Big Government used to have an advantage in its argument: whatever top-heavy program its proponents enacted to address whatever problem they claimed to perceive, it could take half a century or more before the world changed enough to make the program not merely unproductive, but counter-productive. In the meantime the politicians who foisted it on America enjoy the illusion of glory for their accomplishment.
The pace of social and economic change has accelerated within our lifetimes, though, to the point where even if a big government program ever could actually address whatever problem the politicians aim it at, increasingly that program does more harm than good before those politicians even leave office. In some cases the program doesn’t even get fully implemented before the landscape has changed utterly, and the program is now an obstacle to adapting to the new realities.
This is the challenge of the 21st century: government by definition is too ponderous and Jurassic in its outlook to be useful anymore in confronting the consequences of a constantly increasing pace of change. Even mavens of new media, having cut their recently gained baby teeth on the 140-character philosophical treatise, are a half-generation behind the loop and in many cases two full steps behind the news cycle.
The political establishment senses that it’s losing control of the decision loop, and that’s why it’s seeking increasingly to limit input, to make elections not matter. Or in some cases it’s why they’re trying to oust the people and elect a new one less adapted to the accelerated pace of change enabled by new technology.
They’ve been fretting for decades that America is becoming ungovernable, and today the reality — as they define it — looms on the horizon. “Governable” means they never lose a fight, no matter how wrong their side of the fight might be.
If that’s what it means to be governable, ungovernable is the way to be.
Well said, McG. Our consent has been withdrawn for our consent has not been deigned. Were it asked, our consent may have been granted, or not, but unasked the issue is assured. Conflict, not peace, will be our value henceforth — at least until such time as listening and consideration returns to fashion.
Indeed. We are, in fact, in a time when revolution can be affected merely by withholding consent — and waiting.
There can be no permanence to tyranny when the ideas on which tyranny is built crumble during construction.
*** “The president has been clear that now is not the time for Congress . . .” ***
No. Congress has no say when it should speak. That time is only when hearing from the Americans will make no difference to the Lord ClownDisaster’s desired outcome.
I’ve been arguing it for a while now. Stop trying to change Washington, D.C. – neutralize it.
Apply pressure on a grassroots level; not to get the D.C. elites and the parties to listen, which they won’t. But to effect change on the local, county and state levels. The goal being to remove power from Washington- much of which they aren’t entitled to- and restoring it to the states and the people.
In short, empowering the states to tell DC to go screw, and back it up such as through a coalition of states withholding taxes to Washington.
IMO, it’s the last real chance of righting the ship short of armed revolution.
Article V baby!
>Article V baby!<
yes but not open ended. methodical art v.
East to West
All You’ve Ever Wanted
havel
>Thus the power structure, through the agency of those who carry out the sanctions, those anonymous components of the system, will spew the greengrocer from its mouth. The system, through its alienating presence in people, will punish him for his rebellion. It must do so because the logic of its automatism and self-defense dictate it. The greengrocer has not committed a simple, individual offense, isolated in its own uniqueness, but something incomparably more serious. By breaking the rules of the game, he has disrupted the game as such. He has exposed it as a mere game. He has shattered the world of appearances, the fundamental pillar of the system. He has upset the power structure by tearing apart what holds it together. He has demonstrated that living a lie is living a lie. He has broken through the exalted facade of the system and exposed the real, base foundations of power. He has said that the emperor is naked. And because the emperor is in fact naked, something extremely dangerous has happened: by his action, the greengrocer has addressed the world. He has enabled everyone to peer behind the curtain. He has shown everyone that it is possible to live within the truth. Living within the lie can constitute the system only if it is universal. The principle must embrace and permeate everything. There are no terms whatsoever on which it can co-exist with living within the truth, and therefore everyone who steps out of line denies it in principle and threatens it in its entirety. . . . <
link
mc4ever, you are absolutely right that the key is in with-holding of taxes – by the states. The individual has little hope of success unless a huge number of other individuals also stop paying taxes at the same time. The IRS will win all battles if it only has to deal with limited numbers of non-payers.
On the other hand, if an entire state declares that it will not submit its citizens’ withholding taxes, now you are talking real leverage.
Short of rebellion, the only way to win is to starve the beast.
Ace saw something on the road to Damascus. He evn uses the term Establishmentarians with proper-name capitalization. He says it’s time for a 3rd party. No word yet on whether what he saw was inevitable, or willing to let him keep his rubbers.
http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=355288
Bach – Cello Suite No.1 i-Prelude
Acts 18:9New International Version (NIV)
9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.
Speaking of the ” the Ball and Chain”
Must be a cold day in commie land if the Grey lady is targeting the Pantsuits lady
Jeff’s pod seems to have got Ace. He is one of us now. For the moment. Until he realizes he is surrounded by flyover ick.
http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=355301
“I’m personally done with this party.
In fact, I will vote for Democrats.”
It’s like littlegreenfootballs only in reverse.
I read that, it’s the internet equivalent of “It burns when I pee, doc.”