LIBERTY CHECKLIST "Every group established for mutual survival and advantage risks becoming a control mechanism and a liability to the very people it is designed to serve. For this reason America's Founding Fathers put such an emphasis on limiting government.

There was broad agreement that 'Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty'.

"It is useful, however, to have a clear idea of what one is to be vigilant about if one is to be really effective as a watchdog of one's liberty. To this end, the following checklist is offered. There is no particular order and the priorities are unique to each individual; they are simply items to scan periodically in assessing the health of yourself and your group, a kind of index of liberty.

Is free speech uncensored?

Is independent thought discouraged?

Is differing opinion considered dissent?

Is obedience honored above reason?

Is loyalty an issue?

Is allegiance demanded?

Is there an exaggerated concern for enemies?

Are your associations brought into question?

Is it imprudent to explore contacts outside the group?

Are there pejorative terms for outsiders?

Are there signs of intimidation?

Is there an increasing use of force to get things done?

Do group members have access to their leaders?

Is there evidence of arrogance in office?

Is it difficult to locate responsive authorities?

Is there excessive red tape?

Is there an open forum amongst members?

Is there a free press?

Are the channels of communication manipulated?

Are places of learning targets for control?

Are alternate systems examined and evaluated?

Is travel controlled or curtailed?

Is currency or exchange regulated?

Is the individual increasingly subordinated to the group?

Are certain topics avoided?

Is public debate or assembly discouraged?

Is there emphasis on the infallibility of the leader(s)?

Is there an 'official' history of the group?

Are the means in harmony with the espoused ends?

Is it still fun to be a member?

"If we want to know the value of a group, a party, a nation; if we are to assess its freedom and benevolence, let us not inquire as to the might of its armies or the wealth of its resources -- we will be better served to ask after the care it gives to its individuals, the respect it nurtures for their rights; those rights of property and of dissent which form the irreducible basis supporting all the rest."

-- Bruce Bishop - quoted verbatim from his book, "Liberty, Love & Other Mislaid Notions", privately published back in the 1970s.

He only printed 500 and just gave them to personal friends so it is not anywhere on the market for sale.

****************************************************************** Best wishes, SP4 & Adm. TOXE CXI Andreas Heldal-Lund, Normannsgaten 9, N-4013 Stavanger, Norway Pho: +47 88 00 66 66 Fax: 90 32 35 46 E-mail: heldal@online.no home.sol.no/~spirous www.xenu.net www.hedning.no/hedning --------------------------------------------------------------- "Throughout history it has been the inaction of those who could have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most, that has made it possible for evil to triumph."

- Haile Selassie ---------------------------------------------------------------

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