Is Our Government At War With US?
"Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people," John Locke
I've been thinking a lot about this quote lately. If the US is at war with us, how should we respond? If the government is not at war with us, is Locke's reason faulty?
I've been thinking a lot about this quote lately. If the US is at war with us, how should we respond? If the government is not at war with us, is Locke's reason faulty?
Samuel Adams
"Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations; but, on a candid examination of history, we shall find that turbulence, violence, and abuse of power, by the majority trampling on the rights of the minority, have produced factions and commotions, which, in republics, have, more frequently than any other cause, produced despotism. If we go over the whole history of ancient and modern republics, we shall find their destruction to have generally resulted from those causes."
James Madison, Speech at the Virginia Convention to ratify the Federal Constitution (1788-06-06)
I know we are looking for answers and basing them off Ayn's great book, but why is the general answer always "let somebody die for us so we can reap the benefits"? Seems cowardly to me. We are in this mess because we gave our rights up in the first place. That long list of things our fou ders wrote our for our structure of governing weren't really just suggestions.
Is the government at war with us? Damn skippy. However. We aren't at war with them. Not all of us anyways. Not nearly enough rather. You wonder why states want out of this United States. Its because they want their rights back. Lets look at it from another point of view. Say Texas actually won its right to leave the United States. What does that mean? This country loses a gigantic portion of its military. The leader in US cattle is not there. A large portion of national agriculture is erased. A leader in oil and steel is gone. Why is this important? Instead of our "important" people leaving, we have actually exacted greater change by standing up and fightingback.
Are we at war? The american people? Yes. Some of us are fighting a doomed war. Why? Because we have more people waiting to see when China is going to call in the debt and generally disillusioned people (some who actually think philosophy from an admittedly awesome book is the magical answer to our problems when actually standing up to our government is(a right we are given according to the Constitution))
Yes we are being slaughtered by our government is my answer to this question. I will check back here after countless more rights and freedoms are robbed from us. After it really sinks in that this notion of digging in and having other people die fighting for them and then coming out to bask In the glory of other peoples struggles is not evenclose to how it's going to shake out.
I guess we're organizing in your front yard, then. :)
http://www.24hgold.com/english/news-gold...
It is an extremely long article. I recommend you just fast-forward to the text "The people no longer have elected representatives; they have elected traitors." You've just got to keep reading up to "We Defy You." Anything read after that is a bonus.
My 2C: The people that gave us our country eventually reached the point where they concluded they were living what Locke describes. His words are restated in the Declaration...when a long train of abuses...
They eventually sucked it up and said "If we're traitors, so be it."
We've been here before. We'll be there again. If only the supply lines of the king weren't so short this time.
If you try to gather others to do such you will be guilty of sedition and treason to the same effect.
If you try and vote them out, you can no longer trust the voting booth not to be filled with fraud. Even with a fair vote, the moochers will be able to outnumber your votes.
Ayn has given the way it must be handled, but most are too afraid to do so. You cannot lose weight by starving yourself with your right hand while feeding yourself with your left. The capitalists in her book walked away from their wealth, their factories, their businesses. They had somewhere to go while we do not, our only tie to those of like mind scattered across the land.
Most who have 'gone Galt' have little effect upon the government. We are not important enough to be felt in any meaningful way. Others who understand are afraid of the cost, even while they understand the need for some sort of action. Those who could most bring about change still believe as Reardon that it is not too late, or too busy following Francisco to riches.
Until the masses are made to feel the pinch, see an inability of the government to meet their needs and wants, are swayed by politician's words over action, no change will come that any of us wish to see happen.
Britain gave in to Ghandi, communism to perestroika and later to democracy and Iceland took back their country with a new constitution. But peaceful resistance can also lead to a Tiananmen Square in China.
The most likely result will be a declaration of martial law first and only later down the road a return to a republic, if ever.
We must hunker down, let the others riot and rebel, protect ourselves as best as we can and be prepared to rebuild when it is all over.
Some will hope to avoid the war like in The Patriot or Shenandoah and be pulled into the fight that way, others out of belief that they must. be on the front lines at the start. But why place yourself to be a martyr? Don't forget this quote, "I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor, dumb bastard die for his country."
This is why I say hunker down, let others riot and rebel. We need a revolution, not a rebellion. If you get yourself killed too early you won't be around when it could really matter.
I think there are a few Congressmen. More importantly, there are Lechs all across the country. how about theguys staking their fortunes to make Ayn Rand movies?
Many who advocate an armed response point to our own Revolutionary war. They seem to ignore the fact that the First Continental Congress attempted to peacefully resolve their grievances with the Crown. Even in the first year after the 'shot heard around the world,' The Second Continental Congress sought to have their issues heard. Our leaders had already been in place 2 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed.
First you need leaders, second, you attempt to peacefully rectify the problems, and then third, if all else has failed you fight. If you try and skip directly to the second the most likely outcome will be failure due to unorganised efforts. If you do the first, skip the second and go straight to the third you will not have a lot of public support from people who would have sided with you otherwise. If you go directly to the third you will be viewed as little more than a Tim McVeigh.
There is an order that must be maintained. Even Castro exhausted legal means before moving to the third part.
In her book, I think Ayn Rand was asking more with the catchphrase of "Who is John Galt?" It was not only a rally cry in the book, but also meant to ask the reader, who is YOUR John Galt?
I think Beck stylizes himself as a possibility.
I'd like a to see at least one of the leaders be a savvy investor. The likes of a Peter Sciff, for example.
It is easier to judge a man before he makes a move to office. He is more free with his beliefs and stating them. This is why Obama's college papers were hidden I think. More often than not, once they start running they start to spout what they think people want to hear.
"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." Will Shakespeare
Love the Judge, Palin is an excellent agitator, I think there are some strong governors. I am skeptical of choosing someone from the political class.
Thomas Sowell, Schweizer who wrote Throw Them All Out, Yaron Brook, Sheriff Joe-I can name him but not one military genius sticks out (hmmm). I like Paul. Ben Shapito over at Breitbart. I see teams. I have a harder time picking one out above the rest.
But overall, yes, I believe that if enough withdraw and especially if enough important people withdraw, the effect can be felt. But they are not at this moment doing so in great numbers or from the sectors which would have a huge impact. If they are, then yes, I have missed it.