Reason.tv: Are We Really Less Free Today? Sheldon Richman on the State of Liberty

Blacks and Women|11.11.10 @ 3:09PM|#

The nanny state and regulatory state may be growing, but Richman points out that many people, from blacks to women, are freer than they used to be.

Just when we thought we got our freedom, he nanny state and regulatory state pulled us back in.

|11.11.10 @ 3:10PM|#

For the most part, it sounds as if Richman is saying that we are trending toward far fewer freedoms rather than more, and we have to find creative ways to try to abate state infringement.

It's not approximately 6.3 minutes. It's exactly 6.6 minutes long.

Almanian|11.11.10 @ 3:30PM|#

When was "Freedom" granted statehood, and is that one of the extra states that Our President™ identified during the campaign?

I'm just asking questions, here...

Almanian|11.11.10 @ 3:31PM|#

And while I'm asking, when did I start getting Alzheimer's? Who are you people...whose house am I in....?

|11.11.10 @ 3:39PM|#

THANK YOU TO ALL VETERANS , THE COMMANDER ------NOV.11 ,2010

|11.11.10 @ 3:39PM|#

OBAMA goes about his business by speaking the lie. That he comes "with all deceivableness of unrighteousness and he spoke as a dragon and tells us that he was a false prophet, a prophet being one whose calling it is to speak and to teach. The armies of the world may have guns and tanks and bombs to bring people into submission; but the power of speech and ideas is a mighty power. In his initial attempts to destroy the cause of God, the devil used a serpent to deceive the woman with crooked speech: "You will be like God." Now he uses a "dragon" who speaks crafty, lying words. His speeches will be heard by millions who will hang on his persuasive rhetoric. The content as well as the form of his speech will attract. Like most false prophets, he will even be sincere and passionate. But he is a liar. He adds dashes of truth to the mix, so that his lie tastes like truth. He will use all the right catchwords, using the language of the church, even throwing in a Bible text or two. But he is the ultimate Liar, and will deceive many.
OBAMA will use every tool available: school teachers, politicians, news broadcasters, artists, musicians, scientists and doctors, lawyers and businessmen. All will be pressed into the service of OBAMA to deceive men. But especially he will use those whose calling it is to persuade and to teach -- men who claim to be preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. THE COMMANDER

|11.11.10 @ 3:39PM|#

OBAMA goes about his business by speaking the lie. That he comes "with all deceivableness of unrighteousness and he spoke as a dragon and tells us that he was a false prophet, a prophet being one whose calling it is to speak and to teach. The armies of the world may have guns and tanks and bombs to bring people into submission; but the power of speech and ideas is a mighty power. In his initial attempts to destroy the cause of God, the devil used a serpent to deceive the woman with crooked speech: "You will be like God." Now he uses a "dragon" who speaks crafty, lying words. His speeches will be heard by millions who will hang on his persuasive rhetoric. The content as well as the form of his speech will attract. Like most false prophets, he will even be sincere and passionate. But he is a liar. He adds dashes of truth to the mix, so that his lie tastes like truth. He will use all the right catchwords, using the language of the church, even throwing in a Bible text or two. But he is the ultimate Liar, and will deceive many.
OBAMA will use every tool available: school teachers, politicians, news broadcasters, artists, musicians, scientists and doctors, lawyers and businessmen. All will be pressed into the service of OBAMA to deceive men. But especially he will use those whose calling it is to persuade and to teach -- men who claim to be preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. THE COMMANDER

|11.11.10 @ 3:39PM|#

Mmslim Barack Hussein Obama people have no idea of the extent to which they have to be gulled in order to be led." "The size of the lie is a definite factor in causing it to be believed, for the vast masses of the nation are in the depths of their hearts more easily deceived than they are consciously and intentionally bad. The primitive simplicity of their minds renders them a more easy prey to a big lie than a small one, for they themselves often tell little lies but would be ashamed to tell a big one." "All propaganda must be so popular and on such an intellectual level, that even the most stupid of those towards whom it is directed will understand it. Therefore, the intellectual level of the propaganda must be lower the larger the number of people who are to be influenced by it." "Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise.==="pelosi don't see much future for the Americans ... it's a decayed country. And they have their racial problem, and the problem of social hate ...obama feelings against Americanism are feelings of hatred and deep repugnance ... everything about the behaviour of American society reveals that it's half LIES, and the other half RACIAL. How can one expect THE USA to hold TOGTHER.They include the angry left wing bloggers who spread vicious lies and half-truths about their political adversaries... Those lies are then repeated by the duplicitous left wing media outlets who “discuss” the nonsense on air as if it has merit� The media's justification is apparently “because it's out there”, truth be damned., THE COMMANDER

|11.11.10 @ 3:40PM|#

TO THE WEAK-KNEED REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRAT…..TO ALL THE COMMUNIST IN THE IG,FBI,CIA,AND U.S. Senators and the left wing media outlets////////07 Sept. 2008 11:48:04 EST, Televised “Meet the Press” THEN Senator //Mmslim Barack Hussein Obama, was asked about his stance on the
American Flag.

