Guest Post by
The nation’s attention turned to Oregon this week when a group calling itself Citizens for Constitutional Freedom seized control of part of a federal wildlife refuge. The citizens were protesting the harsh sentences given to members of the Hammond ranching family. The Hammonds were accused of allowing fires set on their property to spread onto federal land.
The Hammonds were prosecuted under a federal terrorism statute. This may seem odd, but many prosecutors are stretching the definition of terrorism in order to, as was the case here, apply the mandatory minimum sentences or otherwise violate defendants’ constitutional rights. The first judge to hear the case refused to grant the government’s sentencing request, saying his conscience was shocked by the thought of applying the mandatory minimums to the Hammonds. Fortunately for the government, it was able to appeal the decision to judges whose consciences were not shocked by draconian sentences.
Sadly, but not surprisingly, some progressives who normally support civil liberties have called for the government to use deadly force to end the occupation at the refuge. These progressives are the mirror image of conservatives who (properly) attack gun control and the PATRIOT Act as tyrannical, yet support the use of police-state tactics against unpopular groups such as Muslims.
Even some libertarians have joined the attacks on the ranchers. These libertarians say ranchers like the Hammonds are “corporate welfare queens” because they graze their cattle on federal lands. However, since the federal government is the largest landholder in many western states, the ranchers may not have other viable alternatives. As the Oregon standoff shows, ranchers hardly have the same type of cozy relationship with the government that is enjoyed by true corporate welfare queens like military contractors and big banks. Many ranchers actually want control of federally-held land returned to the states or sold to private owners.
Situations like the one in Oregon could become commonplace as the continued failure of Keynesian economics and militaristic foreign policy is used to justify expanding government power. These new power grabs will increase the threats to our personal and economic security. The resulting chaos will cause many more Americans to resist government policies, with some even turning to violence, while the burden of government regulations and taxes will lead to a growing black market. The government will respond by becoming even more authoritarian, which will lead to further unrest.
Fortunately, we still have time to reverse course. The Internet makes it easier than ever to spark the ideas of liberty and grow the liberty movement. Spreading the truth and making sure we can care for ourselves and our families in the event of an economic collapse must be our priorities.
We must help more progressives understand that allowing the government to run the economy not only leads to authoritarianism, it impoverishes the lower classes and enriches the elites. We must also show conservatives that militarism abroad inevitably leads to tyranny at home. We also need to continue exposing how the Federal Reserve feeds the welfare-warfare state while increasing economic instability and income inequality. This week’s Senate vote on Audit the Fed is important to our efforts to help the American people learn the full truth about our monetary system.
One thing my years in Washington taught me is that most politicians are followers, not leaders. Therefore we should not waste time and resources trying to educate politicians. Politicians will not support individual liberty and limited government unless and until they are forced to do so by the people.
First, you use the term, “progressives”, which leaves me a bit confused.
I suppose you mean socialist, nazi, communist, feudalist, or “collectivist” in general.
I am confused because every form of collectivism leads to the destruction of society.
It seems that REGRESSIVE would be a more descriptive – and misleading – term.
Second, I’ve seen other reports about this “stand-off” which indicate the protestors have verbally threatened and otherwise harassed locals. Either could be construed as violating locals’ rights. This, in turn, means that so-called protesters are not exercising any recognizable rights; for, the exercise of a right does not include the violation of rights of others.
To the extent such protestors are harassing locals, they are little better than a public nuisance, and have no standing whatsoever regarding to the Bill of Rights.
This means that, for every transgression against locals, said locals have legal recourse against so-called protestors – from restraining orders, to libel or slander actions, as well as civil damages.
Owing to the brutish behavior of such protestors, I would expect that eventually they will be found to be stooges of the FBI or local law-enforcement organs – and should be treated as saboteurs.
Whatever the case, either side could profit from acquainting themselves with real facts of history regarding American Founders (http://redressone.wordpress.com/)
While I agree with the general sentiments expressed at redressone, the thugs in power are not listening to the people and have no interest in anything that reduces their scope, exercise or abuses of power. Redress is useful under a Constitutional government, and an exercise in futility under the current one. IF you can get a judge to sentence a 73-year-old man to five MORE years in prison for setting a backfire that KILLED no one, HURT no one and in fact damaged only grass, what is the likelihood that they will obey restraining orders, libel actions, or anything else in your list?
