I've just recently decided to stay in America. The decision was a silent one made by my wife and I over several cups of nothing. Really. We don't know why. It just came to us after months of learning the history of Norway and learning the language of Norsk (which is beautiful) that we just... wanted to stay in this heartless government-operated North American panopticon. Since we have, we have both fallen in love with the ideals of liberty.

You see, I can speak for the middle ground. This nation (and largely, this site) woefully lacks people who can speak about any subject without throwing around dismissive partisan insults. I've been called a "commie" and a "fundie" in the same thread before. Those are normally considered opposite concepts. This just goes to show you the typical lack of breadth in the subscriber demographics.

Too many people here are so obviously confused that they think whatever pet conspiracy they love is perpetrated by whoever is in the opposite party they are in.

I am trying to express my new-found (probably first-found) love for this nation. This great country was founded on principles of defying a totalitarian government. Then we imposed that same system first on the indigenous tribes then on the Chinese, then on the Africans. Now? Now we impose it on ourselves. We seriously lost our spirit as soon as we signed the freakin' papers. The only reason we feel it now is because it is coming full-circle.

Now is the time to pick a new direction. A new leader. We have learned. History only repeats itself on the aspects of things we neglect to improve on. Lets turn this around! We are still one of the newest nations on the planet!

We should be leading the world on liberty!
... and social responsibility.
That's where people can't agree for some reason. So...

What if you could have a totally free federal system? What if all those lost services you are worried about and all those lifted regulations were taken over by your state? What if that meant you had zero federal taxes to pay?

As a born-again patriot, I support Ron Paul. Let's shake the tree and let bankers and war profiteers fall out.

With all due respect. I am a born true blood American. I just learned last fall that my family extends back to the early 1600's here in the midwest. My ancestors fought for my right to be here. It is in my best interest to keep it that way. I will never leave my homeland. As messed up as it is, I love my country.If the time arrives, I too will fight for my freedoms and my children's freedoms.



I went to a smaller town close by to watch their fireworks last night. I felt my patriotism there, as I wept(with pride) for my country with my children.

Again with all due respect. Ron Paul is someone's cronie. Just because he sounds different on the outside does not mean that he is not the same on the inside. I am not falling for his talky talk. He is another form of puppet.( this is only my opinion of RP).

You sound like someone who is lost. You sound well educated but are lost in life. You seem to be looking for a place to call home. I hope that home will always be America.

So the answer to your question.

Are you really an American?

You are damn right I am an American.

I also forgot to add that I do not have the privilege of voting. Not that I think it matters much these days. I am a victim of a system that makes you follow the rules. Get punished by the rules, and then banished from being a productive citizen of society. I did my time I paid my debt to society. I still cannot vote..:puzit was non violent)

Yes I am an American..and it sounds like you are, too.

In fact, your conversation sounds as if it might have been one from a colonist about 240 years ago...should we stay and oppose the the growing tyrrany, or should we seek safe harbour else where? Like you, I say stay.

I actually have done some research into the possibility of moving to Brazil...maybe Costa Rica...and in the end, each time...I say stay. Why?

I love my country. I locve the ideals...maybe not the reality, but the ideals on which it was founded. And like my forefathers and my relatives... I will rebell and oppose those that try to stifle it, or distort it into some neo-Nazi facist state.

Many say it is too late, or that we arewell on our way there. On the way...Yes. Too late...No.

I see the laws being passed. I see our Constitution being dismantled before the eyes of an iggnorant populace.

I see the arrogant governance of a group of people... Democrats and Republicans alike, with no sense of loyalty to the people or our country or the ideas of individualism, freedom of expression, the Bill of Rights, the rights of states...

I have made up my mind, be it for maybe less than noble reasons, but the course is set...to actively oppose our government if and when they begin to seize 401k and retirement accounts. Such an act would be in the lowest tradition of Chavez or Mao.

If my forefathers, my own blood kin...were willing to fight, and bleed, and die fighting for the things they believed in...what kind of man?...what kind of American would I be to run?

My conscience will not let me....My heart swells with pride and righteous indignation when I read the Declaration of Independence. Some say such ideals are "old fashioned" or "old school" or "quaint." I say such ideals still burn in the hearts and minds of free peoples every where.

Now ain't this something... the original title of the thread was.." Are you an American?"...I gave my response....

Now the title is about Ron Paul...which makes my response look totally off subject, as Ron Paul was actually a side note of the original thread.

Somehow, I feel violated or set up. Maybe now I should oppose ATS too...

Originally posted by AlreadyGone
Now ain't this something... the original title of the thread was.." Are you an American?"...I gave my response....

Now the title is about Ron Paul...which makes my response look totally off subject, as Ron Paul was actually a side note of the original thread.

Somehow, I feel violated or set up. Maybe now I should oppose ATS too...

I think your comment above was excellent. I wish I could star it 100 more times. Do not get mad. I thought that the typed speech you gave should be posted outside for all to see.

Originally posted by AlreadyGone
Now ain't this something... the original title of the thread was.." Are you an American?"...I gave my response....

Now the title is about Ron Paul...which makes my response look totally off subject, as Ron Paul was actually a side note of the original thread.

Somehow, I feel violated or set up. Maybe now I should oppose ATS too...

Crap, I'm sorry man. I changed it because every time I start a thread, it ends up being about something different four or five posts into it. I'll change it back.

Panopticon. I like that. You dont see a lot of Foucault fans on ATS.

America is awesome. IF all the cool people leave, then it's just the jeebus fanatics left.

work to make your place better. The grass is not greener on the other side.

I was born in America, and the thought of leaving it forever never crossed my mind. And it never will. There is no better country on earth, and half of our border neighbors are good neighbors. Why would I leave?

To those that doubt America, then I say, please go to wherever you might be happier. There are thousands of people who would gladly take your place; people die just trying to get in. That would be best for America and best for you, if you went to where you would be happier.

I am from the South and am female. I genuinely shudder to think what my life would be like without the federal government's interference. The LAST thing I want is for my state to be able to go gung-ho with its own backwards policies.

Originally posted by FatedAxion
I am from the South and am female. I genuinely shudder to think what my life would be like without the federal government's interference. The LAST thing I want is for my state to be able to go gung-ho with its own backwards policies.

Backwards or not, it would be democracy there. A person would still be protected under the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Right now, the federal government imposes many laws that people are struggling under and they can't get away from them unless they move out of the nation. If each nation were responsible for its own policies, you could simply cross the state border to find a nation in the federation you agree with. Why would you want to live in the south if you don't agree with the majority of your neighbors? If I lived in the south, it wouldn't be for long because I know I don't belong there.

There will be total anarchy/capitalist states, socialist states, and some states that are just like the current hybrid. More freedoms, more choices, more happy people. A much truer democracy for sure.