"The government is best which governs least"

Thomas Jefferson

"There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual
and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations"

James Madison

When starting a discourse with anyone, certain assumptions are made by the participants.
I like to remember how a recent SECDEF put it a few years ago.

"Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me.
Because, as we know; there are known knowns; there are things we know we know.
We also know there are known unknowns; That is to say, we know there are some things we do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don't know we don't know."

Donald Rumsfeld

When starting this discussion I feel compelled to start with what we all should know.
Our current form of government was formed in the late 1700's.The document defining
that government listed the limits of government power and later added specific rights by amendment.
During the following 2 1/3 centuries these limits and rights have been tested in court, practice and
by our elected representatives.

In 1791 an excise tax on whiskey was levied by the then new federal government. This tax made a
formerly profitable cash crop unprofitable. Farmers in Western Pennsylvania engaged in attacks on
excise tax agents as a form of protest. In July of 1794 a federal Marshall was attacked in Allegheny County,
and several hundred men attached the residence of a regional inspector burning his home, barn and
several outbuildings. President George Washington called out the militia and mobilized 13000 men.
This was the first use of the Militia Law of 1792 to "execute the laws of the union, (and) suppress Insurrections". 
More importantly this was the first test of the new federal government, establishing its role in
disputes with the individual states.

The number of times this and less harsh methods have been used by the federal government, has
accelerated beyond the electorates ability to keep track of the process, or to know the regulations
imposed by the federal government. The results have been both constitutional and unconstitutional.
The rights of all men who have been created equal, are now enshrined in law. The Branch Dividians 
were  extinguished by federal government officials. The US supreme Court has redefined limits on the
Commander in Chief in his conduct of war. The federal governments Congress, in November 2008 passed a law,
signed by the president, to give $700,000,000,000.00 to private business.

At this point and before we have entered the phase of not knowing what is unknown.

"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich." "You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong."
"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift." "You cannot lift the wage earner up
by pulling the wage payer down." "You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred."
"You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence."
"You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they can and should do for themselves."

(attributed to Abraham Lincoln)

Many before me/us and surely after me/us have and will ignore the lessons of history. As United States Citizens,
we have a unique place in history. This Nation is the only place on earth which places on its citizens
the direct responsibility of determining the path of our government. I have exercised my responsibility
to vote every time I was asked to approve, affirm, or choose among those running for office,
a new or renewed tax millage, or specific laws allowing or to disaprove use of law for the benefit "of the community".
Alas my votes have often been in vain. Those asking for our vote have shrouded there intentions in clouds
of smoke like the attacking Phoenicians. We have ended up with a phalanx of law and expenditure
that must be under control for the future generations who follow. The only path available is to disgorge
the operators of our federal government from there offices, assumed by them a commodity retained
only by spending an ever growing amount of money, if not taxed then borrowed.

I cannot prevent the sure tragedy of our Nations demise by myself, however with the actions of a majority
we together can prevail and reclain common sence in the activities of our federal governmant.
It is truely simple, throw the bumbs out.

"If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people,
under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy."

Thomas Jefferson