Many of those who favour smaller government, like myself, worry that government tyranny will not come in the form of a sudden despotic overthrow of democracy. Rather it will be a creeping government that slowly usurps the power of the people and tramples the rights of the citizenry in the name of the common good. The "common good" might be said to be "security" or "safety" by our caring bureaucrats and rulers. Or the repression might be justified in the name of "sacrifices" for the greater good or "spreading wealth around'.
Whatever the reason, government intrusion into our freedoms should always be resisted. It should be resisted at the ballot box, through speaking out, through lobbying, through letter writing, through demonstration and marches. Resisting through civil disobedience and, God forbid, self defence, should be a last resort.
However, when viewing the TSA's treatment of John Tyner at the Lindbergh Field, you can clearly see that Americans are fed up with an overly intrusive government that has gone too far. What was supposed to prevent terrorism has instead turned travelers into the enemy of the government. All rights are apparently lost once one enters into an airport. This is wrong, and it should be resisted. Tyner has started a resistance to government intrusion and he deserves our support.
Tyner's video documentation of the incident has gone viral because so many millions of travelers can identify with the disgusting manner in which innocent people are subjected to humiliation at the hands of federal employees. Some have dared Janet Napolitano (who flies in a government jet, not on commercial airlines) to subject herself to the same procedures she demands from travelers. And why not? If you can dish it out, you should be able to take it too.
What may be occurring is another wave of anti-government sentiment, sick of the nanny-statism which has infected the western world since the 1950's. Perhaps people are again taking responsibility, pushing back against government excess, against government abuse of power (yes it happens all too often). The Tea Party may well be part of this same movement, pushing back against taxes and public waste and corruption.
As MLK once said, "Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent."
And in that spirit, we say no Secretary Napolitano, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
Whatever the reason, government intrusion into our freedoms should always be resisted. It should be resisted at the ballot box, through speaking out, through lobbying, through letter writing, through demonstration and marches. Resisting through civil disobedience and, God forbid, self defence, should be a last resort.
However, when viewing the TSA's treatment of John Tyner at the Lindbergh Field, you can clearly see that Americans are fed up with an overly intrusive government that has gone too far. What was supposed to prevent terrorism has instead turned travelers into the enemy of the government. All rights are apparently lost once one enters into an airport. This is wrong, and it should be resisted. Tyner has started a resistance to government intrusion and he deserves our support.
Tyner's video documentation of the incident has gone viral because so many millions of travelers can identify with the disgusting manner in which innocent people are subjected to humiliation at the hands of federal employees. Some have dared Janet Napolitano (who flies in a government jet, not on commercial airlines) to subject herself to the same procedures she demands from travelers. And why not? If you can dish it out, you should be able to take it too.
What may be occurring is another wave of anti-government sentiment, sick of the nanny-statism which has infected the western world since the 1950's. Perhaps people are again taking responsibility, pushing back against government excess, against government abuse of power (yes it happens all too often). The Tea Party may well be part of this same movement, pushing back against taxes and public waste and corruption.
As MLK once said, "Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent."
And in that spirit, we say no Secretary Napolitano, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
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