A quote sent by a Republican, and my reply.

[alfredo]

The quote he sent.

"I do not choose to be a common man"
It is my right to be uncommon - if I can. I seek opportunity - not security.
I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state
look after me. I want to take the calculated risk, to dream and to build, to
fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the
challenge of life to the guaranteed calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom
for beneficence nor my dignity for a hand-out. It is my heritage to think
and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations, and to face the world
boldly and say, this I have done.
All this is what it means to be an American.
"My Creed," by Dean Alfang

My reply

The state built the roads on which your opportunity travels. Your tax money pays for the police that guaranteed calm. Public schools gave you the tools to make your creation.

e pluribus unum does not mean every man for himself.

[JeffR]

1. Beautiful reply, alfredo

Nice job.

[Muttocracy]

2. excellent

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear alfredo!

You said it exactly right, and nobody could say it better...

e pluribus unum does not mean every man for himself.

I wonder if he will respond?

K&R


:patriot:

[xchrom]

4. recommend

[catnhatnh]

5. Or...

Although I value my uniqueness I am a brother to all men,
who's needs are similar to mine.
There is one pie and all must eat from it,
so my dreams are of fairness and universal peace.
I fully offer my talents for fair reward and refuse to barter my soul to take from my brother his sustenance and comfort.
I would rather walk in the comfortable shoes of universal justice
than ride in a limo and exploit those of lesser means.
It is my heritage to think and act for myself,to enjoy life and to work to lift others.
To boldly say, "Each man has value.". All this is what it means to be a Democrat.
"Cat's Creed" by me....

[alfredo]

6. That is beautiful.

This is the money shot:


I would rather walk in the comfortable shoes of universal justice
than ride in a limo and exploit those of lesser means.

[catnhatnh]

8. Aw Shucks...

...and I am blushing....

[alfredo]

15. Well, today is the day for blushing.

[catnhatnh]

7. And just for fun I ran his bio....

Born in Turkey 1899.Emigrated as an infant and served in WW1.The interesting part is that he ran for office (including congress and governor or mayor of New York-I forget which) as a representative of four parties,Democratic, Republican, Liberal, and Labor. His "Creed" was first printed in a magazine called "This Week" and then reprinted by Readers Digest in 1952 and 1954...So your Republican E-mail represents the thoughts of a four party immigrant commenting on the American ideal of at least 55 years ago.I wonder what his current comments might be had he not died in the 80's???

[Lex]

9. Your reply was spot on.

Excellent.

[catnhatnh]

10. After considering the piece and the dates of publication...

it becames clear this is an anti-communist rant from around 1950.In short the "Creed" was against Russian socialism and never meant to be applied to current politics in the US.

[Tyo]

20. Really?

I assumed it was a polite little rant against Bush and the NeoCon Big Brother Big Government Corporatist program that he and his jack-boot loving Republican supporters have foisted upon us.

[NanceGreggs]

11. Your response ...

... what absolute perfection!

:kick: & REC'D!!!!

[donheld]

12. What strikes me as funny is

People who don't believe in evolution haven't evolved.

[radfringe]

13. Great reply!

should have added a P.S.

and the local governments provide you with a sewer system where you can dump your sh*t

:rofl:

[alfredo]

16. Never give credit, never accept blame is their creed

[Norrin Radd]

14. "Uncommon?" From the lack of diversity crowd?

Another delusional republic.

[Javaman]

17. I find it amusing that a guy who claims to be "independent" sent out

a spam chain letter.

[DangerDave921]

18. you're both wrong

You both err in setting up false premises, and then tear down the other's argument. No one is truly an island. And no one wants full and absolute sharing, otherwise personal freedom would be obliterated. There is of course a continuum, and we all fall on different spots on it.

[alfredo]

19. I wanted the person who sent it to realize that some credit has

to go to those who created a friendly business environment. Without the infrastructure established by the people through their government, success would be very difficult if not impossible.

[DangerDave921]

21. I agree

And I also note how a lot of successful people had parents who had the money to afford a decent place to live, hence better schools, and could also afford college. Of course some successful folks come from nothing (and I applaud those people) but a lot have a huge leg up that they never even realize. Trying becoming successful when you grow up in inner city Baltimore with a single mom and no dad around, poor, and with terrible schools.

The guy who grows up in Greenwich, CT and goes to a good college can act like a drunken idiot for most of his young life then decide to get serious, go to law school, and be successful. And the way he'll tell the story, he worked his way up the ladder. Take the exact same person and have him grow up as I've described above, and he'll have quite the different life.

[alfredo]

22. That's it. I also added today that the neo conservatives have been working

for decades to turn us against our form of government, and the anti Washington rhetoric from the Republican party is part of that campaign. I also talked about the unitary executive. I said it is a nicer term for dictatorship.

[DangerDave921]

23. Good Quote

The guy who spoke at my law school graduation said something like the following: If you're born in the dug-out, don't resent the guy who was born on 3rd base. And if you're born on 3rd base, don't be standing there all proud of yourself like you just hit a triple.

It's amazing what a little humility can do.

[alfredo]

24. A baby sees itself as the center of the universe. Some people outgrow

that notion, the ones that don't become Republicans and Libertarians.

[DangerDave921]

25. Distinction

I see a big difference between R's and L's so I don't lump them together. I more respect L's in the sense that they don't want the government intruding on our personal lives, as long as I'm not infringing on another person's rights. R's want to control peoples' lives for the sake of morality.

As a person, I think I have traits of all three parties -- Dems, Repubs, and Libs. I like free markets. I like safety nets for those less fortunate, as well as equal opportunity. And I like personal freedom and smaller government. I'm pro-gun (although I don't own one). I want lower taxes but also lower spending. I want to get rid of lobbyists and corruption in government. I want to end pork barrel spending. I want wars that are only fought as a last resort. I know -- now I'm rambling.

[alfredo]

28. I was thinking to the right wing Libertarians. They want to enjoy the

infrastructure, but not pay for it.

Right wing Libertarians are Republicans who smoke dope.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

26. Here's an apt response from another Republican.

"It is the eternal struggle between two principles, right and wrong, throughout the world. It is the same spirit that says 'you toil and work and earn bread, and I'll eat it.' No matter in what shape it comes, whether from the mouth of a king who seeks to bestride the people of his own nation, and live by the fruit of their labor, or from one race of men as an apology for enslaving another race, it is the same tyrannical principle." Abraham Lincoln

[Betty]

27. "kept citizen"?

that's exactly what the repug platform is all about.. keeping the sheep cowering in the corner, telling them that only BIg Brother can keep them safe.. and only if we hand over all our rights, and shut the fuck up.