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The Public Policy
Losing Faith in the Feds
Which is as it should be — just ask Thomas Jefferson.
“The majority of Americans say the government poses an immediate threat to individual rights and freedoms,” stated CNN, summarizing the results of a recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll.
“Fifty-six percent of people questioned say they think the federal government’s become so large and powerful that it poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens,” explained CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser.
By party and ideology, a clear partisan divide was evident in the replies to the survey. Nearly 7 in 10 Republicans and 63 percent of Independents said that the federal government poses a threat to the rights of Americans, while only 37 percent of Democrats held that opinion regarding government. (CNN didn’t say what percent of Democrats are dependent on government checks for their basic sustenance, either via welfare or pensions or by way of paychecks for purportedly being “public servants.”)
For the upcoming November elections, that means that the majority of Democrats are fundamentally out of step with a country that’s increasing sounding like Patrick Henry and Paul Revere.
We know what happened the last time a critical mass of self-reliant and independent people in this part of the world decided that the government was a threat to their right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness: “That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it.”
The king, with “a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states,” had “erected a multitude of new offices and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.”
What were taxes at the time, in 1776? “English taxes were in the range of 1 percent of income in most colonies, and possibly as high as 2.5 percent in the plantation colonies,” writes author Gary North. “For this, they went to war.”
Today, reports the Tax Foundation, “Americans pay more in taxes than they spend on food, clothing, and housing combined.”
On average, taxes ate up every cent we earned last year from January 1 through April 13, according to the Tax Foundation’s analysis: “Tax Freedom Day answers the basic question, ‘What price is the nation paying for government?’ An official government figure for total tax collections is divided by the nation’s total income. The answer last year is that taxes amounted to 28.2 percent of our income, and the stretch of 103 days from January 1 to April 13 is 28.2 percent of the year.”
Add last year’s unprecedented federal budget deficit to the total taxes collected and the cost of government moves to May 29. That’s 41 percent of our total income to pay the price of government.
Thomas Jefferson thought it was time to grab the muskets off the wall at 1 percent.
New York Times columnist Frank Rich isn’t happy about any of this unruly talk. He recently wrote that the guy who crashed the plane into the IRS offices in Austin sounded like a Tea Partier, and that the “Tea Party favorite for governor of Texas,” Debra Medina, “reminded those at a rally that ‘the tree of freedom is occasionally watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.’ “
Rich didn’t remind his readers that Medina was quoting Jefferson, the same Jefferson who said that things work best when it’s the government that is afraid: “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”
About the Author
Ralph R. Reiland is the B. Kenneth Simon professor of free enterprise and an associate professor of economics at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (81) | Leave a comment
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Cris Worth| 3.10.10 @ 7:28AM
In 1964 Gallup took a poll on this question. Does the Federal Government do the right thing most of the time...75% affirmative. Today? The article above speaks for itself. But it's our fault...we the people. We have a republic form of government, American citizens choose their leaders. The Great Society was fostered upon us in the 1960's by the Democratic Party. In the 1970's Republican President Nixon was asked why he was not either eliminating or curtailing Great Society programs. His response the people wants these things. Exactly...what you shall sow you shall also reap.
basur | 10.27.10 @ 7:15AM
You mean all of this is Lincoln's fault? I thought it was Bush's fault!
Ret. Marine| 3.10.10 @ 7:42AM
And liberty it will be or else. Yes, that " or else" means exactly what it means.
As a older but, still ornery individual, I take seriously the task of remaining a free individual. I do not wish nor do I require the safety net the fed wishes to envelope me in. That is the requirement of a weak-dick social parasite. It is still best to live and die on my feet rather kneel as a slave no matter the years long ago gone to my youth.
History may repeat itself, Mr. Jefferson was correct in his wisdom. Like Jefferson, many of us free-men are of the same mindset, and not because Mr. Jefferson was correct mind you, it's because of our God-given ability to decide what is right vrs. wrong. It is absolutly wrong for the fed to think somehow we as a free peoples need their help or solutions. We are by nature an unruly and fiercely roudy independent minded society, it is because we despise weakness and slothfulness that we are who we are.
