Labels can be tricky. Often they elicit different reactions from different people who interpret them differently. The Latin term, used by the first Latinos – the Romans – to officially condemn an enemy of the state was “proscription.” (Literally this meant “writing ahead of time” the penalty, usually death and total property forfeiture, the person would suffer.) The Romans also coined the term hostis publicus that translates as “public enemy” or “enemy of the people.” The distinction between enemy of the state and enemy of the people is that the former is a national offense to be interpreted as an act of war and the latter is an offense against society as a whole. The Roman Senate used these terms as the basis of their Resolution to remove Nero from office declaring him to be an enemy of the state and therefore guilty of acts of war.

The French also used the term ennemi du peuple during the French Revolution, declaring:

The revolutionary government owes to the good citizen all the protection of the nation; it owes nothing to the Enemies of the People but death.

Our Founding Fathers didn’t use these terms when asserting their right to “throw off such government.” But they listed the “injuries and usurpations” they considered tyrannical, which in essence declared King George III to be an enemy of the people and an enemy of the state.

How an enemy of the state acts

The Declaration of Independence

Interestingly, many of the offenses listed in the Declaration of Independence have been repeated by the man now occupying the White House. Below are the ones I believe apply as much to Barack Obama and his Administration as they did to King George III.

• The King refused to obey the laws that were necessary for the general welfare of the people. It was his way of using our modern day Executive Orders and claiming Executive Privilege.
• The King obstructed the legislature from passing laws that the people needed and required (like a balanced budget, or a controlled debt ceiling).
• The King refused to pass other laws necessary to the people unless he could strike a deal that suppressed their representation.
• The King called meetings of legislators together in secrecy – far from the public eye.
• The King dissolved representation of the people on a regular basis and repeatedly assaulted the rights of the people.
• He limited the powers of legislators.
• He usurped the laws of nationalization. In the case of the King, he usurped these laws in order to restrict the population growth of the Colonies. Today the administration usurps our naturalization laws to grow the powerbases of groveling candidates.
• He obstructed the administration of justice – ahh, let me count the ways – can’t, it will take too long.
• He influenced the judges.
• He created a multitude of new offices, which he used to harass the people and impact their prosperity.
• He ignored the consent of the legislature regarding standing armies.
• He made the military independent of civil power. (Still in the works.)
• He subjugated the autonomy to the jurisdiction of foreigners (Ilegal immigrants being allowed to vote).
• He imposed taxes on the Colonists without their consent (Obamacare, etc).
• He fundamentally altered the forms of government (Change you can believe in?).
• He overrode the legislature and ceased their power.
• He waged war against his own people.
• He turned Colonist against Colonist (race baiting).
• He ignored every petition made by the people and replied with more abuse (passing Obamacare contrary to the overwhelming objection of Americans).

While the list above is substantial, it does not comprehensively tell the entire story of human rights violations that the Colonists endured. The first ten amendments to our Constitution, commonly referred to as our Bill of Rights, list the rights that our Founders believed to be so important that they had to be spelled out in no uncertain terms. They knew what it was like to live in a land were these rights were constantly under assault and they wanted to protect our citizens from enduring these assaults in the future. As is the case with the grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence, nearly all of these rights have suffered at the hands of today’s silver-tongued tyrants.

Endearing entitlements

In the past, the violation of these rights were considered to constitute an act of war – or in other terms – qualify someone as an enemy of the state, an enemy of the people, or a public enemy. Today, entitlements (such as free cell phones, food stamps, free birth control, and 99 weeks of unemployment) provided by these “enemies” endear them to many. And so, the monies they ravage from our paychecks insures their thrones remain secure – until the day the money runs out or until the day our Senate rises up and signs a Resolution declaring Mr. Obama and all his Administration to be enemies of the state. But I don’t suggest you hold your breath until that day comes. Any such declaration is more likely to come from the people. But I don’t suggest you hold your breath until that day comes either, as the people have been lulled into a state of apathy that only God Himself can break. If they hadn’t, Mr. Obama and his thugs would have long ago been escorted out of the People’s House. Instead they continue to turn us against each other, all the while enjoying the fruits of our labor and sending what’s left in the coffers of our treasury to those who would kill us on sight.

I may understand that men will continue to be evil until the end of time, but I don’t understand why supposedly “good” people don’t take a stand against them. Maybe they really aren’t “good” at all.

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