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ROTC THOUGHTS: EACH ISSUE BRINGS A NEW PERSPECTIVE••• America: Land of the Not-so-Free ROSS SMITH Contributor h is ironic rhar [usr a few weeks ago rhe polidc~1 science depart- ment celebrated Constitution Day in Decker, marking rhe 233ro anniversary of our Founding Fathers !aying rhc Foundartons of America's principles. Yet, we arc in unprecedented times where politicians are dcpardng from our foundarions and entering into a new era where rhe government runs our lives and imposes on cur feeedcms. One cannot simply deny this. We must rake a look at our history [0 see rhe rwo fundamental reasons why we, simply put, do not live in a free country anymore. Fjrsr was rhe enacrment ~rrhe Conscription AC1 of 1917, also known as rhe Udraft. H The Idea rhar our govemmenr can force you to join me military, at any time, cannot hold true in a free sociery, lr fundamentally means the government has comrol of your life. Even lhoughlhe draft was ended in 1973, the Selecove Servtce System still ex- ~s[S,which forces men berween theagesofl8and 25 to register lJ1 order for the posslbiliry of a drafrro be re-c:nacred,Secondly, "uny of our freedoms were lost on February L 1913whererhe sixleenth amendment ofourconsrilUtion was ratified,the in- come tax. The income tax also call not exist in a free society be- causeitmeansmegovernmentownsanindi\'idllal'sincomeand COnseql1ently, allows rhem TO keep a certain percentage of it. The reasons why our freedoms are in a new age of rhrear is bec:l.l1seAmerica has adopted a philosophy of the "nanny-stare" where government is involved in our everyday lives, telling us ;~::~~n~~~::a~~~~:~~i!;:v;f:~~~~~;':;:i?:~~~h:t;oef~~el: ?fone's hearr does not cause one's ideas to work. The !awofun- In[cnded consequences has never been so prevalent in Washing- Consequently, societies thai depart front these principles are al- can. Libertarianism, most simply pur, encomp~uu the censer- ~on D.C., as politicians are enacting new policies that are made ways worse off. I challenge anyone to show where rhe masses vative philosophy of economic freedom end the liberal phlloso- In the name of helping our citizens, however, achieving polar have benefited from adapting socialistic ideals. phy of social freedom. While I would love to continue on and ~~~OSite results. Policies like Cap and Trade, Cash for Clunk~rs, In spire of this new mentality, [ am t~king the liberty (no thoroughly back up each one of my claims, I can nor do that f' mOstreeendy, Healrhcare Reform. all have the mostgenume pun intended) of organizing a dub on campus in order to in- with JUSt this article. That is why I would like to continue ro o ln~entio~ and the most devastating of consequences, form the public of these freedom-threatening policies and to submit articles on specific individual topics and debunk many of th ver time, it is extremely clear rhar individuals have been promote the ideas of small government, free markets, and in- the misconceptions OUI there and show how individl1alliberty, T~c:o~~::msperou~ when capitalism and free t~de are adopted. dividualliberry. This is a philosophy known as Libertarianism, like our founding fathers intended, really do prOmOte rbe most ~~----~------------------~ diffcr- e baSIC principles rhar we have dnfted away from. which asserts you can run your life better than the government. prosperiry".for EVERVONE.!11 e CteflM l>\flt\eS clll ... over ,),dealingwith rc::alizing your addiclion and to Got Opinions? home you sound rhal toJdyou and they Faccbook, emoticons room in your r:tIS scrunchies quickly did away from on campo your even door, though walking you very nothing We want them! , Taking that first, freezing bite wrong ... ·ahem·. is on pens, pencils, and erasers; Come to the This column markers, sandwiches, salads, and the sandwich BRYAN NUCKLES Ok. thaI's bull, but it sounds nice doesn't it~ JUST a man; cooks, crooks, books, laundry, hooks, and Free Press staff meetings, DoclOrSeuss, thissegmem isofmia: and it is of Mondays at 7:30 SloH Reporter Httle; ~o~':;is about life. AI.I ir's linle quirks men wirh JUSt a llIdofinsanity in bcrwecn. If you in the Writing Center. "~t is an Ice Cream Diary)~ d un!.p""'ed twists, like the ume your room- ralk aOOm it in Clar. WI' want a tlIStC, I mean, who the :~reFa~~::in::=n:~r:; rhe PO~:t~~~ have no due.' Bm 1 suppose that's ~~are SPi~ed enyou :.:.:::=~ CUllUrndownicecrotm? _ ----__rOll get down to il. Discow-ry... carpl:tW . QUICK VIEW L 19htef Side of the Campus Safety Blotter Blo"er by the numbers Fir . u1. despite a lack of fires REStDENCE HALLS CAMPUS FACllmES e eXttnguishers growing in pop aney, ANW ACADEMIC Alcohol- 2 Health- 2 larceny- 1 ~~~ELYNNMCGINLEY MonQger BLANCHE BAKER ingfircsldon't~llysec{henealtobr~ Harassment- 1 larceny- 1 Health· 1 So while thoseSloriCS may get a free themoU[alpartlcs.BUI.someolle,sefl- Hey mere, my Disorderly conduct- 1 little Grl'enTer- fo;thesimple6ctthatlthought~ ously_rdlmewh:!tyoupeoplearedoing DECKER CENTER mrs. Remember =- C(JOI- the n:51 of you are on n/Itla. cars, wi(hlhese(hings.]"mcuriou~. DMC Alcahol- 1 Assault-' Andlasl when YOll Wl'te We haVl: windows smashed outO sptcialli(d~ buccertainlynot leasr is rnc for Alcohol- 1 Possession· 1 larceny- , flower thaI got sropped younger and dnmkandrecldessdrivingin NorthVil- Disorderly conduct· 1 HILL HALL you did some- bge. Personally, !find thosecampusspo:ui thing naughty bumps difficult enough to hJn~le while NORTH VILLAGE larceny·' and your p:uents Assault- 1 Harassment- 3 cknvn . would sit you sober (especially lhe mJpid oncs In North DUI·! OWl·! :eu,~:twS;~=[!~:;:;:~ VllJagc that CUllOllRagcd likc rhey've been pur- Reckless Driving- 1 look to NOT look like posefully specdbumps ... ), but maybc:rhispelron ki.:t01 m~ tricks you are pulling are Ihou.ghr~he'dgetJucky. Wrong-o. LOOK, PA AVE dn.tl1kdriving is never runny. You could larceny- 1 Heolth- 1 ~ily i~7~m~;i:d~=;tc:~; gerhurt. Orher peopJ~Q)llld get hurt. It Safety- 1 ;'~Pl"C:lsedbytherwobr:lvesoulsthar may not Sttm lik.c a bigdeo.i,but it i$. So ~rckedupforrunnjngaroundonthe IX' smart, and don'r do ir. ROUZER ofa~~r.1 won'r Jie- that is kind lh~re,there.l...a;rure's(M:r.Chrnup, Alcahol. 1 Health. 1 McDeczy_Mommy~riJI kwe.