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mscott's avatar

Brian: This is an excellent read. The title of the article would be more fitting if it read "Why Free People Shouldn't Pledge Allegiance". The term "Patriot" connotes nationalistic fervor or someone who will blindly follow their tyrannical government. This is a great example of how people have been duped into subordinating themselves to tyranny.

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kenn farley's avatar

~~ "Your American Yardstick" by Hamilton Abert Long is one of the better reads at explaining the "American Idea", and there's quotes galore. Cheapest source I've found is Abebooks.com -- Amazon, ThriftbooksDOTcom, Alibris, are about $40 more. And to think I use-ta buy these by the case and give em away. One quote I like, on term limits:

"It seems to have been imagined by some that the returning to the mass of the people was degrading the magistrate (elected office). This he thought was contrary to republican principles. In free Governments the rulers are the servants, and the people their superiors and sovereigns. For the former therefore to return among the latter was not to DEGRADE but to PROMOTE them-- and it would be imposing an unreasonable burden on them, to keep them always in a State of servitude, and not allow them to become again one of the Masters."

[Emphasis per original]

(Remarks in Framing Convention, 1787, as summarized by Madison in his record)

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