited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 09:04 PM
Response to Original message
11. I sent your response
this is what I got in return.

hey i am also democrat, but i don t agree with all, all the time !!!!!!i understand everyone has his or her opinion,as do i.
the gay guys said tell you hey

love (name removed)

NO WAY is the person who sent me that a democratic supporter. She has sent me I dont know how many emails with all the negative Obama crap, and tons of emails about illegal immigrants.

Sigh...

Have an answer now?


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suninvited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 09:06 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. That reply was meant to be to Hypno Toad
I suck.
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Deja Q Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 09:15 PM
Response to Reply #11
14. 'fraid not...
:(
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suninvited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-13-08 09:22 PM
Response to Reply #14
15. Funny
is that a real sign? Where is it, and what the hell does it mean?
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khashka Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-14-08 07:50 AM
Response to Reply #15
20. It means Warning! Hypnotoad crossing!
He has a hard time avoiding cars and is easily squashed, so we have to be careful.

Khash.
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frickaline Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-14-08 07:44 AM
Response to Reply #11
19. hmmm...
Since fear e-mails are not the domain of the Democratic party but rather the Republican tool of choice, maybe tell him:

If you read an e-mail and feel compelled to make a fear-based decision, maybe stop and have a look at the content. If it isn't proposing a solution, it is meant only to gain an emotional response. Keep in mind that e-mail is not required to be truthful or factual in any way. Often there isn't even a web site taking content responsibility and there is no recourse for correcting even non-intentional errors. The point is, what has caused an emotional response is likely not responsible writing. If it was, it would have a better home than chain e-mail.
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Orsino Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-14-08 07:28 AM
Response to Original message
18. Tyler didn't foresee a future ruled by corporations...
...who vote themselves more votes until no one else can pluck gifts from the public treasury.

The e-mail you received is the same old Welfare Queen fiction, dressed up in fake historical garb, and it fails.
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Lil Missy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-14-08 07:55 AM
Response to Original message
21. I do not feel responsible to respond to shit like that.
Those who have included me in fanatical right wing shit have received a polite request to take me off their mail list.

See my sig line.
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