IT ISN'T LIBERTY

[whosinpower]

I figured it out - Why Bush words frightened me so.....it isn't liberty George....it is imperialism, and the pursuit of Empire.

[ewagner]

1. No Kidding!!!!

A lot of us had that figured out yesterday....

The whole speech was about military imperialism...........the whole f***ing thing!!!!!!

[ArcRabbit]

2. Knew that ages ago..

I've heard people compare the US to the ancient Roman Empire so many times now, it's just so true.

[JDPriestly]

3. FDR's Speech on the Four Freedoms

Compare Bush's speech to FDR's speech on the Four Freedoms in January 1941 when the nation was truly on the brink of war for freedom. In a way, that speech was a statement of the basic principles of the Democratic Party. I'd like to see our party renew its commitment to these principles.

We all know the four freedoms -- freedom of expression, freedom from want, freedom of religion and freedom from fear.

FDR went beyond them, however, and listed the things the people expect from the government. Here are excerpts from his speech:

Certainly this is no time for any of us to stop thinking about the social and economic problems which are the root cause of the social revolution which is today a supreme factor in the world. For there is nothing mysterious about the foundations of a healthy and strong democracy.

The basic things expected by our people of their political and economic systems are simple. They are:

Equality of opportunity for youth and for others.

Jobs for those who can work.

Security for those who need it.

The ending of special privilege for the few.

The preservation of civil liberties for all.

The enjoyment of the fruits of scientific progress in a wider and constantly rising standard of living.

These are the simple, the basic things that must never be lost sight of in the turmoil and unbelievable complexity of our modern world. The inner and abiding straight of our economic and political systems is dependent upon the degree to which they fulfill these expectations.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrthefourfreedoms.htm

I especially like -- "ending of special privilege for the few" and "enjoyment of the fruits of scientific progress . . . "

FDR also promised to raise taxes and to impose graduated taxes:

I have called for personal sacrifice, and I am assured of the willingness of almost all Americans to respond to that call. A part of the sacrifice means the payment of more money in taxes. In my budget message I will recommend that a greater portion of this great defense program be paid for from taxation than we are paying for today. No person should try, or be allowed to get rich out of the program, and the principle of tax payments in accordance with ability to pay should be constantly before our eyes to guide our legislation.

. . . .

I repeat FDR's words: No person should try, or be allowed to get rich out of the program, and the principle of tax payments in accordance with ability to pay should be constantly before our eyes to guide our legislation.

I'd like to see Bush respond to the challenge of those words.

Sorry if the quotes are too long. This speech may be in the public domain. It is quoted in full on several websites.

[Shakespeare]

4. SF's Rincon bldg has a great WPA mural on the Four Freedoms.

I was in there recently for lunch (the building houses several restaurants), and was checking out the murals. When I got to "freedom from fear," I literally burst into tears.

How far we've fallen. :-(