Many of our citizens in these United States of America fear nothing. It’s not because they are especially courageous or totally unaware. No, it’s because many now fear our government, and government, by extended definition, is nothing. Despite the thousands of granite buildings with marble floors and the legions of munchkin-like bureaucrats scurrying through the halls, the government is nothing more than an idea….a concept….a construct….a fabrication created from the minds of men. It is an artifice that over time will devolve into an historical artifact.
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed,-
From the Declaration of Independence, July, 1776 (emphasis added).
There are some people who believe that government should be the dominate initiator and factor in the lives of the people. Oddly many of these very people who are willing to submit to an artificial construct like government are critical of granting personhood to corporations. Corporations mirror government in the sense that they are created from whole cloth….from nothing into something. The role of stockholders very closely resembles that of citizens in a state. The corporation and the government are entities that exist only in the abstract. Their reality is subject to what they represent. No land, no people equals no government. No product, no stockholders and no commerce yield a shell corporation…an existence in name only with no productive function. It seems reasonable to me that if we were to view government with the same jaundiced eye that we behold corporations, our fear of government’s potential for harm would be minimized. True, a government often achieves a “life” of its own and readily employs force to assure compliance with its dictates, but the ultimate consideration should be that government does not, cannot exist on its own without the willing compliance of the people. If the people are truly aware of the proper dynamics and status in the servant-master relationship, government would instantly become toothless and ineffectual. True, the nature of government, openly tyrannical or otherwise, is to resort to force and violence to maintain its stature. A public that is totally aware of the “nothingness” of government…that NO government can exist without either the endorsement or willful obedience of the people, will force the government either to conform to their wishes or be dissolved or overthrown.
"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."
Thomas Jefferson
Why should we fear “nothing”… an entity that cannot exist but with our approval? Of course, the realistic fear of the government’s use of force and perhaps violence can cause the bravest among us to hesitate … to falter. Consider that one, two or three weak men can subdue a strong person. Doesn’t it follow that an irate and committed populace could subdue the most oppressive state if all, or most, were united to achieve that outcome? What the people lack in power and resources could be overcome with numbers and passion. The primary obstacle for restoring our nation is one of attitude. Too many of us are self-delusional. We cannot accept that our government has grown beyond its purpose and has morphed into a malevolent malignancy. Like any other type of cancer it will continue to grow, to metastasize unless it stopped and excised. Its deadly force growths more lethal with each passing day, and the treatment can be much more successful in the early stages of the disease. Just like cancer affects the body, an aggressive government destroys its host….gnawing and consuming until the body politic collapses from exhaustion. We must never lose sight of the reality that we own our bodies and have the sacred responsibility to repel corrosive invaders. When there is no host or body, cancer loses its strength and its power. If the people of the nation refuse to countenance a malicious and vicious over-reaching government, its days will be numbered.
“O Lord, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.”
Psalm 116:16(NIV)
For those of us who profess to be Believers, there are no excuses, no alibis, and no rationalizations for our reluctance to battle a government that smothers our freedom. The Creator gave us Liberty, and as with any other gift from Him, we must express our gratitude through obedience. He did not grant us freedom so that we could squander it through inaction and cowardice. As has been noted earlier, government is not tangible. It exists only through the assent of the governed. Some might protest that despots have maintained power throughout human history despite lacking popular support. I would counter that we have numerous instances of people overthrowing their oppressive governments when their anger overrides their caution or fear. How much easier it would be for a nation that still enjoys some remnant of freedom to rise up and dismantle a growing repressive state.
The state (government) should neither be honored nor feared. It must be controlled. It is the obligation of the people to assume and exercise that control. It is our moral duty. We must preserve something and never fear “nothing.”
Comment: cearlwriting@hotmail.com
On the air for Brian Wilson on the Afternoon Drive Show, 3-6:00pm, Monday and Tuesday, and our regular show Tuesday 6-7:00pm. On the Talk of Toledo, 1370 WSPD. www.wspd.com
To say the right thing at the right time is magical. Few people have this ability. I know of only one in my life. His name [ the Magic man ]. Daleout
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