On the Constitution and the Death of Liberty
In October 1787 a man writing under the pseudonym Brutus wrote,
“The first question that presents itself on the subject [of whether or not to ratify the constitution] is [...] whether the thirteen United States should be reduced to one great republic, governed by one legislature, and under the direction of one executive and judicial; or whether they should continue thirteen confederated republics, under the direction and controul of a supreme federal head for certain defined national purposes only?
This enquiry is important, because, although the government reported by the convention does not go to a perfect and entire consolidation, yet it approaches so near to it, that it must, if executed, certainly and infallibly terminate in it.”
Governments do not willingly abridge their own power. A government established with almost universal power will, by nature, assume that power which it did not already have. More importantly, once that power which was heretofor held by the states or by the people is relinquished to a central government, regaining it is a matter which has rarely been achieved through any means but force. Checks and balances are meaningless when the checks and balances exist only within the same organization. There is no check or balance on the power of the Federal Government saving the Constitution, but the law only has that power to which that organization with the greatest physical power grants it.
Ratifying the Constitution was the first step towards ensuring the weakening of the states, the strengthening of the government, and the eventual dissolution of civil liberties and individual rights.
Brutus predicted as long ago at 1787 that our country would grow too large for one central government to balance the needs of the various constituencies and private interests for which it would be responsible.
The Federalists won the argument over the ratification, but any intelligent citizen can see now that Brutus, and his fellow Anti-Federalists, were right.
On Questioning
To those afraid to ask questions,
We who ask questions change the world. It is the people who are unafraid to doubt, unafraid to ask, who are able to think the unthinkable and change reality. Is the world flat? Is monarchy the only answer? Is the universe infinite? You who accept the answers to these questions as fact now but doubt the skeptics in our society today are the same people who put Galileo on trial, who burned Copernicus’ books, who laughed at Magellan. You who declare that democracy is the only good political system are the royalists who couldn’t believe that ordinary people could govern. Through challenges we grow, and by daring to ask questions and think we can change the world. If we allow ourselves to be ruled by the status quo, then we bow to an artificial God who chooses our very thoughts. Let us not worship idols. If there is no God, we must not let others dictate us destiny. And if we are made in the image of God, let us do as God did, and be as God was, and change the world.
Sincerely,
vox diaboli
On Growing Up
To the good people going to heaven,
If you believe that by being good you will go to heaven, or that by being evil you will go to hell, it is difficult to make a truly moral decision. That person which is good in order to gain reward or avoid punishment is only a child, with God as his or her parent. That person who can make an undisputably moral choice is the adult who does so not for reward or punishment, but the inherent goodness of the act. As there is no one who can reward or punish God, we must assume that God makes decisions based on inherent qualities of right or wrong. With God as our measure of true perfection and righteousness, we must strive to be as close to God in action as possible. They who are closest to God are therefore they who do not believe in Heaven or Hell.
Please, do not ask me to make decisions on the basis of eventual damnation or salvation, for if I do then am I surely damned.
Sincerely,
vox diaboli
On Health
To those people in the U.S. against government run health-insurance,
I understand your fears about government health care. I’ve watched the government screw up any number of things, and my health is not something I want to see join the long list of mishaps and failures. However, better government health insurance than no insurance at all. For people who can’t afford private insurance plans, a plan provided by a government is better than having to sell their house or car to pay hospital bills. We’ve all heard the horror stories from England and Canada, but they’ve heard the horror stories from here.
I’m glad you can afford private insurance. Please, help those who can’t.
Sincerely,
vox diaboli
On Paradigm Shifts
To people who don’t want the definition of marriage changed,
Marriage as an institution predates Christianity, monogamy, and State-supported heterosexuality. We aren’t changing the definition of marriage any more than Christians did. Clinging on to unchanging definitions is the last resort of people who are unable to open their minds to new concepts. All major improvements in civil rights have required changes of definitions — paradigm shifts. Everything from blacks being people to women being smart, from royalty not being inherently superior, to the bill of rights. Refusing to recognize that is simple ignorance. Do you want to be remembered in fifty years in the same way that segregationists are today?
Please, look forward to paradigm shifts.
Sincerely yours,
vox diaboli
