Lyle,

I respect your opinion. I feel that your not looking at the big picture though. Dems and repubs have the same agenda. The only thing government can do is take freedoms, they can't give them. We are created and given rights by the creator. Our country was founded as a constitutional republic, not a democrocy. We are far away from being what the founders intended. If you really think you are free try not paying your taxes. Armed men will come and remove everything you own from you, and throw you in jail.

I don't support what the government spends money on, in many circumstances I would never give a penny to some of the things that are mandated. I don't pay taxes for any reason other than fear. Our established 2 party government is simply a giant leach that makes sure there is a huge gap between the have's and the have not's.... Guess who is consistently in office?? Rich kids that grew up with silver spoons in their mouth's. Our gov. is not of the people for the people. These people in the majority of offices are not normal people, they don't reflect the majority of america. They operate a business which we are all captive customers in... Government. I am supposed to be free, but only if I pay the required fee for any activity that I want to participate in..
start a business.... I need a license, which is a tax or fee I pay to get it.
drive... license, pay fee take test
marriage.... license pay fee
build house... permit, pay fee make sure it's suitable to government
buy house... property tax...even if you pay for your house in cash you don't pay annual taxes and they will confiscate it and sell it.
invest money.... taxed at higher rate for capital gains
sell house.... capital gains tax
get job.... income tax at approximately 30%
business makes money.... pay taxes + self employment tax and you have to spend hours and hours trying to figure out how to do the paperwork properly or you have to hire someone to properly submit the paperwork to the government.

The point I am making is.... this so called freedom is really conditional freedom. You are free as long as you comply with these thousands of rules we have. (Not counting common law things like stealing and murder etc. those are required) Are we really free? Does all this collection of taxes go to bettering our country and the way of life for the common citizen? Or, does it go to making sure the people in office stay in office and live luxerious lifestyles? Do the politicians stay in office by using their own salaries to pay for their campaigns? Or do they get support from businesses that they in turn make favorable "laws" to promote their well being? When they leave office they then work for one of these businesses and continue to promote those businesses. It is so corrupt I can't believe anyone can support any canidate. They are all scoundrels. Dems and repubs alike. These theives are busy passing approximately 2000 "laws" a year every year in this country, all to make us more free?

We truly have the fox watching over the chicken coup.