We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
"When taxes are too high, people go hungry. When the government is too intrusive, people lose their spirit. Act for the people's benefit. Trust them; leave them alone."
Bulldog ... Thank you for posting this quote from Lao Tzu. I was particularly struck by the sentence "When the government is too intrusive, people lose their spirit." It describes perfectly the sense of angst that seems pervasive right now among most Americans, and we must struggle not to give in to it. It reminds me of the familiar quote "from time to time, the tree of Liberty must be watered with the blood of patriots."
In other words, we must be willing to fight for what we need, as we need to breathe.
Marianne