Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You

[Exotix]

*My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you ... ask what can you do for your country.*

50 years ago today



Lawmakers Mark 50th Anniversary of JFK Inaugural


Lawmakers Mark 50th Anniversary of JFK Inaugural - NYTimes.com


President Obama and lawmakers from both parties on Thursday will celebrate the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s inauguration as president.

A joint press release from Democratic Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, and House Speaker John Boehner said congressional leaders will mark the anniversary with a tribute at the Capitol at noon.

Vice President Joe Biden will deliver remarks at the event, which will take place in the rotunda. Mr. Obama will attend an anniversary celebration at Kennedy Center Thursday night.

YouTube - John F Kennedy 'Ask not'

[73sbVert]

Milton Friedman had an excellent take on this.

Much better than anything than those dumbasses Biden or Reid could come up with.

Originally Posted by Milton Friedman

In a much quoted passage in his inaugural address, President Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." It is a striking sign of the temper of our times that the controversy about this passage centered on its origin and not on its content. Neither half of the statement expresses a relation between the citizen and his government that is worthy of the ideals of free men in a free society.

The paternalistic "what your country can do for you" implies that government is the patron, the citizen the ward, a view that is at odds with the free man's belief in his own responsibility for his own destiny.

The organismic, "what you can do for your country" implies that government is the master or the deity, the citizen, the servant or the votary. To the free man, the country is the collection of individuals who compose it, not something over and above them. He is proud of a common heritage and loyal to common traditions.

But he regards the government as a means, an instrumentality, neither a grantor of favors and gifts, nor a master or god to be blindly worshipped and served. He recognizes no national goal except as it is the consensus of the goals that the citizens severally serve. He recognizes no national purpose except as it is the consensus of the purposes for which the citizens severally strive.

The free man will ask neither what his country can do for him nor what he can do for his country. He will ask rather "What can I and my compatriots do through government" to help us discharge our individual responsibilities, to achieve our several goals and purposes, and above all, to protect our freedom? And he will accompany this question with another: How can we keep the government we create from becoming a Frankenstein that will destroy the very freedom we establish it to protect? Freedom is a rare and delicate plant. Our minds tell us, and history confirms, that the great threat to freedom is the concentration of power.

(emphases mine)

Wise man.

[mrvette]

Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon were all PROGRESSIVES first, and party hacks second, then a weak 3rd...Presidents.....

[ChasC5]

Originally Posted by 73sbVert

Milton Friedman had an excellent take on this.

Much better than anything than those dumbasses Biden or Reid could come up with.


(emphases mine)

Wise man.

Jeeeeeeesssss analysis paralysis; my read is simple, be a Patriotic American, plain and simple, nothing sinister about that. Just because it’s a Democratic President who said it, doesn’t mean it’s now a bad idea. They didn’t think that why back in the 60s, like they’ve do over the last couple years.

You do know what a Patriotic American is?

I’m not taking about the Make Believe Patriots types, who adore America and our troops one day, then want to succeed from American and arm themselves against America the next day.

[RetiredSFC 97]

Originally Posted by ChasC5

Jeeeeeeesssss analysis paralysis; my read is simple, be a Patriotic American, plain and simple, nothing sinister about that. Just because it’s a Democratic President who said it, doesn’t mean it’s now a bad idea. They didn’t think that why back in the 60s, like they’ve do over the last couple years.

You do know what a Patriotic American is?

I’m not taking about the Make Believe Patriots types, who adore America and our troops one day, then want to succeed from American and arm themselves against America the next day.

Then why don't the liberals practice that then? Seems to me it's all about, what can my government give me today, for them!

JFK, the second worst POTUS we ever had,

Worst

carter
JFK
Roosevelt

[Exotix]

Originally Posted by RetiredSFC 97

Then why don't the liberals practice that then? Seems to me it's all about, what can my government give me today, for them!

JFK, the second worst POTUS we ever had,

Worst

carter
JFK
Roosevelt

How come CFPR&C'rs never digress on how (R) POTUS's have been the greatest presidents evar ... but instead babble-on in negativity about Dem POTUS's ?

Let me guess ... _Will posts up graphs from the American Thinker to support how great (R)'s have always been ... and that's good enough for you ...

[Tinkerbell in Texas]

CFPR&C??? Wait a minute.....where am I again???? OH YEAH!!! I'm in VETTEBARN!!

Really, exotix, you really need to move past CFPR&C.....or pony up and buy your way back in.

[Exotix]

Originally Posted by Tinkerbell in Texas

CFPR&C??? Wait a minute.....where am I again???? OH YEAH!!! I'm in VETTEBARN!!

Really, exotix, you really need to move past CFPR&C.....or pony up and buy your way back in.

I'm under directive to bring dudes over here from CFPR&C ... tell you what, since you're still a posting member over there why don't you tell'em exotix is over here talk'n all kindz a shit about 'em ... surely they remember good 'ol days ...

[73sbVert]

You're just no fun to argue with dude. You THINK you know it all, you profess to know soooo much more than everyone else, and we are mere peons in the shadow of your intellect.

Frankly, it's just not any fun. I gave up trying to enjoy argument with you after only a week, and I'm pretty easy going I think.

Oh well. Enjoy your self-contained jerkoff sessions.

[Exotix]

Originally Posted by 73sbVert

You're just no fun to argue with dude. You THINK you know it all, you profess to know soooo much more than everyone else, and we are mere peons in the shadow of your intellect.

Frankly, it's just not any fun. I gave up trying to enjoy argument with you after only a week, and I'm pretty easy going I think.

Oh well. Enjoy your self-contained jerkoff sessions.

Yes ?
How many other CF members can boast 10 bandz and out ... 9 from CFPR&C ?

[73sbVert]

Yeah, that's something to be proud of.

[ChasC5]

Originally Posted by RetiredSFC 97

Then why don't the liberals practice that then? Seems to me it's all about, what can my government give me today, for them!

JFK, the second worst POTUS we ever had,

Worst

carter
JFK
Roosevelt

Still bitter ... ? Ever heard of "W"?

I can only imagine how long you'll you'll bitching about Obama.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by ChasC5

Still bitter ... ? Ever heard of "W"?

I can only imagine how long you'll you'll bitching about Obama.

Yes, well Karter is smiling a LOT these daze, no longer the worst prez.....

[Will]

Originally Posted by Exotix

Let me guess ... _Will posts up graphs from the American Thinker to support how great (R)'s have always been ... and that's good enough for you ...

WTF are you talking about? I make most of my own, using hard data from the United States govt.

I don't frequent "American Thinker"

Keep babbling.

[Exotix]

Originally Posted by _Will_

WTF are you talking about? I make most of my own, using hard data from the United States govt.

I don't frequent "American Thinker"

Keep babbling.

You make up your own graphs ?

[leec4ce]

Originally Posted by Exotix

Yes ?
How many other CF members can boast 10 bandz and out ... 9 from CFPR&C ?