Now that the entire Nation has been saddled with massive debt borne of lies, decietfulness, and vote buying scandles, we as a free people would best serve our future generations of free people citizens by throwing this massive corrupt gang of pimps, masquerading as our representatives, into the modern day gulags, complete with a chain and ball, deprived of all their assets to pay down the debt they have created for us and call it a year.
Until We as a free people decide, God, mom and dad know best, we will not shake these chains to serfdom, nor will we never again see principled men/women of courage standing in our halls of this Republic advocating limited government, strong defense, low taxes and a clear definition of the Constitutional limits intended for justice and equality of all.
We have a pretender trying desperatly to be our president, a portion of our society who rely solely upon the good will of there fellow men to provide for their sustanence's, their homes, ipods, flat screen tv's cell phones, etc., congresscritters, who on less than 200K annual salaries, are multi-millionaires, (someone please explain this) a certain portion of these congresscritters are openly advocating for the overthrow of our Constitutional Republic with their progressive policies, commie attitudes, marxist ideologies and We the People wonder why the heat coming from under our collars is becoming a groundswell for open rebellion?
What we know and what the gubmint is telling us is two entirely different stories. Fantasy land is not around the corner, the utopia they promise to their followers is going to be met with the harsh reality of free-men with a sense of right vrs. wrong, and as everyone of us adults know, truth will set us free of the fed and their dream land.
The true question I have for all of my fellow Patriots, when will enough be enough. I am but a simple retired service member living on a limited budget, thankful and very grateful for the support of my fellow countrymen/ladies in response for my service to them. I am but one voice in a very large forrest unable to effect the evilness of our so-called leaders trying to enslave our liberties to would-be tyrants, and the DHS considers me to be a threat?
oof oof | 3.10.10 @ 8:52AM
Well said Marine! Thank you for your service, in the past, and for your strong voice today. How I would welcome the politician with the courage to speak what you have written.
You, and all of us freedon-loving people are a threat to the DHS and the rest of this out-of-control behemoth called the U.S.government. I'm with you, willing to die on my feet defending my unalienable rights rather than live on my knees begging for a scrap from the task-masters.
Again, well said Marine! Truly you do more before the sun rises than most people do all day.
Semper Fi
Louis Jenkins| 3.10.10 @ 9:22AM
Dear Retired Marine:
Unless you’re on the public ‘monkey gets banana for nothing ’ entitlement programs, a complete statist supporter, and willing to forget about the principles of this Republic, you are a DHS marked man. In fact, I dare say anyone who posts here is on the ‘list’.
The entire domestic Communist machine and their statist newsmedia mouth pieces may say what they will. They may twist the meaning of those who speechify the truth, and deride the words of our founding fathers. They may support and glorify every tax boondoggle that our illustrious District of Criminals conceive, and every God given right that is taken take away. They may despise anyone who loves the Constitution or hates abortion. But their broadcast or written words mean nothing to patriots who have the morals, the gumption, and the will to civilly dispute and contest every inch of ground that they may take by threat of punishment or their swords if they will.
I am not a White Nazi or a religious cult member. I am an American first and foremost. I am a believer in the Constitution and in God. I have my beliefs, my morals, and abilities to withstand their assaults though they may physically overpower me. I will not lay prone before the Great God GovCo and worship it. I will not accept treatment as a slave, nor as dog waste. Their ever continuing methods have only served to ripen the fruit of Liberty and add endearment to those who valve it. If and when my head is impaled on a pike on Pennsylvania Ave. for all bureaucrats to spit on, I’m sure it will be in good company.
Will| 3.11.10 @ 12:24AM
Well said oh faithful citizen! We need more like you. And, they are coming day by day.
Deborah D | 3.10.10 @ 8:54AM
Americans are awakening, and as they said after 9/11 -- the leftists have awakened a sleeping giant. It matters not what they do from here on out, the American people will do what's right. We will vote them out. We will put in their places patriots who love freedom. If Obama and the Dems will not listen to the American people, they will live to regret it.
