In my column dated March 18, 2010, I presented John Locke’s definition of Tyranny and his courageous explanation of what Tyranny implies for a civil or political society. His words were addressed to the People suffering under the English autocracies of Charles II and James II, monarchs both who had entered into their sacred office with strong popular support, but whose administrations had then moved decisively to overturn the rule of law and to oppress the People . Dangerous though his next step would be, John Locke did not flinch from drawing the relevant consequences for the People when they understood, in their own consciences, that a State of Tyranny had been imposed upon them. It is important to understand, when reading Locke’s carefully worded judgment, that he distinguished most clearly between the Dissolution of the Society and the Dissolution of the Government. The only way in which the Society might be dissolved, in his judgment, was through foreign conquest. Governments, however, might be dissolved by the People, whenever such Governments subjected them to Tyranny:
“The Reason why Men enter into Society, is the preservation of their Property; and the end why they chuse and authorize a Legislative, is that there may be Laws made, and Rules set as Guards and Fences to the Properties of all the Members of the Society, to limit the Power, and moderate the Dominion of every Part and Member of the Society. For since it can never be supposed to be the Will of the Society that the Legislative should have a Power to destroy that, which every one designs to secure, by entering into Society, and for which the People submitted themselves to the Legislators of their own making; whenever the Legislators endeavour to take away, and destroy the Property of the People, or to reduce them to Slavery under Arbitrary Power, they put themselves into a State of War with the People, who are thereupon absolved from any further Obedience, and are left to the common Refuge, which God hath provided for all Men, against Force and Violence. Whensoever therefore the Legislative shall transgress this fundamental Rule of Society; and either by Ambition, Fear, Folly or Corruption, endeavour to grasp themselves, or put into the hands of any other an Absolute Power over the Lives, Liberties and Estates of the People; By this breach of Trust they forfeit the Power, the People had put into their hands, for quite contrary ends, and it devolves to the People, who have a Right to resume their original Liberty, and, by the Establishment of a new Legislative (such as they shall think fit) provide for their own Safety and Security, which is the end for which they are in Society.” John Locke, The Second Treatise of Government, Chapter XIX, paragraph 222
and
“What I have said here, concerning the Legislative, in general, holds true also concerning the supreame Executor, who having a double trust put in him, both to have a part in the Legislative, and the supreme Execution of the Law, acts against both, when he goes about to set up his own Arbitrary Will, as the Law of the Society. He acts also contrary to his Trust, when he either imploys the force, treasure, and Offices of the Society, to corrupt the Representatives, and gain them to his purposes: or openly pre-ingages the Electors, and prescribes to their choice, such, whom he has by Sollicitations, Threats, Promises, or otherwise won to his designs; and imploys them to bring in such, who have promised before-hand, what to Vote, and what to Enact. Thus to regulate Candidates and Electors, and new model the ways of Election, what is it but to cut up the Government by the Roots, and poison the very Fountain of publick Security? For the People having reserved to themselves the Choice of their Representatives, as the Fence to their Properties, could do it for for no other end but that they might always be freely chosen, and so chosen, freely act and advise, as the necessity of the Commonwealth, and the publick Good should, upon examination, and mature debate, be judged to require. ibid., Chapter XIX, paragraph 224
and
“In both the forementioned Cases, when either the Legislative is changed, or the Legislators act contrary to the end for which they were constituted; those who are guilty are guilty of Rebellion. For if any one by force takes away the establish’d Legislative of any Society, and the Laws by them made pursuant to their trust, he thereby takes away the Umpirage, which every one has consented to, for a peaceable decision of all their Controversies, and a bar to the state of War amongst them. They, who change the Legislative, take away this decisive power, which no Body can have, but by the appointment and consent of the People; and so destroying the Authority, which the People did, and no Body else can set up, and introducing a Power, which the People hath not authoriz’d, they actually introduce a state of War, which is that of Force without Authority.” ibid., Chapter XIX, paragraph 227
John Locke’s seminal writings, as faithfully reproduced above, played an influential role in justifying the Glorious Revolution, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution. In my judgment, John Locke is the greatest social contract political philosopher of all time. His words constitute the best guidance available to all individuals, anywhere, who desire to preserve and to protect their inalienable rights to life and liberty, and their imprescriptible rights to property.
Tags: breach of the separation of powers, descent into tyranny, disregard for the Constitution, dissolution of government, health care reform, reconciliation, the Slaughter rule
March 19, 2010 at 10:22 am |
Where is Paul Revere when you need him?
March 19, 2010 at 10:49 am |
In a way I would have thought that Locke was addressing the period when Cromwell was in charge. It would seem that from Henry VIII right through to James II and even beyond, the kings and queens of England, as well as the Cromwells all behaved in a form of tyranny. All of the given situations could have been addressed in that treatise.
What England went through at the hands of those tyrants was deplorable. Scotland suffered a similar fate. Also the Irish suffered the same fate – the difference being that Ireland suffered right up to the twentieth century.
