Usually when we think of government violence we think of war. War against a real or imagined enemy where property is destroyed and combatants are injured and killed. But our federal government uses a subtle form of violence to insure citizens follow government rules and pay for government and it's services. Homeland Security, IRS Agents, Treasury Department, ATF Officers, and other employees of many agencies carry guns to display and use violence to get their orders obeyed.
All the laws, regulations, and taxes are predicated upon the governments right to use force in getting things done. At an airport if you refuse groping from a TSA agent you'll be forced into a private room. There you will be questioned and probed by as many agents as it takes to render you properly groped or debriefed. If you smoke or enjoy an over sized big gulp in some places you may be fined. If you refuse to pay the fine you will be summoned to court, there you will be ordered to pay the fine or face imprisonment. If you refuse to pay some or all of your taxes for religious, moral, or ethical reasons you will be levied penalties to pay in addition to the taxes. If you continue to refuse payment you will go to jail.
Since voters elect the government representatives who theoretically manage the bureaucrats we the people indirectly allow the government to use violence. However, in the real world of businesses and workers if a worker refuses to perform a lawful and legal part of his or her job they are usually sent home and lose their income. It takes a major incident for an employer to seek the imprisonment of an employee. Maintaining discipline and following the rules in our schools, workplaces, churches, and marketplaces is usually accomplished without a heavy reliance on the threat of physical violence.
These days we are witnessing more and more government violence. When a government drone murders someone without a fair trial it's violence of the highest order. When a partisan government official or agency taps phone or Internet communications of an opposing political group it's a "force" of violence. When government illegally snoops on real and imagined enemies in the press it's a quiet violence which leaves all citizens a little less free. It is not a good sign of our future that our governments are growing in employees, payrolls, and agencies faster then our free market economy.
Will more and more government be good for the citizens ? Is there a limit to the bullying and violence "we the people" will endure from our government ?
All the laws, regulations, and taxes are predicated upon the governments right to use force in getting things done. At an airport if you refuse groping from a TSA agent you'll be forced into a private room. There you will be questioned and probed by as many agents as it takes to render you properly groped or debriefed. If you smoke or enjoy an over sized big gulp in some places you may be fined. If you refuse to pay the fine you will be summoned to court, there you will be ordered to pay the fine or face imprisonment. If you refuse to pay some or all of your taxes for religious, moral, or ethical reasons you will be levied penalties to pay in addition to the taxes. If you continue to refuse payment you will go to jail.
Since voters elect the government representatives who theoretically manage the bureaucrats we the people indirectly allow the government to use violence. However, in the real world of businesses and workers if a worker refuses to perform a lawful and legal part of his or her job they are usually sent home and lose their income. It takes a major incident for an employer to seek the imprisonment of an employee. Maintaining discipline and following the rules in our schools, workplaces, churches, and marketplaces is usually accomplished without a heavy reliance on the threat of physical violence.
These days we are witnessing more and more government violence. When a government drone murders someone without a fair trial it's violence of the highest order. When a partisan government official or agency taps phone or Internet communications of an opposing political group it's a "force" of violence. When government illegally snoops on real and imagined enemies in the press it's a quiet violence which leaves all citizens a little less free. It is not a good sign of our future that our governments are growing in employees, payrolls, and agencies faster then our free market economy.
Will more and more government be good for the citizens ? Is there a limit to the bullying and violence "we the people" will endure from our government ?
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