"I am commonly opposed to those who modestly assume the rank of champions of liberty, and make a very patriotic noise about the people. It is the stale artifice which has duped the world a thousand times, and yet, though detected, it is still successful. I love liberty as well as anybody. I am proud of it, as the true title of our people to distinction above others; but ... I would guard it by making the laws strong enough to protect it."(emphasis added) ~ Fisher Ames, letter to George Richard Minot, 1789
One of they key questions we should ask about any bill, measure, policy, etc... coming from our governments is this: Does it increase liberty?
Just think about the myriad of laws we have on the books that destroy liberty and individual responsibility: smoking bans, seat belts, texting while driving, income taxes, housing inspections, vacant house registries, zoning requirements for trees and driveways, and on and on and on and on...
Do any of those requirements and mandates increase our personal liberty - that precious thing fought and died for over the years?
No - they do not. They 'protect' us from ourselves. They 'protect' us from what government fears we will do to ourselves. They are 'justified' by their proponents because government foots the bill for the outcomes, destroying personal responsibility.
In actuality, they destroy our liberties - even our liberty to do something stupid...and we all know there is no way any government can create enough laws to save some people from that!
The next time any politician or do-gooder says 'we ought to have a law' - demand to know how such a law increases the liberty of all people affected. Perhaps if we start holding people accountable to this ideal, we'll have more of it instead of less.
Friday, October 02, 2009
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2 comments:
Grrrr! Don't get me started on Carty's "vacant house" scam. THAT is just a city revenue enhancer that protects nobody. The LAST thing I'm doing with the house I'm renovating in Toledo is advertising that it's empty, full of expensive tools and, fixtures that have never been used to Toledo's roving bands of house strippers.
"We've overspent again...quick think of a new fee, fine or, tax to slap on the residents!"
...and they wonder why people are leaving!
Maggie,
FYI, I took 3 TCP bus tours with the candidates and saw exactly ZERO houses in compliance with that stupid law.
What homeowner in his right mind would advertise that his vacant house is vacant and just ripe for the picking?
Come to think of it, what homeowner in his right mind would board up a house while he's/she's trying to sell it?
Sometimes you have to question the intelligence of those proposing and passing stupid legislation such as this...
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