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In reply to the discussion: 101 Refresher [View all]Martin Eden
(12,803 posts)19. Regarding the Thomas Paine quote
The duty of a true Patriot is to protect his country from its government.
Though Paine spoke truly, his quote has been embraced by heavily armed "2A folks" who fancy themselves a Constitutional militia ready to rise up against a tyrannical federal government. In theory that may sound reasonable and patriotic, but in reality these groups are extreme rightwingers who are staunchly on the side of the fascist would-be tyrant who places himself above the law and threatens to destroy our Constitutional checks & balances.
I apologize for being a little off topic, but we have been fighting against the demonization of our government since Ronald Reagan declared it was the problem not the solution.
Today we have to protect our country from the head of our government, and the front line of defense in this impeachment has been manned (and womanned) by our elected representatives in the Democratic Party and by career public servants who have defended our country regardless of which party holds sway.
If we are to keep the republic bequeathed to us by our Founders, the patriots who are part of our government will be essential to the effort.
Though Paine spoke truly, his quote has been embraced by heavily armed "2A folks" who fancy themselves a Constitutional militia ready to rise up against a tyrannical federal government. In theory that may sound reasonable and patriotic, but in reality these groups are extreme rightwingers who are staunchly on the side of the fascist would-be tyrant who places himself above the law and threatens to destroy our Constitutional checks & balances.
I apologize for being a little off topic, but we have been fighting against the demonization of our government since Ronald Reagan declared it was the problem not the solution.
Today we have to protect our country from the head of our government, and the front line of defense in this impeachment has been manned (and womanned) by our elected representatives in the Democratic Party and by career public servants who have defended our country regardless of which party holds sway.
If we are to keep the republic bequeathed to us by our Founders, the patriots who are part of our government will be essential to the effort.
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