"Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence, (I conjure you to believe me fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government."
by:
George Washington
(1732-1799) Founding Father, 1st US President, 'Father of the Country'
Source:
Farewell Address, September 17, 1796, Ref: George Washington: A Collection, W.B. Allen, ed. (521)
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Reader comments about this quote:
And today the US is being fashioned in European-style socialist tyranny. Washington was truly a great president whose words have obviously been ignored. Most don't even know what a Repblican government even is!
 -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Hogwash... "foreign influence" is no more than other human beings seeking to interact with us in civil manners. "No man is an island."
     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US     
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    The United Nations seems the largest foreign influence currently assaulting our freedom. Using the guise of democracy of getting half to agree that all must now follow will destroy our Republic and lose our liberty.
     -- Joe, Rochester, MI     
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    Great quote and excellent insight by E Archer and Joe. Once again A Reston provides his own proof that he is not a real American, merely a resident by accident of birth leaching off the success of others in a system he does not believe in but is willing to exploit while decrying its unfairness.
     -- helorat, Milton     
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     -- Allen, DC      
    The Fabian Society of England broadcast its progressive socialism to advance UK imperialism. Through such Fabian Socialism's foreign influence, policing agencies developed to a most baneful foe of the new Republican form of government. The individual sovereigns of the representative republic believed policing agencies were nothing more than a standing army to fulfill a foreign despot's will (that turned out to be very accurate) Not until after the war between the States were such standing armies placed in every jurisdiction possible. Communism's 10 planks have been implemented to morally harmonize with the rest of the world; while, fascism from Europe has been the outside influence (driving force) that took over administration of the now occupying statist theocracy infesting this land. The Republican form of government referenced by Washington and as guaranteed at Article IV, Section 4 in the Constitution exists no more.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    World political opinion has been running our nation a long-long time.
     -- cal, lewisville, tx     
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    This protest we endure is also prophecy, " Edwin Markham ".
    When whirlwinds of rebellion shake all shores ? How will it be with kingdoms and with kings-with those who shaped him to the thing he is- When this dumb Terror shall rise to judge the world, after the silence of the centuries.
    " The Man with the Hoe "
    The seal is broken, the " headstone " will be brought forth !
    Semper Fi.
     -- Ronw13, Yachats Or     
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    The “A” from Reston, can you illuminate beyond your most shallow miss-directional word salad? Individual sovereigns operate within the States united as: each man is lawfully an island (not an abstract collective).

    Liberty is: “The power of acting as one thinks fit, without any restraint or control, except from the laws of nature.” (Bouvier’s Law Dictionary) Liberty is the “exemption from extraneous control. The power of the will, in its moral freedom, to follow the dictates of its unrestricted choice, and to direct the external acts of the individual without restraint, coercion, or control from other persons. Liberty is the right which nature gives to all mankind of disposing of their persons and property after the manner they judge most consistent with their happiness, on condition of their acting within the limits of the law of nature, and so as not to interfere with an equal exercise of the same rights by other men.” (Black’s Law Dictionary 1st ed.). Clarifying original fact, natural law intent, and de jure jurisprudence: “Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law,' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.” (Thomas Jefferson) “Personal liberty, or the Right to enjoyment of life and liberty, is one of the fundamental or natural Rights, which has been protected by its inclusion as a guarantee in the various constitutions, which is not derived from, or dependent on, the U.S. Constitution, which may not be submitted to a vote and may not depend on the outcome of an election. It is one of the most sacred and valuable Rights, as sacred as the Right to private property ⋯ and is regarded as inalienable.” (16 C.J.S., Constitutional Law, Sect.202, p.987).

    Which foreign influence is seeking to interact with us by promoting liberty?

    A license is: “A right given by some competent authority to do an act, which without such authority would be illegal” (Bouvier’s Law Dictionary) “A personal privilege to do some particular act or series of acts ⋯ The permission by competent authority to do an act which, without such permission would be illegal, a trespass, a tort, or otherwise not allowable.” (Black’s Law Dictionary, 6th Edition) “The permission, by competent authority to do an act which without permission, would be illegal, a trespass, or a tort.” (People vs. Henderson, 218 NW.2d 2, 4).A government license is the privilege to perform criminal acts without immediate threat of prosecution. Rights are inherently unalienable/inalienable/irrevocable/eternal and an essential/absolute non-severable part of the sentient sovereign. Thus, god/government license(s) creates a society of criminals and cannot pertain to sentient sovereigns or free law abiding individuals.

    Which foreign influence is seeking to interact with us by promoting a society of no criminals?  

    etc., etc. etc.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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     -- Mary, MI      
    Out of context. GW is speaking about interfering in with the perfect law of Liberty. 
     -- Kevin D Lee, Hercules     
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    Jealousy to follow the path of a "free" evil imperialist?  Free to be a exploitive pirate?  What could be  more of an intense mind prison?  It would be pleasant if this Republican government would wake the hell up to what it truly represents. Humans, by the way, are kind, decent, sincere compassionate responsible community members, in their true state.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Sillik, one of your mentally ill delusions is that the inorganic phantasm (government) is a living / breathing creature and that such apparition can be reasoned with like a sensorial being (in the real / tangible world, government can not / has no logic and can not reason). Also, your socialistic creation of word salad definitions doesn't match well established legal definitions. By example; within English grammar, an axiom can be adequately strung together to coin a phrase relating 'free to' and 'exploitive pirate' to a legal definition reference. Such attempt makes an oxymoron.  A legal definition of free, liberty or inalienable rights does not / can not include any illegality.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Mike, Norwalk, our condition is full of messes, but we can't abandon reason. Reason is the facility that will move our government forward. Also, you may recheck the rest of your post, it doesn't look like it is coordinated correctly. You may have left out a letter or symbol or two. 
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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