General Bill Ginn USAF (ret.) asked //Mmslim Barack Hussein Obama, to explain WHY he doesn’t follow protocol when the National Anthem is played. The General stated to Obama that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171 “…During rendition of the national anthem, when the flag is displayed, all present (except those in uniform) are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Or, at the very least, ‘Stand and Face It’.”

NOW GET THIS!! – - – - -
‘Senator’ //Mmslim Barack Hussein Obama, replied:

“As I’ve said about the flag pin, I don’t want to be perceived as taking sides”.
“There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression..”
“The anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all that sort of thing.”

(ARE YOU READY FOR THIS???)

//Mmslim Barack Hussein Obama, continued: “The National Anthem should be ‘swapped’ for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song ‘I’d Like To Teach the World To Sing’. If that were our anthem, then, I might salute it. In my opinion, we should consider reinventing our National Anthem as well as ‘redesign’ our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love. It’s my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren. If we, as a Nation of warring people, conduct ourselves like the nations of Islam, where peace prevails – - – perhaps a state or period of mutual accord could exist between our governments.”

“When I become President, I will seek a pact of agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts. We as a Nation, have placed upon the nations of Islam, an unfair injustice which is WHY my wife disrespects the Flag and she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past”.

“Of course now, I have found myself about to become the President of the United States and I have put my hatred aside. I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path… My wife and I look forward to becoming our Country’s First black Family. Indeed, CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America “,GOD OPEN YOUR EYES./===For us there are only two possiblities: either we remain american or we come under the thumb of the communist Mmslim Barack Hussein OBAMA. This latter must not occur.THE COMMANDER, ((THINK ))
REPOST THIS IF YOU AGREE

|11.11.10 @ 3:43PM|#

The COMMANDER!

Some Guy|11.11.10 @ 5:36PM|#

I bet he wears a very menacing helmet.

Mr Whipple|11.11.10 @ 11:26PM|#

Dark Helmet

Mr. FIFY|11.12.10 @ 9:24AM|#

Captain Hi-Top the Love Commander!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmT30Q2IYTk

|11.11.10 @ 4:28PM|#

REPOST THIS IF YOU AGREE

Seriously, who DOESN'T agree with Commander?

|11.11.10 @ 4:35PM|#

I meta-agree.

ph|11.11.10 @ 4:55PM|#

what's a Mmslim?

Fatty Bolger|11.11.10 @ 4:58PM|#

People who live in Salmonella.

Mr Whipple|11.11.10 @ 11:57PM|#

Or Keynesia.

Mr Whipple|11.12.10 @ 12:03AM|#

WTF? They took down the Is Obama a Keynesian: Rally for Sanity video from Youtube.

THE ENSIGN|11.11.10 @ 5:34PM|#

Can I get a hear ye, hear ye?

|11.11.10 @ 3:40PM|#

THANK YOU TO ALL VETERANS , THE COMMANDER ------NOV.11 ,2010

Old Mexican|11.11.10 @ 3:42PM|#

Thank you veterans for enabling the State. The State bless you all.

Old Mexican|11.11.10 @ 3:42PM|#

The nanny state and regulatory state may be growing, but [Sheldon] Richman points out that many people, from blacks to women, are freer than they used to be. Richman also highlights the liberating power of technology, which breaks down barriers to creative expression and information.

Right on. Sheldon looks like an old Cambridge professor (all that he would need is a tweed jacket and Argyle sweater . . . oops! That's done!) but he is as sharp as nails. Good to see him. And visit www.fee.org

OO=======D|11.11.10 @ 3:56PM|#

Dear Reason,

If you can't filter out commander, then I want my donation back.

Citizen Nothing|11.11.10 @ 4:00PM|#

No, damn you! More commander! More, I say!

BakedPenguin|11.11.10 @ 4:22PM|#

I think he's the Dance Commander.

|11.11.10 @ 4:25PM|#

I love Commander. I'm just waiting for the entire manifesto to go on sale rather than having to wait for snippets to hit the wire.

Irresponsible Hater|11.11.10 @ 4:32PM|#

The lines are drawn, the orders are in
The dance commander's ready to sin.

Radio message from HQ
Dance commander we love you.

