Have Pitchfork, Will Travel
By: Kevin Bryant
Societies exist under three forms, sufficiently distinguishable: (1) without government, as among our Indians; (2) under governments, wherein the will of everyone has a just influence, as is the case in England, in a slight degree, and in our states, in a great one; (3) under governments of force, as is the case in all other monarchies, and in most of the other republics.
By: Kevin Bryant
Societies exist under three forms, sufficiently distinguishable: (1) without government, as among our Indians; (2) under governments, wherein the will of everyone has a just influence, as is the case in England, in a slight degree, and in our states, in a great one; (3) under governments of force, as is the case in all other monarchies, and in most of the other republics.
To have an idea of the curse of existence under these last, they must be seen. It is a government of wolves over sheep. It is a problem, not clear in my mind, that the first condition is not the best. But I believe it to be inconsistent with any great degree of population. The second state has a great deal of good in it.
The mass of mankind under that enjoys a precious degree of liberty and happiness. It has its evils, too, the principal of which is the turbulence to which it is subject. But weigh this against the oppressions of monarchy, and it becomes nothing. Malo periculosam libertatem quam quietam servitutem. Even this evil is productive of good. It prevents the degeneracy of government and nourishes a general attention to the public affairs.
I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government.
Many of you I am sure have already recognized the passage above. If you have not, it is part of a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to James Madison on January 30th, 1787.
It amazes me how we as a nation have gotten so far off course from what our founding fathers intended for this country when it was conceived. Our government is nothing like that which was envisioned when our Constitution was drafted and ratified. I must have been born a few centuries too late because I feel like going to DC and assaulting congress with a pitchfork just to demonstrate how much I am fed up with congress and their actions.
I would never advocate overthrowing the government but I do think it is time to revolt peacefully against those in congress and the white house. They have forgotten the meaning of the term “public servant”. So, as part of my civic duty, when it comes election time, I am not voting for any current incumbents for any office.
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