I’m reading
The Making of America: The Substance and Meaning of the Constitution and came across a passage that defines
Tyranny. I wanted to share this passage with you and see what governments come to mind when you read this list.
- Government power is exercised by compulsion, force, conquest or legislative usurpation.
- Therefore, all power is concentrated in the ruler.
- The people are treated as “subjects” of the ruler.
- The land is treated as the “realm” of the ruler.
- The people have no unalienable rights.
- Government is by the rule of men rather than the rule of law.
- The people are structured into social and economic classes.
- The thrust of government is always from the ruler down, not from the people upward.
- Problems are always solved by issuing new edicts, creating more bureaus, appointing more administrators, and charging the people more taxes to pay for these “services.” Under this system, taxes and government regulations are always oppressive.
- Freedom is not considered a solution to anything.
- The transfer of power from one ruler to another is often by violence–the dagger, the poison cup, or fratricidal civil war.
- The long history of Tyranny is one of blood and terror, both anciently and in modern times. Those in power revel in luxury while the lot of the common people is one of perpetual poverty, excessive taxation, stringent regulations, and a continuous existence of misery.
Comments (7)
Fortunately we are still missing a few
@trunthepaige - The fact that we are that close and are poised to garner more steps is frightening. People need to know what their rights are so they can defend them. That is why I made this post.
Tyranny defined seems to simply be the recent history of the USA:
The Civil Rights Movement in Reverse: Who’s Next?
http://templestream.xanga.com/730651760/the-civil-rights-movement-in-reverse-whos-next/
The question is… What’s the answer in this situation?
@templestream - The answer is in the Declaration of Independence:
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Which is immediately followed by this warning: Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes.
@ProfessorTom - Do you believe in Just War Theory? I generally believe in it but for certain reasons do not believe it is appropriate for the US today.
@templestream - This is the first time I have heard of the theory. Having glanced at the Wikipedia article on the subject, I’m inclined to agree with the denotations listed there, but as I have not fully explored the topic and am thus unaware of the unintended consequences of the theory, I cannot give you a YEA or NAY at this time.
Gosh, there is a lot of useful material here!
this site | i can recommend it | here is my site discount store selling Camis