More from FreeTeam.Org

Site opened: December 1998

Freedom is NOT free.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

It is correct to say that a people like ourselves, with our traditions, our history, our habits, our attitudes, our institutions of democracy and freedom, our general enlightenment, must have freedom if we are to survive. Only if we actively encourage discussion, inquiry, and dissent, only if we put a premium upon nonconformity, can we hope to solve the enormously complex problems that confront us. Only if we do this can we enlist the full and grateful support of all our people and command the respect of our associates abroad.

Quote from Freedom, Loyalty, Dissent by H.S. Commaer
Bold words, inserted for emphasis, say: People must have freedom to survive. Encourage discussion, inquiry, and dissent to solve complex problems.

Past Notes:

Slips to uphold the Constitution

"At least Osama bin Laden never says he has our interests at heart. We can't be lulled into trusting him. Not so with the U.S. government. It constantly tells us that it's acting in our best interests -- even as it enacts legislation and executive orders that steal our freedom... Look at what has come out of Congress and the Oval Office in recent weeks. Our representatives passed a 300-page 'anti-terrorism' bill -- obscenely named the USA Patriot Act -- without reading it!"
- Sheldon Richman, senior fellow at the Future of Freedom Foundation, 12/23/01

Floating chads

Dave Mitchell, editor and publisher of the Point Reyes Light in California, says that one of those lost San Francisco ballot box tops washed up near Point Reyes on Limantour Beach. The Department of Elections is completely at sea.

Radioamerica.org

A full-time conservative radio network is emerging to give NPR a run for its (taxpayer) money. Radio America is planning to go head-to-head with NPR in 2002. Radio America aims to be "driven by its commitment to traditional American values, limited government and the free market" and will feature "high-profile guests, hard-hitting interviews and lively debate."

MN Forum is a force in city politics

(Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune) Mayoral Candidate Rybak's experience illustrates the emergence of Minneapolis-Issues, a discussion list with nearly 700 addresses, in shaping the Minneapolis body politic. A healthy sprinkling of this year's city candidates are list participants.

Ron LaPorte, a University of Pittsburgh professor of public health

Pittsburghers aim to leverage the net for fight on bio-troubles as reported by USA Today.

Grassroots

Grassroots democracy (small "d") matters. Every citizen deserves a say. The decisions of government that determine the shape of our lives should hinge upon us all. To be subject to the will of another is be a slave of an authoritarian. Actions here at FreeTeam.Org aim to increase public participation in government. Help create an expansion of political organizations to shoulder the burden of our process of participatory democracy. Let's welcome the direct inclusion of citizens in the decision-making process.