Virtualreadoutslide"The government is best which governs least," is a statement often erroneously attributed to Thomas Jefferson. Although he likely would have agreed, the statement cannot be found in any of his writings. It is, however, plainly written by Henry David Thoreau:

 

I heartily accept the motto,โ€”โ€œThat government is best which governs least;โ€ and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which I also believe,โ€”โ€œThat government is best which governs not at all;โ€ and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have. Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient.
โ€”Thoreau, Civil Disobedience

 

The trend of today seems to run counter to the words of Thoreau and the inclinations of Jefferson. We see a citizenry taught to worship it's government and to not only depend upon, but demand from it all manner of "services" not natural to it. Somewhere along the line Americans have switched from rugged individualism to radical governmentalism. 

The truth is, however, that governments only do one thing well: grow in power. Over time, they creep in their reach and gain in their control. Nothing is more natural for a bereaucracy than to add to itself like coral growing on a reef. Over time the accumulation grows big enough to block the waves of freedom and leave instead a pool of slack water.

Government interference in human affairs (beyond its basic responsibility for protection against enemies domestic and abroad) depends upon several factors and participants. In an attempt to make the process of the loss of freedom more recognizable, perhaps the following list will be helpful:

1. Viewpoint – this is the inflexible dogma of government control in one area or another that motivates the behaviors of the Valiant.

2. Valiant – these are the champions of the Viewpoint, the schemers who push it on everyone else "for their own good."

3. Victims – those who are being somehow unfairly treated and are therefore entitled to a special benefit from the government

4. Villains – anyone who does not pledge blind loyalty to the Viewpoint

5.  Verifiers (or Validators) – the idealists who preach the Viewpoint as though it is the most obvious truth in the world

6. Vassals – students in many schools and particular universities who become indoctrinated into the Viewpoint

7. Voters – sheep to be manipulated to vote for the Viewpoint no matter how harmful it may be to them. 

8. Vandals – those who write any opinion against the Viewpoint

9. Vanishing – what happens to freedom when the Viewpoint takes firm foothold in a nation

10. Vanity – all human effort to establish a perfect world outside of God's laws and grace

Viva la Viewpoint!

Sincerely,

Chris Brady

 

 

 

 

 

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13 responses to “Viva la Viewpoint!”

  1. Tim Miller Avatar
    Tim Miller

    So very true!! Well said.

    Like

  2. Matthew Ruhlman Avatar
    Matthew Ruhlman

    Poetic and clear way to explain the lose of freedom. Thanks Chris

    Like

  3. Cathy - Team Rascals Avatar

    Chris,
    What a great list! I read recently of someone currently in power whose whole goal was to indoctrinate the populace so they believed the viewpoint of his particular viewpoint.
    Voters are treated like less than intelligent children, who need to be led in the way those in power think they should go.
    Thank you, and the Round Table and PC leaders of TEAM for teaching those of us to follow you to think for ourselves.

    Like

  4. Greg Johnson Avatar

    Chris,
    The need for independent thinking Doers instead of Viewers is the view I would like to take.
    The Vassel I refuse to be, unless it is a self-directed sort.
    When it comes to voters, I prefer Rhino’s over sheep, they just pull the lever a little more decisively in the right direction (pun intended)
    Viva to the Viewpoint – I love the view from your viewpoint!!(no doubt from a Vista in Italy)

    Like

  5. James Halter Avatar

    Chris,
    I was talking with gentleman a couple weeks ago about government and regurgetating many items from Olliver Demille’s book 1913. I conveyed to him a summary that man needs these items in this priority: air, water, food, shelter, protection. I am sure I heard this on a cd or read in a good book. Thank you for your viewpoints.
    Viva la FREEDOM!!

    Like

  6. Will Luden Avatar
    Will Luden

    Why you, you Vandal, you!

    Like

  7. Randy Robson Avatar

    Fantastic! Orrin Woodward, Chris Brady, George Guzzardo, Claude Hamilton, Bill Lewis, Dan Hawkins, Wayne MacNamara, and Tim Marks have such great blogs! I love the information being taught in the LIFE business. Thank you!

    Like

  8. Tennyson Heen Avatar
    Tennyson Heen

    California – we need help.
    Proposition 30 that governor Brown got passed.
    7. Voters – sheep to be manipulated to vote for the Viewpoint no matter how harmful it may be to them.
    Three examples of messed up thinking not getting all the facts, with them reporting on the results.
    On a clear day people out here have foggy lenses, so many aren’t seeing or looking to see the full effect of what their actions are doing.
    It’s a good thing TEAM has made it to the w
    West Coast – Mattis’ up north, Spolar’s from the south – we’ve got to make things change.
    http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/consumer&id=8940067
    http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jan/16/prop-30-cash-diverted-from-schools-as-predicted/
    http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/23/california-residents-businesses-consider-bailing-on-golden-state-over-taxes/?intcmp=trending

    Like

  9. Brian Martig Avatar
    Brian Martig

    Chris,
    This is not the first time I have been called a “Vandal” This time I am proud of it!

    Like

  10. Terry Avatar
    Terry

    Awesome…great alliteration! Great insight, information, and intelligent ideas!
    Only thing better would have been an acrostic!
    ๐Ÿ™‚
    T

    Like

  11. aron Radosa Avatar
    aron Radosa

    Chris,
    Sounds like a parable waiting to happen with the cast of characters already aligned. I grew up in small town America and our school mascot was the ‘Vandals’; surprise!
    Aron

    Like

  12. Easton Kelsey Avatar
    Easton Kelsey

    I love the veritable venerable and vivacious vortex from my very villainous upline vine:)

    Like

  13. Rob Robson Avatar

    Thanks for sharing Chris. It’s amazing that all of these “Valiants” have convinced so many Sheep to believe that since the rest of humanity is corruptible and can’t be trusted, we should vote away our rights and trust these “valiant’s” with tyrannical rule over all of us.

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