But carry on spreading the word – after the thieves and thugs are defeated, we will need normal, non-violent means of curing government ills – if they cannot be prevented in the first place.
The problem is the shadow gov under pres boot black is so corrupt, the law ?What law?
Dr. Paul, I have been a fan for over 30 years. However, your optimism actually annoys me. There is no “legal” path home. There is no incantation to turn a Progressive in to one who applies reason and equity. The tipping point fell over the land when the OSS/CIA/Ex-Im/IMF/NSA/Mossad put a bullet in JFK’s head. We have never recovered.
These lands will become increasingly lawless. The people will be sheared and fleeced ever closer to the bone. And MEN, not the manginas and castrate effetes in Academia or in Congress will take up arms. Some will be older, some will be in wheelchairs, but like the brave men that told King George to go fuck himself, we will do the same to Lord Rothschild and his highly paid minions.
Greetings,
Earlier this evening, I had to explain to some liberal that neither one of us actually understood the problems facing these ranchers since we are not ranchers. I had to remind him that we were not in the business of producing the nations food and doing so in a way that required the use of vast amounts of land. I also had to remind him that governmental bureaus are not known for their efficiency and that he should think “Bureau of Indian Affairs” should he really need to put it in perspective.
The liberals are screaming for blood which is exactly what those guys in Oregon want. After all, you cant have this kind of party without first having your John Brown.
Nickel Thrower , let’s hope it doesn’t end in bloodshed. I know government is making life difficult for many ranchers but this is the wrong fight and wrong time to fight in my opinion. If there is a gun battle the government will then call them terrorists and use it as an excuse to justify their violence.
I suppose you mean socialist, nazi, communist, feudalist, or “collectivist” in general.
Written precisely like someone who doesn’t know what the fuck they are talking about.
Captain America , according the all knowing TBP pedagog Francis Maroon, we must use our pause button, before time runs out. Hit it before it’s too late.
AnthonyH says: ..I’ll take Canadian frostbrain for a $100 Alex
Standing for something means taking a stand.
As the saying goes “if not now, when?”.
This may not be the best time and place logistically, but if it doesn’t begin now it will be too late when it does (at least with any hope for a peaceful redress of grievances left as a potential outcome).
FWIW, The Alamo wasn’t the best time an place either, or the North Bridge for that matter. At least there is still a chance to resolve the issues involved peacefully here, that won’t be the case much longer and depends entirely on what action the government takes and why it takes it. The entire “Militia” movement grew out of the government’s actions at Waco, they were never even a minute political force prior to that.
People will argue whether it is the right time or the
wrong time, to take a stand. If the stand fizzles out,
opinions will vary. Regardless, opinions will vary.
Everyone will have to admit though, that reconstituting
the Hammonds court case and imprisoning these men
again is foul and wholly mean spirited.
Conflicts inside existing borders have the potential to overtake conflicts between existing borders in numbers and intensity…
Bb, when is the right time? I applaud these men. Here, there, now, later, does not matter to me. They are giving the giant middle finger to the criminal gang in DC. I say god bless.
Nickle, the BLM game is a simple one. Starve them out. Throw everything under the sun at them till they go broke. Lower the number of cattle they can graze. Raise their grazing fees. Restrict water rights (can’t have cows without water). Quarantine herds. And do everything at a glacial pace. People only have so much money
Ron Paul has gone stone cold liberal. He writes this same small ball circular logic article every time, sprinkled with buzzwords like liberty and freedom, yet has no answers. And now he’s defending Muslims in a BLM piece. He’s not the same man I thought he wad
sf, wtf? Ignorance is the enemy, and truth is the antidote. No specifics in your crticism of RP, no wonder.
Until people realize you have to stand up to the feds somewhere, nothing will change. There’s nothing in RP’s article that suggests otherwise.
I suppose your solution is to bend over and take it up the arse. No wonder there, either, dipshit.