James Oppenheim Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"They can only set free men free ...
And there is no need of that:
Free men set themselves free."

by:	James Oppenheim (1882-1932), was an American poet, novelist, and editor
Source:	The Slave
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Categories:	Freedom, Self-Determination, Slavery, Sovereignty
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History has shown that to be true over and over again. -- Mike, Norwalk
In this day of technological tyranny I still wonder if even the methods of John Galt would go unnoticed by the slave drivers of modern day. To believe that any groups that have decided to simply drop out are not known of by those that rule by tyranny is at least a mistaken belief. For any group of John Galts the method of deliverance from the 'king' is to be able to keep moving and in small groups rather than large ones. -- Anon
Just as a slave is trained to depend on his master-so this government has us trained to depend on government. We must free ourselves of this government. No more socialism. -- cal, Lewisville, TX
Apparently cal you are missing the point. You are free or you are not, and above you state that you are not by saying "We must free ourselves". Who do you mean by "we"?. Don't you mean "I" must free myself? Those of us who are free voluntarily join in free association to solve our common problems whether it be protecting endangered species, our common health concerns etcetera. Someday I hope that you will become free enough to "join us and the world may live as one" John Lennon. (Those of us who pay for health insurance so that the uninsured can get free health care must freely join together to stop those who think they are free enough to stiff us any time they choose.) -- Waffler, Smith 2
Waffler, what about us that pay for health insurance so that we the payors get health insurance regardless of what the socialist / unconstitutional statist theocracy that infests this nation does? I don't pay health insurance so that the uninsured can get free health care. Another option: Since the health insurance providers (along with their lacky legislators) are the greatest cause for unaffordable health care, how about if all health insurance was outlawed so that the cost of pharmaceuticals and healthcare would drop to what the market could truly bare (for example, Chiropractors can't do X-rays for free in any state without major reprisals). I'm not for eliminating health insurance companies but, for entirely different reasons than you. I am for eliminating all governmental mandates concerning insurance. -- Mike, Norwalk
The missing part of the quote may provide a bit more clarity. Waffler, I did not realize that people pay for health insurance so that others can get free medical care -- probably because it is not true. However, mandatory government insurance is designed to tax the healthy citizens to pay for those that expect free medical care. Having developed insurance systems, I know that the rates that people are charged for insurance is based on actuarial tables, i.e. statistics. Mandatory health taxes are proposed for buying votes from those without coverage. Insurance is not a right -- it is not even a guarantee in this life. It is a form of gambling or long term savings plan. I find it interesting that the very folks that demand free medical care from the government are also usually the same folks that complain about over-population. Why then should governments around the world HAVE to take care of every medical need? I think what you will find is that the health care plans being touted in Congress these days are designed to shake down the insurance business and leave only the biggest insurers standing to have monopoly control on the health industry -- which, by the way, is designed to 'treat' people, not cure them. If there were a true concern for the health of the population, then the numerous cures for cancer, diabetes, and other diseases would be made available -- the problem is that the profits are too huge for the pharma industry to allow anyone to eat an apple for their health -- it is in fact illegal for an apple company to state that apples are good for your health! The idea that taxation, taxation, and more taxation is the solution to all our problems is a bunch of BS and ultimately creates a mandatory dependency upon government -- and a mandatory 'duty' to pay and pay and pay -- or else! Such hypocrisy merely distracts us from the real problems -- the systematic enslavement of the people of the Earth. -- E Archer, NYC 1
Very well said Archer! -- Anon
Taxation does "cure" one problem: that pesky freedom and liberty thing for which some people seem to have a fondness. It "cures" the lust the socialist elites have for control over every action in the minutest detail. It "solves" the utter unpredictability of freedom and self determination. -- Ken, Allyn, WA
We are free because we are born free. Not by the will of someone who governs us. We are free because the Almighty made us so. The rest are just words... -- Leonard, Hallandale
-- jim k, Austin
Waffler, spoken like a true Borg slave. There is a huge difference between group think (a democracy, socialism, willing slaves, etc. vain calling the forced servitude freedom) and individual sovereigns united. You can not be freed from slavery as you can NOT perceive it, understand it or want it as it is an extreme irritant to you and it threatens your livelihood. The occupying statist theocracy infesting this land is unconstitutional and anti-freedom; — that is the slavery that we must free ourselves. The Democrat Party has become a death cult of liars and event spinners. It will take the Republican Party to implement the macabre dogma and canon in the current anti-freedom theocracy. -- Mike, Norwalk

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