biglar155
Jetboaters Admiral
- Messages
- 1,577
- Reaction score
- 2,142
- Points
- 277
- Location
- Fredonia, WI
- Boat Make
- Yamaha
- Year
- 2009
- Boat Model
- SX
- Boat Length
- 23
We've kept ourselves locked down as tight as we possibly can. Our kids are getting more and more irritated at us for keeping them locked down as well.
I'm even avoiding hobbies - like wood working.
I'm doing all of this to do my part to slow the spread and not unnecessarily risk a hospital visit.
BUT - and this is a really big BUT - At some point, one must ask the question "How much liberty are you willing to give up for a sense of safety?"
When I hear about neighbors reporting neighbors for things like a social gathering, my first thought is "Oh, did they get a free Brown Shirt when they submitted the report?"
I don't care what party you back, whether you're conservative or liberal, republican or democrat, you MUST keep watch. There are MANY sets of eyes on this right now - both in power and not in power - that are paying VERY close attention to the American People's reaction to being stripped of liberty in the name of public safety.
Once they see what manipulates us, what makes neighbor report on neighbor in times of a crisis, they can plan and ponder.
They want to see what will make us follow extra rules "for a little while." Does a virus do it? What about forest fires? How about terrorist attacks? War? Famine? Dust Bowl? Flood?
These are/were all real events that give certain people a chance to observe our behavior.
They want to see which rules Law Enforcement Officer's are willing to enforce. My Dad was a cop for 17 years. My uncle for nearly 40. My cousin will be retiring soon from Michigan State Police. None of them would have done much more than make some notes in a book either.
Here's the thing though: The totalitarian societies of history simply got rid of the LEO's unwilling to be thugs and replaced them with ones who were. There's always someone willing to be a bully. Certain people thrive on it. This has been used to the advantage of dictators throughout history.
History repeats Boys and Girls - and every time it does, the people at the time thought "That will never happen here in this modern society. We're not savages like they were. We're enlightened." That thinking dates back to before the Roman Empire.
Now.... Please don't read this as "Go do what you want." Please don't read this as "The whole thing is a hoax." I believe that this virus is a real threat - just as the others I mentioned above - and that we are doing the right thing by locking down.
I am simply stating the cold hard facts: People are watching. There is nothing we can do about it, but you must acknowledge it. You must be aware of it and be prepared to speak up - before the reality of being beaten down for doing so comes to pass.
I'm not paranoid about it or losing sleep. I know it's always been true and always will be true until the end of the world.
Our duty as free people is to ensure that freedom is here for the next generation. That means recognizing the signs AT THE BEGINNING and speaking up. Once the thing has escalated and it's clear for all to see what has happened.... well... it's too late.
So: Do the right thing and lock down. Be upset when you see others that don't lock down - they are potentially endangering themselves and others, but be OUTRAGED when people take it upon themselves to report it to the authorities - especially under the cowardly cloak of anonymity. THOSE people are the long-term danger to our society - more than any virus, flood, or fire ever could be. They desire to use the rule of law as a sword rather than a shield - while peaking with a clever grin from behind the heavy drapes.
Alright. Getting off my soapbox. I hope no one took this as political because I don't trust any particular party as far as I can throw them. One simply is moving roughly in the direction that seems appropriate to me at the moment.
Sorry if this seemed like a rant (I guess it was), but I seem to have time on my hands.... Maybe we should talk sports... oh.... wait.....
I'm even avoiding hobbies - like wood working.
I'm doing all of this to do my part to slow the spread and not unnecessarily risk a hospital visit.
BUT - and this is a really big BUT - At some point, one must ask the question "How much liberty are you willing to give up for a sense of safety?"
When I hear about neighbors reporting neighbors for things like a social gathering, my first thought is "Oh, did they get a free Brown Shirt when they submitted the report?"
I don't care what party you back, whether you're conservative or liberal, republican or democrat, you MUST keep watch. There are MANY sets of eyes on this right now - both in power and not in power - that are paying VERY close attention to the American People's reaction to being stripped of liberty in the name of public safety.
Once they see what manipulates us, what makes neighbor report on neighbor in times of a crisis, they can plan and ponder.
They want to see what will make us follow extra rules "for a little while." Does a virus do it? What about forest fires? How about terrorist attacks? War? Famine? Dust Bowl? Flood?
These are/were all real events that give certain people a chance to observe our behavior.
They want to see which rules Law Enforcement Officer's are willing to enforce. My Dad was a cop for 17 years. My uncle for nearly 40. My cousin will be retiring soon from Michigan State Police. None of them would have done much more than make some notes in a book either.
Here's the thing though: The totalitarian societies of history simply got rid of the LEO's unwilling to be thugs and replaced them with ones who were. There's always someone willing to be a bully. Certain people thrive on it. This has been used to the advantage of dictators throughout history.
History repeats Boys and Girls - and every time it does, the people at the time thought "That will never happen here in this modern society. We're not savages like they were. We're enlightened." That thinking dates back to before the Roman Empire.
Now.... Please don't read this as "Go do what you want." Please don't read this as "The whole thing is a hoax." I believe that this virus is a real threat - just as the others I mentioned above - and that we are doing the right thing by locking down.
I am simply stating the cold hard facts: People are watching. There is nothing we can do about it, but you must acknowledge it. You must be aware of it and be prepared to speak up - before the reality of being beaten down for doing so comes to pass.
I'm not paranoid about it or losing sleep. I know it's always been true and always will be true until the end of the world.
Our duty as free people is to ensure that freedom is here for the next generation. That means recognizing the signs AT THE BEGINNING and speaking up. Once the thing has escalated and it's clear for all to see what has happened.... well... it's too late.
So: Do the right thing and lock down. Be upset when you see others that don't lock down - they are potentially endangering themselves and others, but be OUTRAGED when people take it upon themselves to report it to the authorities - especially under the cowardly cloak of anonymity. THOSE people are the long-term danger to our society - more than any virus, flood, or fire ever could be. They desire to use the rule of law as a sword rather than a shield - while peaking with a clever grin from behind the heavy drapes.
Alright. Getting off my soapbox. I hope no one took this as political because I don't trust any particular party as far as I can throw them. One simply is moving roughly in the direction that seems appropriate to me at the moment.
Sorry if this seemed like a rant (I guess it was), but I seem to have time on my hands.... Maybe we should talk sports... oh.... wait.....