Many in the USA today do not understand what took place with regard to first Tea Party. They do not understand the symbolism of the dumping of the tea into Boston Harbour. They do not understand that it was a declaration of independence from a tyrannical regime. Neither do they understand why the first Americans were willing to lay down their lives by going to war against the English. It was about freedom. It was also about not being controlled by a foreign government that was so far away. It was also a revolt against some really horrible taxes, including the window tax (if my memory serves me correctly). For the record I studied American history in what we used to call Form 3, now referred to as year 9. It was a fight for liberty.
Right now we have a very dire situation because the Congress and the POTUS are attempting a takeover the like of which has not really been seen before – except under FDR who more or less tried the same thing but at a very different level. The open defiance of the Speaker of the House is absolutely breath-taking. The POTUS who is not a natural born citizen (he does not meet the definition of a natural born citizen because his alleged father is a Kenyan, a British citizen and that means that the Constitutional requirements have not been met – it says parents, not parent), are attempting a tyrannical takeover of the whole economy with the purpose of making the population into economic slaves dependent upon the government for all essential services. These foolish people have continued to believe in the failed Marxist system that has already collapsed around the world because it never was sustainable. Even worse is that this effort has the smell of fascism about it.
Few people seem to recognize that Fascism is purely another aspect of Communism and that all Marxist systems are based upon tyranny. Fascism is not of the right, except that it is right of Communism or Stalinism. Fascism is definitely a left wing movement and we should not be fooled by the folly of those who project their own fascist views upon others. After all, the takeover began with the takeover of the banks, followed by the vehicle manufacturers grab (Chrysler and GMH) followed by the attempt to discredit Toyota (including it seems some very false incidents in recent days), followed by the most abominable bill ever – Crapcare (oops I meant Congresscare…. ooops that is not the right name…. Reidcare… nope…. Abominablecare …. yes, that is the right name for the nightmare)…. On top of that there is the grab to take over student loans, as well as the banking industry. It is never ending.
There is no doubt that the legislation and the attempts to pass this legislation is unconstitutional. The Fed does not have the power to do what it is attempting. However, there are other reasons for the fact that it is unconstitutional – if the House does not vote on the Senate bill then anything placed before the President for signing is not meeting constitutional requirements – they must be the same document, they cannot be different. The Slaughterhouse slam is also unconstitutional. It is not the same as previous uses of the same technique at all. This is just a ploy, maybe even a payback by Slaughter and Pelosi because their attempts back in 2003 over a similar maneuver was rejected by the Federal Court. However, their reasoning on the issue will be proved wrong when this is tested in the Courts.
I do not know if the Constitution has the means to resolve this situation involving tyranny. I do know that the justices need to have the balls and to go ahead and hear those pending cases against Dr. Utopia regarding his claims to citizenship. All of his records need to be produced, since there are many reasons to doubt his citizenship (not including any birth controversy), including the fact that he was adopted by his Indonesian step-father. If the man is not a natural born citizen as defined by the Constitution then there needs to be a means by which he can be removed legitimately from office ASAP, before the USA hits complete rock bottom and goes over the cliff from financial ruin.
March 19, 2010 at 2:17 pm |
Excellent article.
Excellent points made by Ozzieaussie.
I fear for my freedom and liberty like never before. The last year has demonstrated to me and convinced me that government is truly evil. Initially, I did what good citizens are expected to do. I went to a town hall meeting, a tea party and wrote my Senators and Representative. These actions did nothing to stop the healthcare bill. Once in office, Senators and Representatives can do anything they want to do and we citizens cannot stop them. Once in power they remain in power until elected out of office.
I am very frustrated with what I see happening in the USA. I also recognize that the USA will eventually default on SS, Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare, Food Stamps and now Healthcare. I only hope that freedom loving people are strong enough to resist the government when the collapse occurs.
March 19, 2010 at 8:16 pm |
check out the possibility of citizens initiated impeachment. FreeRepublic has some information on how to go about the process and the filing of the document. This would be an effort to impeach Nancy Pelosi.
March 19, 2010 at 4:06 pm |
Talkin’ about my generation….
It has been an assumption of my generation that Social Security and Medicare would not be there when we got there. They are both still there at the moment but Obamacare will immediately take away that part of Medicare that is the most successful and the most popular with seniors, Medicare Advantage. Obamacare will chip away at the rest of it by crippling the economy with this massive new entitlement and the boatload of new taxes to support it. My generation always knew it would not be there for us, but many of my generation voted for the man who will be the instrument of bringing their fears to reality.
It is yet to be seen if my generation has the juice in its bones to dissolve this government and institute a new one to secure for themselves and their progeny the blessings of liberty.
March 19, 2010 at 8:14 pm |
Do you mean “The Who”? ……
…. I think I caught on …. and perhaps I am from the same generation…. 
March 19, 2010 at 8:13 pm |
Among the material that I have read this morning, Caterpillar the company in Illinois has written a letter to the President and the House stating that this bill would add $100 million to their costs and that is immediate. They can ill-afford such an increase in costs.
In a company that has to compete on the world market like that, it would be a case of trying to keep prices competitive, and the only solution for them would be a further reduction in the workforce.