Maggie's Farm

And in case folks have forgotten the warnings of the Anti-Federalists... the concept of democracy being local, of knowing your actual representatives to federal government, of ensuring that turnover be set and frequent: these are the hallmarks to keep your liberty.

When representation becomes sparse, then the governors are separated from the governed, their laws become onerous because those making it are distant, until the laws themselves are no longer respected. As in Brutus No. 4:

"In order for the people safely to repose themselves on their rulers, they should not only be of their own choice. But it is requisite they should be acquainted with their abilities to manage the public concerns with wisdom. They should be satisfied that those who represent them are men of integrity, who will pursue the good of the community with fidelity; and will not be turned aside from their duty by private interest, or corrupted by undue influence; and that they will have such a zeal for the good of those whom they represent, as to excite them to be diligent in their service; but it is impossible the people of the United States should have sufficient knowledge of their representatives, when the numbers are so few, to acquire any rational satisfaction on either of these points. The people of this state will have very little acquaintance with those who may be chosen to represent them; a great part of them will, probably, not know the characters of their own members, much less that of a majority of those who will compose the foederal assembly; they will consist of men, whose names they have never heard, and whose talents and regard for the public good, they are total strangers to; and they will have no persons so immediately of their choice so near them, of their neighbours and of their own rank in life, that they can feel themselves secure in trusting their interests in their hands. The representatives of the people cannot, as they now do, after they have passed laws, mix with the people, and explain to them the motives which induced the adoption of any measure, point out its utility, and remove objections or silence unreasonable clamours against it. — The number will be so small that but a very few of the most sensible and respectable yeomanry of the country can ever have any knowledge of them: being so far removed from the people, their station will be elevated and important, and they will be considered as ambitious and designing."


And when the ability tax is given with open license, then when will government see an end to it? The idea is to limit the ability of government to tax... or as from Cato No.6:

"In what manner then will you be eased, if the expences of government are to be raised solely out of the commerce of this country; do you not readily apprehend the fallacy of this argument. But government will find, that to press so heavily on commerce will not do, and therefore must have recourse to other objects; these will be a capitation or poll-tax, window lights, &c. &c. And a long train of impositions which their ingenuity will suggest; but will you submit to be numbered like the slaves of an arbitrary despot; and what will be your reflections when the tax-master thunders at your door for the duty on that light which is the bounty of heaven."

How about that 'fair tax' on commerce? Great idea, no? And much better than 'income tax' which We the People gave Congress the ability to levy in Amendment XVI after the Constitution specifically forbade it.... great work, no? After income tax comes a 'social security' tax. And then one for 'medicaid'... yes, lets put a 'fair tax' on each transaction be it monetary or non-monetary, and why not it is 'fair'. Perhaps a tax on breathing next? Metered for government? We will just give it up piece by piece because it is 'fair' or 'progressive' or some other fine idea to 'soak the rich'. Just so we can get more and more from government... not that this was pointed out in Centinal No. 8:

"But as it is by comparison only that men estimate the value of any good, they are not sensible of the worth of those blessings they enjoy, until they are deprived of them; hence from ignorance of the horrors of slavery, nations, that have been in possession of that rarest of blessings, liberty, have so easily parted with it: when groaning under the yoke of tyranny what perils would they not encounter, what consideration would they not give to regain the inestimable jewel they had lost; but the jealousy of despotism guards every avenue to freedom, and confirms its empire at the expence of the devoted people, whose property is made instrumental to their misery, for the rapacious hand of power seizes upon every thing; dispair presently succeeds, and every noble faculty of the mind being depressed, and all motive to industry and exertion being removed, the people are adapted to the nature of government, and drag out a listless existence.

If ever America should be enslaved it will be from this cause, that they are not sensible of their peculiar felicity, that they are not aware of the value of the heavenly boon, committed to their care and protection, and if the present conspiracy fails, as I have no doubt will be the case, it will be the triumph of reason and philosophy, as these United States have never felt the iron hand of power, or experienced the wretchedness of slavery."

Not that we were amply warned about the harm of federal government with democracy so limited that it would engender a class of individuals that saw themselves as deserving of having their position because they would be removed from the People by lovely districts of 1:500,000. Oh, heavens, no this was not seen as a problem that would happen and warned about.

Those in Congress give gifts to their friends and supporters in the way of 'earmarks' and special interests do get benefit above and beyond that of the People. Soon those in power seek to ensure that they benefit from the public treasury by sending the People's money to friends and family and those that are wealthy who supported them in the past. And then, to appease the masses, we get joyous concepts for 'social security' and 'health insurance' that eveyone will have so long as the government can tax us more and more to ensure these lovely *gifts*. Don't mind the law being bent, the tax loopholes inserted, the special nods to those that support such concepts. President Jackson warned us about those, too and why they were corrosive:

"It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes. Distinctions in society will always exist under every just government. Equality of talents, of education, or of wealth can not be produced by human institutions. In the full enjoyment of the gifts of Heaven and the fruits of superior industry, economy, and virtue, every man is equally entitled to protection by law; but when the laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages artificial distinctions, to grant titles, gratuities, and exclusive privileges, to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society the farmers, mechanics, and laborers who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their Government. There are no necessary evils in government. Its evils exist only in its abuses. If it would confine itself to equal protection, and, as Heaven does its rains, shower its favors alike on the high and the low, the rich and the poor, it would be an unqualified blessing. In the act before me there seems to be a wide and unnecessary departure from these just principles.

Nor is our Government to be maintained or our Union preserved by invasions of the rights and powers of the several States. In thus attempting to make our General Government strong we make it weak. Its true strength consists in leaving individuals and States as much as possible to themselves in making itself felt, not in its power, but in its beneficence; not in its control, but in its protection; not in binding the States more closely to the center, but leaving each to move unobstructed in its proper orbit."

Indeed, lets make the government the supporter of society... and forget that it is not made for that, but to restrict the excesses of individuals and other Nations. Let us make everything 'fair', but unjust. Liberty is created by one's own hands to prosper or not as best one can. The society has a responsiblity to the poor and destitute and charity is not for government but begins at home and in society, with government the last and least capable thing ever created to be *kind*. Government is not *kind*, it is a punisher, a task master, a restricter and it had best do those things equally without regard to money or stature so that all are treated equally from beggar to bigwig.

But then I see these warnings, and well-placed at the founding and thereafter, and take them seriously as they describe other democracies and republics and societies that have failed in these endeavors. And when I look around and see them coming about one-by-one I read onwards to find that the end of such things is not liberty but tyranny.