Government is like fire...

[Fumesucker]

A powerful servant but a fearsome master.

Like fire, government must be constantly and closely watched to make sure it isn't getting out of control and you must stand ever ready to douse the fire.

The Founding Fathers feared government and sought to make it as controllable as possible..

Americans today have either never learned to fear government power or have lost that fear somewhere and, like a forest fire, it is ready to destroy us for treating it in such a cavalier manner.

You must fear government power ESPECIALLY when it is your faction in control, since that is when you are going to pay the least attention to what government is doing.

[bluerum]

1. The problem is that Americans do fear their government. It should be the other

way around. Government should fear and serve the citizens.

Once we fear the government, we are prisoners - or slaves.

[Fumesucker]

2. We fear the opposite party getting power..

But when our own faction is in control, it's "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead".

We don't fear government itself, that is not taught in school.

[bluerum]

3. Screw school. Look what happens on the streets.

[Fumesucker]

4. My OP is a reaction to the OP regarding...

"What do you think the worst problem we have is"..

I've read all the responses to that OP and no one has even mentioned the first thing that popped into my head.

Which lets me know that Americans really don't fear their government, if they did someone would have mentioned my response by now.

Fish do not notice the water in which they swim.

[rch35]

5. fish dont notice the water? nt

[Fumesucker]

8. When you become used to something..

You then discount the danger..

Like those people who are scared to death of terrorists, yet think nothing of getting in the car.

Yet we are all in far more danger every time we get in the car than we ever are from terrorism.

[bluerum]

11. No they don't. But citizens should notice the government that enslaves them.

[mpalluzzi]

6. Fear

Is fear the operative word we want to use here? I think we have had enough of that over the last 8 painful years. Respect is the word to use. Which would go along with pay attention, participate or live with the outcomes but don't complain.

[Fumesucker]

7. If you don't fear fire..

Then you are foolish..

In my opinion of course.

But then, I've had a square foot or so of skin burnt off once.

[Arctic Dave]

9. As the famous Phoenix fire department chief says

All fires, no matter how big, go out.

[Fumesucker]

10. All governments eventually pass into history also..

That doesn't mean you shouldn't be afraid of them while they are still around.

[Arctic Dave]

12. My post was rhetorical. But , yes, you should never turn your back on a fire.

that is rookie fire training 101. Since the group who currently occupy the white house are going to be going away soon we need to be looking forward to the next "fire" and how to manage it. Another quote from the fire chief, Fires do not re-ignite, they were never fully extinguished to begin with.