Respectfully Crowdx, I don't believe that is what a lot of people Think about when they align themselves to being Independent.

all I can offer is anecdotal evidence to this mix though. I'm the fire chief for a very small Volunteer Fire Department, Most of what we do is grass fires from idiots throwing out Cigs off the highway; But every now and then, we will have a structure fire, or Oil fire.

In the last five years or so of leading these fine men and women under my command, I have seen some amazing things.

One lady, started and maintains a local Cloths drive, for those who have lost everything.

One weekend, after a fire destroyed an Elderly ladies home, I was surprised to see many of us show up the next day, with out any plans, To help her Clean up the mess. Yes, fire mess is bad, But cleaning up after we get it out is a huuuuge mess.

We have volunteered our time, Money, and resources , building new homes for those who where un-insured , Or didn't get a good value on their homes.

The point being, is these where all voluntary kinds of helping. We had the choice, to help if need be. The way current government control is, You don't get that choice. It's the lack of freedom, that angers so many people who think like me.

And Please don't get me wrong, It's not a left vs right thing at all for me. It's more of a constitutional thing. If I may, I suggest reading the Life of Davey Crockett, by Ellis.

While this link is to a conservative site, the book predates it far and large, and gives a better example , of why I would dismiss a lot of the programs, that I can not in any way, find constitutional.

http://conservativecolloquium.wordpr...n-and-charity/

Remember, this book was written back in 1884, and the BS politics that we all have came to hate was different then to a large degree.

anyways, that's all I'm gonna say about it, as I respect to many of the posters here, to get into a Political debate, and I hate when politics get's involved, It has the potential to ruin possible friendships.

Stephen