Column by Paul Hein.
Exclusive to STR
I have often wondered why candidates for political office are never asked the most fundamental question: What, in your opinion, is the purpose of government? I have posed this question to several office-holders, both state and federal, even including a self-addressed envelope for their convenience. The question is never answered.
If pressed, a politician might reply that government exists to protect the rights of the citizens. That would be a dangerous response, however, as it could easily be demonstrated that the greatest threat to the rights of the citizens comes from government itself. For instance, if your income is your property, doesn’t that mean you have a right to it? Property rights, after all, are extremely basic. But the government claims a greater right to your property than you have. Do you have a right to bear arms? Yes, in some locations, but even there you must jump through hoops to obtain a weapon. Do you have a right to privacy? Not if the government wants to know how much you’ve earned, what you’ve spent on medical care, and a host of other matters you’d prefer to keep to yourself. And your right to free speech is certainly guaranteed, unless you say something offensive to certain parties, in which case you can end up in jail.
So what, then, is the purpose of government? It’s very simple, and can be stated in a single word: money. It’s all about money! Government is a group of individuals who wish to obtain other people’s money, although not necessarily only for themselves, but to enable them to pay for pet projects--schools, medical care, housing--whatever will create a large dependent population. And, of course, war.
This predation has been going on for centuries, at least. It is so universal that both predators and prey have come to regard it as normal, and even necessary. The predators can point to “laws” which justify their predation, although they themselves have written those laws. They administer their “laws” themselves, and have the use of force to carry them out. They refer to their enforcers as protectors of law and order (THEIR laws and orders!) and the enforcers--call them police--may indeed protect you, if available to do so, and you are not regarded as an enemy, or possible enemy. However, they are under no obligation to protect you.
If you are rash enough to question the validity of government demands, you are certainly entitled to your day in court. It is, however, their court, their rules of procedure, and their employee as the judge.
Among the first human beings on this planet, there were some who were obviously wiser, or stronger, or both, than the rest. Their opinions, and protection, were sought and accepted. Sycophants attached themselves to these early leaders, who soon enough became rulers. Wise rulers dealt with malcontents not with violence (unless absolutely necessary) but with boons, or promises of boons, in return for compliance. The carrot replaced the stick. Government was born!
In a few months there will be an election. Citizens--the word is a synonym for a genteel form of slavery--will be given the choice of who will rule them. Some, perhaps most, will think that their participation in the voting ritual will make a difference. That’s a remarkable phenomenon. Does the gas station on the corner solicit votes from the public on how the business is to be managed? Does the supermarket hand out ballots at the checkout lane, so that customers can dictate the way the market is to be run? Yet the voter evidently believes that he, and others equally uninformed, can play a part in running the biggest, most powerful and profitable business in the world! How the real owners and operators of the business must chuckle at the thought!
Well, there is the law of entropy. Complex systems eventually break down. So keep your head down, your mouth closed, and your actions inoffensive, and wait for it. What else can you do? It’s happening right now, before our eyes.