Warty|11.11.10 @ 4:19PM|#

Why is the commander //commenting out random lines?

Jordan|11.11.10 @ 4:31PM|#

If you weren't a secret Mmslim, you'd understand.

Hulk Al-Hogan|11.11.10 @ 4:52PM|#

Snap into an MmSlim!

Macho Man|11.11.10 @ 4:56PM|#

That's my line, dickhead.

21st century|11.11.10 @ 5:50PM|#

And you are...?

|11.11.10 @ 4:30PM|#

I like this line (about Obama and the First Lady, supposedly an Obama quote): "[S]he and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past."

Math Nazi|11.11.10 @ 4:44PM|#

Seriously, you have the time right there, and you're taking it out to two decimal places... It's 6.60 minutes.

Retarded Minoritah Kid|11.11.10 @ 4:56PM|#

No, Mr. Noodle. You're doing it wrong, Mr. Noodle. Mr. Noodle, it's backwards, Mr. Noodle.

Fatty Bolger|11.11.10 @ 5:02PM|#

That's what Mrs. Noodle said.

|11.11.10 @ 5:07PM|#

Wait a second....commander's email is hosted at msn.com. Something tells me he's really just bizarro Keith Olbermann.

Also, why is the handle "commander", but he signs his missives "THE COMMANDER"? I'm becoming obsessed.

|11.11.10 @ 5:24PM|#

Hey, man, you don't talk to the Commander. You listen to him. The man's enlarged my mind. He's a poet warrior in the classic sense. I mean sometimes he'll. . .uh. . . well, you'll say "hello" to him, right? And he'll just walk right by you. He won't even notice you. And suddenly he'll grab you, and he'll throw you in a corner, and he'll say, "Do you know that 'if' is the middle word in life? If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you." I mean I'm. . .no, I can't. . .I'm a little man, I'm a little man, he's. . .he's a great man! I should have been a pair of ragged claws scuttling across floors of silent seas. . . .

MNG|11.11.10 @ 5:32PM|#

+1, best matching of quote to insane poster ever.

RIP Hopper

|11.11.10 @ 5:37PM|#

I think I may be becoming the Photojournalist to the COMMANDER's Colonel Kurtz.

Almanian|11.11.10 @ 6:15PM|#

I'll add +1 more to MNG's props - bravo, bravo!!

|11.11.10 @ 6:24PM|#

It's just so. . .apt.

|11.12.10 @ 1:16AM|#

Win /===

Nearly pissed myself reading that, which is a "great counter to the blood boil I usually get" from Radley Balko's ball-kicking entries. But you're probably a Mmslim anyway.

MORE COMMANDER /===

|11.12.10 @ 6:06AM|#

Still laughing +10!

Peter Griffin|11.12.10 @ 9:31AM|#

Lois! Do NOT speak to KISS unless spoken to!

cynical|11.11.10 @ 5:44PM|#

Well, what can you do? Everyone knows there is a finite amount of freedom in the world, so it stands to reason that if women and blacks are getting freer, everyone else must get less free. I'm terrified what will happen to us now that China is liberalizing a bit.

Sheldon Richman|11.11.10 @ 7:08PM|#

I sure appreciate all the comments. The response is very gratifying.

Robert|11.11.10 @ 8:47PM|#

Even if we point out a gaffe? You have a strange idea of women's ancestry.

Robert|11.11.10 @ 8:49PM|#

See 2:20+.

|11.12.10 @ 1:23AM|#

If this is indeed Richman,

It appears you say that we have more freedoms overall, but the state is encroaching. You point at the Internet as a way to maintain freedom. Do we view China as a harbinger (i.e. if Chinese start to see freedoms, it's a positive sign, and visa versa)?

Also, why do you favor Pink Floyd as opposed to Yes in your Prog Rock selections (your T-shirt gives it away)? Yes had much better album covers. "Orwell" is not a sufficient answer.

|11.12.10 @ 1:24AM|#

Or vice versa for those of us who prefer proper English.

Mr Whipple|11.12.10 @ 6:44AM|#

Yes had Roger Dean...and Eddy Offord.

Are you ready, Eddy?

jester|11.11.10 @ 9:01PM|#

Free porn on the internet. When was that an option twenty years ago? I always laughed when I heard Giuliani claim victory over the NYC porn shops. No, dipshit. The internet did that.

|11.12.10 @ 6:21AM|#

He's a great spokesman for Libertarian principles.

|11.13.10 @ 12:27PM|#

I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

nike shoes UK|8.5.11 @ 2:15AM|#

is good

Kevin Durant Shoes|8.12.11 @ 12:00AM|#

so perfect

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