While some congressmen have had their 'lovers' run prostitution rings out of their homes and nothing happens to them (they don't even get voted out of office) if an individual is even carrying what the state determines to be too much cash all of their assets can be seized and most likely there will be with no charges even filed, that drives up the cost and reduces the profits. If id doesn't feel like you just moved to a third world country wait until you are stopped for traveling a highway too often (they are monitored now by cameras which is illegal search) and suspected of something nefarious and then arrested on FISA charges and sent to prison while you await the possibility of being tried in a secret court. Most of the people who lived in terrible collectivist states, i.e. Russia, China, Nazi Germany to list the favorites but no means complete list, most of those people never felt threatened by the state because they never ran afoul of it. They believed that all was good and everything instated was for the good of all. The average citizen always excused the behavior of the state while protecting them and even if it did make a mistake it was an innocent mistake of the state and it was worth a small tragedy to know that everyone else was protected. The only difference between where Americans live now and any of these other collectivist states is a matter of degree, which is like comparing two serial killers and trying to determine which one is less evil.
One assumption that leads the few who would choose freedom astray is to believe that most people would not willingly choose either to be a slave or a slave master. When the choice is made for the slave violently most will resist. When it is offered as a choice; i.e. wouldn't you like free health care, welfare, schools etc., all you have to do is make others your slave and steal from them!! Almost no one resists the offer.

I've stated before that if I could afford to self-finance a campaign, I would run on one idea only: Forcing all government officials (and especially Congress) to live by the same laws they shove up our--I mean, down our throats.

Or, I could go all Montgomery Brewster. Would be interesting to see here in Indiana who would win: Braun, Donnelly, or None Of the Above.

I didn't leave the Trumpster off, but there were and still are more pressing issues to deal with. After all, we are only talking about the usurping of freedom.

Its we IS stoopid.

so true...

Using a specious argument, Trump supported the dispossession of Kelo. https://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...

And of course congress has that special fund that, using your tax dollars, pays hush money to quash sexual harassment/abuse/assault charges.

Good point. America owes its very existence to eschewing rulers, but now, we are trending right back to it. What irony. We are volunteering our own doom..

American's haven't elected leaders for many years now. Now, they elect rulers, instead.

It must stop.
I wish we were heading into some perfect storm where Republicans have power making Democrats fear abuses of power while at the same time Republicans are feel like elements of the gov't are persecuting them. It could be a chance for bi-partisan reform, but as you say it's more likely they'll focus on protecting only politicians from abuses.

Go to Google and type asset http://forfeiture.It's even worse than I portrayed. There is a shadow group that claims to be part of the FBI or ATF or whatever alphabet group is handy, that points out drug dealers. A large number of whom claim the drugs were planted. Interesting n'est pas?

Well, I'm not going anywhere -- as long as I'm not in an urn. Our little village has the best Greek food including Athens. Anyone is welcome to stop by and say hello. This area, while very pleasant is not a buzzing center of intellectual thought, so it will be nice to talk to someone about other than sports and climate.

The elite on the street, ruled by the great unwashed.

Some how we have to get through their thick perverted, bicameral skulls that it is a Privilege to serve us, BUT, they are Not privileged in doing so.

The job, should be a sacrifice for the Only entity upon earth that is expected to be "Altruistic"...is government... of the people, by the people.

These claims don't ring true. It doesn't make asset forfeiture and the other stuff acceptable. And I'm sure they would use their connections to avoid the effects of these things. But it doesn't ring true to me that they don't pay payroll taxes and that asset forfeiture doesn't apply to members of Congress. I would be interested in links to evidence.

Ill be glad to if you'll refer me to where your posts are. I'm too old to be playing hide and seek.

Depending on your age, there's a good chance I read it before you were born. I don't know why , but I picture you as a young fellow ( Under 40).

It will be interesting to see what, if anything will be done about this by Trump & Co. Probably nothing. Most of the populace couldn't care less, unless they are hit with a forfieture law and then, hear the tearful cry.

They couch the seizure laws as helping to make illegal drug distribution less profitable, but they fail to inform that the law applies to all, including some poor schmuck who has bought some drug which he stored in his home, sold to him by a informant. He loses everything even though he proves he was set up. Even though he proves his innocence. Once seized, there is no provision for the return of the property. Not only is the house forfeit, but its contents as well..

You're kidding, right?

That's how they get away with it.

We are the common folk. We are stupid.