For the Unpopular Side

Larken Rose

When politicians whine that they need more power, assume that they want to use that power against YOU.

June 19, 2008 - Once again, I welcome the opportunity to be on the unpopular side of a controversy.  After all, what positive change ever came from arguing something popular?

The Supreme Court recently made a ruling acknowledging that enemy combatants, or whatever you want to call them, have certain rights.  Many proud Americans are outraged at the idea that foreign terrorists are to be afforded the right to counsel, the right to trial, etc.

I'm not.

When the Declaration of Independence acknowledged that ALL men (not just all Americans) are created equal, and when the Bill of Rights spelled out some of the things that "governments" should NEVER be allowed to do, it wasn't for the purpose of protecting murderers and thieves.  It was for the purpose of protecting people ACCUSED of being murderers and thieves.  The point is, if you let "government" treat people like dirt, simply because it has DECLARED them to be bad guys, all limitations upon "government" power and any notion of individual rights are toast.

If someone really IS a terrorist, who kills innocent people to further a political agenda (which, incidentally, describes a lot of people who work for the United States government), then I don't care much what is done to them.  Trouble is, I don't KNOW who is a terrorist and who isn't, and neither do you.  Furthermore, I would NEVER trust those in "government" to tell the truth about it  --  assuming they even know either.  Having myself been the target of defamation, demonization, harassment and terrorization by the feds, I wouldn't for one second take their word for it when the American tyrants declare someone to be an "enemy combatant."  (For any who would, I recommend not only the movie "Rendition," but the documentary found on the DVD of that film.)

(On a technical/legal note, how exactly can there be enemy combatants and war criminals when there isn't a war?  Under the Constitution, only Congress can declare war, and they have not done so.  So what is happening in the middle east is an undeclared military occupation of a foreign country, and it doesn't surprise me that lots of people in that country  --  including good people  --  aren't thrilled about that.)

So do people ACCUSED of being terrorists, or "enemy combatants," or whatever, deserve to be treated as innocent until proven guilty?  Put the shoe on the other foot.  (That's often a good way to test that thing called "principles.")  If Chinese troops came over here, and did random searches of homes without warrants or probable cause, and arrested hundreds of people based on nothing more than guesses or suspicions, would you think it was okay?  In other words, do you ACTUALLY believe in freedom, or do you just believe that YOU should be free?  Personally, I even believe that people who don't look like me and don't think what I think still deserve freedom. (I'm funny that way.)

When politicians whine that they need more power, NEVER assume that they want that power to use against bad guys  --  though that will ALWAYS be what they claim.  Instead, assume that they want to use that power against YOU  --  because that will always be the truth.  ("Governments" will always be more afraid of the good people than they are of the bad guys, because good people are a far greater threat to tyranny.)  Imagine that they intend to use their power against you.  Then decide whether there should be limits on what they can do.

STUMBLE IT!

More Good Stuff:

Articles by Larken Rose — Political philosophy of a man passionately interested in the freedom of his fellow man, moving intellectually from conservatism through libertarianism to anarchism.  Read the latest indictments against our tyrannical ruling elites.

How To Be A Successful Tyrant — Eradicate the self-determination and self-ownership of others and replace their free will with your will.  If you have an innate “love of dominion” and believe you can run other's lives better than they can, this book will show you how.

Kicking The Dragon — A chronicle of a modern-day witch-hunt.  The disturbing facts of the case pull back the façade of “due process” and the “rule of law” to reveal the United States government for what it has become:  a gang of lawless criminals interested only in preserving their own power.

ONLINE STORE — Interesting stuff you can download.  No need to sniff all over the web  -  the best stuff is right here.

Theft By Deception — This is a startling revelation for income tax professionals, income tax enforcers and administrators, and the average American who expects nothing less than truthfulness in taxation.

Would You Have Signed the Declaration of Independence? — Provide your causes that impel you to a repudiation of 'business as usual' and clearly state your demand that we reinstate and enforce government of law and liberty under the Constitution.