Margie| 3.10.10 @ 1:29PM
Dittos. I put no faith in government to begin with. Nor do I put my faith in a ny candidate. I put my faith in God. I choose the best candidate for the job, and if he isn't up to the job, I vote him out. You're right. Americans are waking up, and we're winning. We need to keep winning through our VOTES! :^)
Old Soldier| 3.10.10 @ 9:45AM
There is something brewing out here. The folks in the DC bubble seem as disconnected from our concerns as King George.
Richard Baker| 3.10.10 @ 10:07AM
Mr. Jefferson also made his comment about watering the Liberty Tree. Time is approaching. Keep your powder dry and your hatchet scoured, my fellow Patriots.
Inveterate Partisan| 3.10.10 @ 11:37AM
Where do I join my fellow comrades in this fight for our Liberty? Our own Senators pay us no heed.
blackwatch| 3.10.10 @ 10:12PM
The time is comming. We will march peacefully on DC and all 50 capitals with axehandles, 2x4's, baseball bats, slung across our shoulders. They will quake at our numbers. We will be called NAZI's, racists, fascists, whatever. We know we are the patriots and they know it won't end well for them when we reclaim or rights. They will return our treasure and we will reclaim our freedom for future generations or else we will exercise our Second Ammendment rights to remove the unjust. A new breed of politicians will be born--no lawyers, no pimps, no racist hustlers need apply. The weeding out will be quick--about 1200 fps quick.
"Sic semper tyrannis"...thus always to tyrants. Let this be our motto.
Any yes we all know we are on "the list" of those they watch. We should not fear our role in this struggle. Embrace their rath--for their undoing is to clamp down on the patriot in an illegal and unjust manner. We know they couldn't stop 20 Islamic terrrorists on 9/11. Let them try to stop the 3% of the population that will fight them. That's about 9 million of us.
Ret. Marine| 3.11.10 @ 6:30AM
Seek out your local militia. Contrary to public opinion, these fine Patriots are not her or there to "overthrow" this Republic. As a commander of said organization, our time is spent upon the cause of teaching unguided gubmint educated young'en the ways of a Godly peoples, the principles and courage to know in their hearts what is right vrs. wrong, food preperation and storage, water purification techniques, small arms safety and training, long rifle effectiveness, camouflage and consealment, compass training, the promotion of seeking out those of like minded individuals, laws, our Constitution, political activities, prepardness of mind and body both physical and mental hardness, etc. you get the picture. Try it you might like it. If nothing else you may learn a few things and have a great time meeting new, seriously minded individuals working hard to preserve our way of life. Anything less on anyone's part in these times is negligent in their duties as a citizen of their Country.
If you are not savey enough to reach these types, start your own, welcome your friends family and neighbors. Start talking, and some good advise, beware of your local suddenly new guys in the neighborhood, they may be working for the very sorry-assed excusses calling themselves Patriots, a citizen posing as your friend, yet employed to seek you out to dis-credit your mission and cause. Good luck and happy hunting.
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Ken (Old Texican)| 3.10.10 @ 1:24PM
I Partisan,
you have found it right here. Welcome to the conversation.
(Until the communists, (pardon the shorthand), shut down this site.)
Every single one of us here understand fully that we are on a "list".
We have chosen to express ourselves regardless. Many of us record the best of these comments on our permanent documents files.
Most of us understand that we are putting our very lives...and livelihoods on the line by posting here.
We view ourselves as the 21st century version of the "committees of correspondence".
An example:
I posted this yesterday:
Well,
None of us has read the entire bill yet. None of us knows what tiny little phrases buried in the text will be used to try to end our republic.
This we do know:
We know the players and their goals. We know their arrogant attitude toward those of us who make the country run, one paycheck to an employee at a time. We know they want to degrade and "humble" us...or perhaps "house-break" us.
We also know that the leftists, (as opposed to Liberals), have been quietly promoting racial slavery by building a multi-generational welfare class among minorities. That welfare class sees absolutely no option except to squat in their "ghettos of the mind and spirit".
