What Makes a Country Great?

If she was arrested for not having auto insurance, then I agree with her arrest. She should not be driving while uninsured... why should someone else have to pay for her negligence if there is an accident and she is at fault? As to the Child Support issue... I have personal experience in that area. I got behind because I was disabled and couldn't work... and they still took my license and charged me with misdemeanor nonsupport one year and felony nonsupport the next year. I demanded a jury trial on the first and the charges were dropped. I entered into a payment agreement on the felony charge and just got that paid off 2 months ago. It was fortunate for me that my disability came through a month before that felony charge so that I could even make the payment arrangements and did not have to appear. By the way, the child was over 18 when I got behind,and making way more than I am, and he is 26 now... that's right... I wound up paying until he was 26. Now, where is the justice in that? He decided to go to college, and then quit and got married... but Missouri still wanted it's pound of flesh. I got a letter reinstating my license... what the idiots didn't realize was I had quit driving a year before they took it due to my disability... so that part didn't bother me at all. What did bother me was the fact that they tried to turn me into a criminal because of a disability. As a result, I no longer have any respect for or confidence in our so-called justice system. As for limiting government, the States need to tell DC to back off, and the voters need to start electing people that will uphold the Constitution.

Do people still know HOW to be self reliant? Can we ever get back that spirit? And please please tell me how to limit government. I was reading our daily paper, the police blotter specifically. A young lady was arrested for NOT SHOWING PROOF OF INSURANCE. Gave me chill bumps. The government is putting people in jail (even if it's for a few hours it's still TO MUCH) for not buying a product. Not to mention taking away Daddy's driver's license if he gets behind in child support and then throwing him in jail cause he can't GET TO WORK! Does any of that sound like limited government? Or am I crazy?

I can sympathize with you as I have three sons in the child support trap. They are all for responsibility and love their children very much. Funny thing is, the same courts that demand that pound of flesh, beg off when you ask them to enforce vistation and joint custody. As for the car insurance, before mandatory insurance laws went into effect here, Missouri had a reciprocity law. You had to show financial accountability to drive. If you did not have that and you damaged another drivers vehicle, your lisence was suspended until the bill was paid. It worked just fine that way. Mandatory insurance is just a ploy to keep people from the 'privilege' of being able to move around freely, and like I stated up above, make criminals of common people. Did you know that statistics show that UNINSURED drivers have less accidents? Seems once you sign on the dotted line, your prone to carelessness knowing it's covered.

sucky grammar aside, yes!

Does those things add up to being self reliant? A military that takes its oath to up hold the Constitution, not the politician in office.

YUCK...my grammar sucks! Do any of those things.....

Thank you for the nice compliment on friendliness in America. I am glad to hear you think that of us. Safety, yes. But not at the cost of liberties.

I disagree that the government should 'take care' of its people. If you are being 'taken care of' you are beholden to obey the one taking care of you. Government cannot be trusted to remain benevolent. Does that make sense to you? I hope you do not think that I am being critical of your opinion. I do not feel the government should play the role of care taker.

I agree. The people are what makes a country great, especially if the power is in the hands of the people. The people control what their government does. The people build the community. If the people aren't united and constantly debate over things, the country might not be so powerful.

I think what I hear you saying is each individual must be strong for the group to be strong. Trust and cooperation IS necessary as well. So, if each individual is not trustworthy, and will not cooperate with building a great country, then is all lost? You said the 'will of the people' is most important, I agree with you very strongly on that.

I love the right to follow my dreams, I love it that I can worship or not worship as I so desire without fear of ridicule or torture. I can still speak my mind and pursue my opinions. I do not love the fact that the government has begun taking away so much of this from me, and the other citizens of this country. My country is NOT the government, it is the people and the society we have developed here. The land and its people, that is a country, is it not?

Again I am hearing of a country's greatness coming from its people. I like the idea of family.