Abuse of Power - only if we allow it

Let's look at some examples of abuse of power by our "leaders" around the country. These are people that we elected, or were appointed by those we elected to "represent" us.

Most Libertarians don't believe that they need a leader, they are satisfied with leading themselves. When we put others in charge of our future, we often don't get what we want, and seldom what we deserve. No matter how you slice it, these examples are government abuse. Sometimes behind the scenes and behind closed doors, and sometimes right out there in the open.

They will persist as long as we allow it.

Here are some crimes of government in all their glory. It makes me think of the old saying: "rules were made to be broken". I think the saying is a bit more like: "We make the rules for others, and then we do what we please." That's how many of our "government officials" choose to operate.

Let's look at abuse of power that affects us all. Here, we'll examine:

Denial of Social Security benefits for those that opt out of Medicare. That's right! If you don't take us up on our government Medicare program, we'll cut off your Social Security benefits as well. Such a deal!

So, what if you don't like what Medicare has to offer, or how they offer it, or how they run the program? Well, then you don't get Social Security either. It's a package deal. It comes as a set. That's what the rules of the Social Security Administration say.

And, speaking of rules, did you know that those rules were passed without public comment? In other words, the Social Security Administration violated the law by publishing final rules without public comment in the Federal Register. If you've ever worked for a government regulatory agency, you know that's illegal.

Read about people declined social security benefits because of abuse of power in our government. Read it, and you'll know what to expect when it comes time for you to apply for Medicare.

Confiscation of firearms during a state of emergency. You remember full well when hurricane Katrina hit. It broke levees and flooded the city of New Orleans. Nearly 1,500 people died. Looters ran in the streets and innocents were attacked by criminals taking advantage of the situation (including shots fired at rescue workers).

To the rescue came law enforcement with full support of the mayor of New Orleans. This more modern version of the Keystone Cops decided that taking guns away from potential victims was the best way to fight crime. And don't forget, some law enforcement personnel decided to take matters into their own hands and got out of the city altogether. Nice dedication to duty. Like they say: "...to protect and serve...".

Anyway, local law enforcement and the National Guard were instrumental in house-to-house firearms confiscations and stop-and-frisks on the streets that resulted in confiscation of defensive weapons. They disarmed innocent civilians just when people needed personal protection the most.

This was gun control in its finest hour. Disarming the law-abiding at the very moment they needed their firearms for self-defense. It was also an example of getting what we deserved, because the people of New Orleans put that administration into office before the storm, and right back into office the very next election. Apparently nothing stops fools in the voting booth - not disaster, not dereliction of duty, and not illegal disarmament.

This disgrace was proof positive that the National Guard isn't the militia, because the militia is an armed citizenry, and this armed force went about disarming the citizenry.

Listen and watch the shocking stories of just a few law-abiding citizens that were denied their rights without due process.

Read more about this "one size fits all" criminal knee jerk abuse of power.

The Patriot Act - it's anything but patriotic. Here is a law that many in Congress passed without even reading it (which is normal anyway). It is called the Patriot Act, and so it must have been good. It was one of the few things most members of Congress could agree on, and agree on very quickly.

In the wake of the 09/11/2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, our "leaders" in Congress sang "God Bless America" together and acted for at least a few minutes like they might have some interest in America, instead of just their own political careers and financial interests. As part of that flurry of singing and fellowship, they passed the Patriot Act.

The law allows for abuse of power by law enforcement to include: intercepting and sharing phone and electronic mail, to include roving surveillance; collecting library records about individuals without the need to suspect them of illegal activities; and, issuing of National Security Letters that are in effect warrants to search, without probable cause (in other words warrantless searches), that can be conducted secretly without an individual's knowledge.

All in all, it's a great big violation of our Bill of Rights, and something that our "leaders" in Congress passed with ease. More abuse of power for us citizens to endure by those we elected to represent us.

You don't have to be a Libertarian to be quite offended by what government does, you just have to keep your eyes wide open and watching carefully. Sometimes it makes you sick.

Done with Abuse of Power, take me Home