We older folks have more or less gone along with a grumble or two, not truly realising that we have become "enablers" of these leftist bastards...until just recently. The leftists have finally rubbed our noses in the poop, literally, with glee.
And look where we are.
I personally want to apologise to you younger people. We are on the verge of putting you in the middle of a civil war that will determine whether freedom and personal hopes and dreams as envisioned by our forefathers will be something you too can enjoy for a life time as many of us have.
These communists, (pardon the shorthand), are going to try to break you. They are going to try to make your "careers" a nasty chore instead of a self-directed vocation utilizing your best talents and skills....that you decide to employ in your own way.
In short terms...these communists, (pardon the shorthand), want you to be pliable, frightened, and alone in your thoughts and fears.
So.
The one last gift we old fartes can give you, is our outright refusal to let these communists take over your futures.
We can refuse to comply, and the economy crashes in a way that will make the great depression look like a sunday school pik-nik...though for a shorter period.
I spoke yesterday about "push-back is going to be a bitch".
I don't truly know what ways we shall choose to stop them. I don't know what precise methods will be employed to stop them.
But
Freedom and Liberty for the rest of history is at stake.
We know that "America" is the last hope on this earth. These days, we still have the power to stop this slide into oblivion.
One way or another we will use that power.
You have our word of honor.
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Len| 3.10.10 @ 6:23PM
The last time? Actually that was what we refer to as the civil war. We lost that, and due to a happy byproduct of the repeal of slavery, the fact that Lincoln waged a bloody war on people desiring economic freedom, in this case due to high tariffs creating an uundue burden on southern states, is largely ignored.
Remember Lincoln, the guy that shut down newspapers and threw people in prison for speaking out against him. The guy that issued an arrest warrant for a federal judge, and had thugs standing outside polls to ensure his reelection. The guy that said the union had to be preserved, even by force, the union that was founded on consent of the governed, among other things.
It really irks me when writers ignore such glaring parts of history, particularly such relevant history where federalism was destroyed, thus beginning the long slide to where we are now.
Margie| 3.10.10 @ 8:22PM
You mean all of this is Lincoln's fault? I thought it was Bush's fault!
Len| 3.10.10 @ 8:58PM
Margie so tell me since you Bush is so dear to you, why he broke the law and gave bailout money to the car manufacturers, in defiance of Congress, why we waged war when he had no constitutional authority? Why he gave us No Child Left Behind, also in defiance of the US constitution(for this see Aug. 18th of the constitutional convention, when such power was considered and rejected)? Why he didn't veto BCRA(McCain-Feingold) when it came before him? Why he did nothing to end medicaid, medicare, social security, all of which violate the US constitution, and more importantly my right to the fruit of my labor? I could go on, but I think that's enough for now.
C'mon Margie instead of childish retorts, tell me Lincoln didn't do what I said he did (let alone the historical record). Tell me how Bush actually upheld the US constitution and protected my liberty and property.
Yosemeti Sam| 3.11.10 @ 12:56AM
Lincoln?
Did someone just cast aspersions upon his Presidency?
And does someone sidle up to Lincolns' monument to piss upon it?
Some proffered historical CONTEXT:
Andrew Jackson 1767-1845
7th President of the USA
" ... Our Federal Union: it must be preserved."
Toast given on the Jefferson Birthday Celebration, 13 April 1830
Seems Lincoln followed that exhortation.
In a Lincoln Letter to Horace Greeley, 22 August 1862:
" ... My paramount object in this struggle is
to save the Union ... If I could save the Union
without freeing any slave, I would do it; and
if I could save it by freeing all the slaves,
I would do it; and if I could save it by
freeing some and leaving others alone, I would
also do that ... I have here stated my purpose
according to my views of official duty and
I intend no modification of my oft-expressed
personal wish that all men everywhere could be free...."
Lincoln - working within the political parameters of his time period.
Sounds realistically coldly - pragmatic.
Pragmatism - something odious to the likes of cheap Presidential imitations like BHO who favors unions above Union.
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