From: robtelee@yabbs
To: Patton@yabbs
Subject: re: True Freedom
Date: Wed Jul  6 21:37:21 1994

I view freedom as something that cannot be "total."  Freedom is something 
that cannot be total.  What would happen if all persons would have that 
total freedom ?  I do not trust all citizens to have the responibility to 
care for others.  I see citizens as basically the same way as Hobbes did 
in "Leviathan".  I look on government to control SOME of man's baser 
instincts.

I do not however see the govt role as pervasive.  I see a more 
Jeffersonian in nature.  If I choose to mind my own business, I want govt 
to leave me alone.  I fully ascribe to the antebellum politics of the 
"Old" Democratic party.  The states should be the ultimate authority on 
law and what is done for the citizens.  The federal govt should only 
provide for the common defense, tariffs and so forth.  This would be a 
strict constructionist view of our Constitution.

The present-day Republican Party are saying some of these same things.  
They propose that the states should take on more responsibility of 
providing fro their citizens.  The governors of these states, primarily 
Democratic, cry that they can not do that without federal help.  Where 
are we supposed to get the money from ?  I believe that we will eventually 
reach a saturation point when there will be no more resources to draw from 
and that govt will eventually take over EVERY aspect of our lives.  That 
is something I would resist to the every end.

I hope this answers your question and you can see it from my perspective.

Your further comments on this topic, as always, are welcome.

I remain,
Your Obd'nt Sv'nt,
robtelee