Re: and this is from, um, an e.u. member

begin  Daniel Cassidy's  quote:

| I think the important point here (and correct me if I'm wrong, but
| it seems to be what Tim is saying) is that while western nations
| may, on the whole, be 'more free' than other nations, they are
| getting progressively less free, and that is something many of us
| seek to avoid.

that is certainly true, and for the reason you, perhaps 
unintentionally, gave. the vast share of the loss of freedom in the 
west has taken place in the name of progressive causes.

however, and i believe that history bears me out, the tendency in the 
u.s. and i believe in some other western nations is always toward 
more freedom; that is where the constant pressure is applied. the 
mitigating factor where freedom seems to be reduced has in every case 
been to prevent the dimunition of the freedom of others -- things are 
sometimes mutually exclusive, and, again, lesser evils often need be 
settled for. perfect freedom would be wonderful, but it requires that 
one not infringe on someone else's perfect freedom or incite others 
to do so, so it requires perfect responsibility as well.

this is not to say that every decision has been a good one, because 
many have not.
-- 
dep

http://www.linuxandmain.com -- outside the box, barely within
the envelope, and no animated paperclip anywhere.

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