Is Our Government About Protecting Rights Or Acting As A Giant Wealth Transfer ATM?
Glenn Reynolds asks (and answers) that question in his USA Today column on the Declaration of Independence:
Rather than rights coming from the government, government exists to protect rights. Government, in the declaration's explanation, exists to protect rights, and rather than subjects enjoying rights with the consent of the government, the government itself rules only by the consent of the governed. And when the government fails to live up to its duties, and the people no longer consent to it, it becomes illegitimate and subject to replacement by something the people like better.As Dan Himmelfarb noted in The Yale Law Journal 25 years ago, not much contemporary attention is paid to this. I'm sufficiently cynical to think that the lack of attention isn't an accident, but rather a consequence of not wanting to address the questions that the declaration's second sentence raises, which bode poorly for our ruling class.
Does our government now have, as its principal function, the protection of people's rights? Or is it more of a giant wealth-transfer machine, benefiting the connected at the expense of the outsiders? And, most important, does our government enjoy the consent of the governed? (According to a 2014 Rasmussen poll, only 21% think so.) What would the drafters of the declaration say?
So is a new American Revolution in order? As our Founding Fathers knew, revolutions are chancy things and often make things worse. And as the declaration itself notes, "All experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
Even so, it might be a good thing for our ruling class to spend a little time pondering the Declaration of Indepence, and its principles. There is more to government than graft. May they recognize that in time.
I find that it's hard as of late to get people off the couch to care or do anything. Again, just look at all the sheeple obediently "assuming the position" -- to be searched like a jailed felon -- at TSA rights-grabbing stations at airports around the country.
Again, just look at all the sheeple obediently "assuming the position" -- to be searched like a jailed felon -- at TSA rights-grabbing stations
It's not so much that they're subservient. It's more the way the TSA lures them with the "Free Yoga Lesson" signs.
JD at July 6, 2015 10:09 PM
Not sure whether Dems/Libs think armed citizens talking about the Constitution is more dangerous than climate change (aka. global warming) but they are scared silly.
A "rainbow" White House but not a red, white, and blue one on the 4th?
Bob in Texas at July 7, 2015 5:31 AM
I have to be careful what I say on this topic... It does appear that we are running out of constitutional options. The election process has pretty much been completely captured by the ruling class; now and then, someone will come along who can rattle people's chains, but there are never enough such people in Washington to capture power. I think our last best hope is going to be for the states to call a Constitutional convention. I've been reading up a bit on how that would work, using the historical precedents from the original.
In revolutions, people get shot. It is not something to be undertaken lightly. Also, history shows that most revolutions go bad. The American Revolution was that once-a-century exception. That all said, when you're completely out of options... We're not there yet. But we're closer then we were, say, 50 years ago.
Cousin Dave at July 7, 2015 7:06 AM
In revolutions, people get shot. It is not something to be undertaken lightly. Also, history shows that most revolutions go bad. The American Revolution was that once-a-century exception. That all said, when you're completely out of options... We're not there yet. But we're closer then we were, say, 50 years ago.
Posted by: Cousin Dave at July 7, 2015 7:06 AM
There was a lot of turmoil after the American Revolution and a full scale financial crisis.
Because it was so long ago, people forget about all the nasty bits and focus on the *good* outcome.
I also think we are headed for a constitutional convention to rewrite the document with stronger protections for the states, and less federalism.
Just hope there isn't full blown financial chaos getting there.
My father could see it coming, and I suggest stocking up on food, ammo, and fuel.
Isab at July 8, 2015 9:18 AM
"I suggest stocking up on food, ammo, and fuel."
Then, when panic-stockpiling ammo drives the cost of 9mm ammo up and availability down, claim the lib'rals are keeping ammo out of the hands of the people.
Works a treat!
http://offgridsurvival.com/nationwide-ammo-shortages-the-ammo-is-gone/
Love the "here comes the revolution!" comment section beneath the article.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at July 9, 2015 4:09 PM
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