Posted by
KsReaganite on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 8:29:33 PM
I will be expounding more on these in future posts, but here are KsReaganite's seven maxims of government and liberty, with parenthetical notes after each providing a short context.
One, no government made of human beings, democratic or otherwise, willingly gives up the power to control the lives and affairs of people in its jurisdiction (why we need sunset clauses on most national security/special crime legislation)
Two, the livelihoods of two powerful groups of people-lawyers and bureaucrats-are directly dependent on the scope of a government’s intrusive power (why every problem results in more agencies being created)
Three, a fearful people cannot be a free people (paranoia results in loss of individual liberties)
Four, 100 % security can only exist alongside 100 % control (there is little crime in Saudi Arabia and none in North Korea)
Five, democratic elections and vibrant legislatures are no automatic guarantees of individual liberties (German anti-Semitism was not decreed by a dictator but legislated by a freely elected parliament)
Six, the excuse for government intrusion is always premised on security: security of life, security of livelihood, or security of sustenance (saving us from the big corporation or unknown shadowy enemies, or the next earthquake)
Seven, civil servants by their inherent nature are suspicious of individual autonomy (otherwise they would be working in the private sector)