Is this still America? Geographically, yes; ideologically, no! Our freedoms have been compromised and our government is beyond corrupt.

Thomas Jefferson once noted from Montesquieu, from Spirit of Laws, VIII, c. 12:

When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.

Just how corrupt is our republic? Have we suffered a coup d’état?

What has happened to America?

The Second Continental Congress observes the first Independence Day by signing the Declaration of Independence. Credit: John Trumbull.

Perhaps it’s time we pay attention to the definitions of a few critical words.

Wikipedia defines a coup thus: “A coup d’état typically uses the extant government’s power to assume political control of the country. In Coup d’État: A Practical Handbook, military historian Edward Luttwak states that ‘[a] coup consists of the infiltration of a small, but critical, segment of the state apparatus, which is then used to displace the government from its control of the remainder.’” (Emphasis added.)

Webster defines a coup d’état as a sudden and decisive action in politics, especially one effecting a change of government illegally or by force.

While a coup may conjure up images of angry mobs storming capitals, not all coups require force to effect change. In the United States “a coup” can be classified as illegal if it is unconstitutional.

Cliven Bundy is feeling the full force and effect of a government that seeks to oppress him by taking away his land-use and his prosperity. The talking heads are making the point that Mr. Bundy failed to abide by the laws, regulations and taxes of Nevada. The truth is that Mr. Bundy may have a better perspective on what America is (or is supposed to be) than those that allowed such offensive laws to be enacted in the first place.

From the Declaration of Independence

In our Declaration of Independence our Founders explained their ideology about the proper role of government when they wrote the following familiar words:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness… But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. (Emphasis added)

Let’s clarify the points our Founders’ were making:

1. Our right to live free and pursue happiness is given to us by God, not by government;
2. The purpose of government is to protect our God-given rights;
3. Proper government derives its powers from the governed – not the other way around;
4. When government steps out of line, it is the right of the people to abolish it, and make the necessary changes to assure their future freedom, safety and happiness;
5. When there comes a time when the abuses of government are so egregious, it is not only the right of its citizens to abolish such government; it is their duty.

A good indication that it may be time to abolish government may be when government officials start calling citizens “terrorists.” In actuality, it may be the government officials that are the real terrorists. Consider the following definitions:

• Terrorism is the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear
• Domestic terrorism – terrorism practiced in your own country against your own people.
• State-sponsored terrorism – terrorism practiced by a government against its own people or in support of international terrorism. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/terrorism

According to these definitions, the real terrorists are not those defending Cliven Bundy’s rights to live and pursue happiness. The real terrorists are Boss Reid, the BLM, and others who would abuse their power for their own purposes.

When is it our duty and responsibility to throw off abusive government? Perhaps it is when government starts oppressing us and impairing our freedom to pursue happiness through over-regulation and over-taxation, or perhaps it’s when government starts taking our land, or perhaps it’s when government starts indoctrinating and eroticizing our children. In other words – it’s now!

Here are the two most important questions we should be asking:

Why did Harry Reid call off his goons?

There has been a lot of speculation, most of it believing that the BLM backed off in order to avoid a shoot out and all the negative publicity that would have generated. Consider that they backed off because they realized that they underestimated the militia and America’s passionate love of liberty. They had every reason to expect that Mr. Bundy would go the way the rest of the ranchers went in Nevada – give in to government intimidation. They found out they were wrong. They underestimated Mr. Bundy and the militia and therefore they may have backed off because they realized they were premature in flexing their muscles.

Next question:

Assuming that government backed off because its timing wasn’t quite right, do we wait until its timing is right before we do what our Founders recommended: throw off and abolish such government?

Bunker Hill or Bunkerville – either way, either place there is more at stake than a few cattle or a piece of land.

The battle lines are being drawn. It’s time to decide where you stand.

ALERT

There are those who have begun to fight for the land of the free because they are the brave. However, the political threats are ramping up and they need our help. Right now they are in need of a full-time medic, medical supplies, Walmart cards to use to buy fuel, and trauma kits. These things can be sent to:

Mr. Cliven Bundy

3315 New Gold Butte Road

Bunkerville, Nevada 89007

And, if you are so inclined to help financially, Oathkeepers is taking donations to provide desperately needed food and water. You can donate at:

http://oathkeepers.org/oath/2014/04/16/action-alert-boots-on-the-ground-need-donations-for-food-and-water-at-bundy-ranch-standoff/

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