Power of the People

The significant changes being forced and imposed lately have given me great thought. The backdoor deal leading to the passing of the new health reform bill, the inability of a state to defend itself against foreign enemies, companies that are being taken over by the federal government and billions of dollars given to corrupt banks in the name of a economic bailout are just a few. Meanwhile more initiatives to limit a person's right to own and carry a gun, additional financial reform initiatives, blanket amnesty to all illegals, climate and energy bills and the power for the president to have a kill switch to the internet are being considered. Are you starting to see the trend? The power and arm of government is expanding greater than it ever has before. I am by no means an anarchist; however I am a firm believer in LIMITED POWER. There is a fine line between the power of the people and the obtrusive government. So how far do we allow the government to push before we push back?

"... 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, who are thereupon absolved from any farther Obedience, and are left to the common refuge which God hath provided for all men against force and violence. ... [Power then] devolves to the People, who have a Right to resume their original Liberty, and, by the Establishment of a new Legislative (such as they shall think fit) provide for their own Safety and Security, which is the end for which they are in Society." John Locke

I don't know if we are there yet, but we are on a fast track to somewhere we have never been. I think it is a place where we do not want to go, but at this point in time it is inevitable. There are not enough that are willing to take notice and speak up and the ones that are willing to make a stand are not loud enough. The most common response is "Well it doesn't make a difference to me" or my favorite "It doesn't have anything to do with me". It makes a big difference and it matters to everyone. So what are YOU going to do?

Source:

Second Treatise of Civil Government [1690], #222 (Lasslet Edition, Cambridge University Press, 1960), p. 460-461; French translation by David Mazel (1691): Traité de gouvernement civil (Paris: Garnier-Flammarion, 1984), pp. 348-349