Mephisto2

I can't really comment too much on the appointment of Judge Chertoff, as I'm not familiar with all the facts, but I do disagree with the statement above.

I don't believe people "cede" anything to the government. I believe the individual owes the State certain obligations. Perhaps that's the difference between me and many (most?) Americans today.

Whatever happened to the concept pronounced by JFK, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country".

Why do so many Americans believe that they, individually, have some higher value or rights than the State. The State, as it exists within Western democracies, is more than an organ of tax collection, social welfare, organized military power and foreign policy, but is a construct to protect all its members; whether rich or poor, whether Christian or not, whether gay or straight, whether Democratic or Republican, whether a member of the Board of Halliburton or a factory worker for General Motors.

It pains me to hear so many intelligent people think that their individual rights, their selfish urges, are more important that the "good" of society, the rights of those who need protection, the promotion of a free and equitable society. Corny as it may sound, let me quote a line from Star Trek. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few". Or if that doesn't float your boat, how about Louis Blanc (famous French socialist)? "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs".

Why this obsession that you are more important than we?


Mr Mephisto