As I’m writing this, Egypt is enmeshed in turmoil. The people have literally taken to the streets in opposition to oppressive government. It is about time, and it seems they have had enough. I pray that they are successful in overthrowing the entire Mubarak regime. But why did they wait so long? The long-time U.S puppet dictator, Hosni Mubarak, has been in power for over 29 years, and during that time has been able to amass a huge fortune for himself and his family at the expense of Egypt’s citizens. His rule, like that of most dictators, has been filled with corruption, war, murder, torture, and an abhorrent “Emergency Law Rule.” (For more on Mubarak and Emergency Law Rule, see here.)
Under Mubarak’s “Emergency Law Rule,” police powers are vastly increased, constitutional law and individual rights are suspended, and complete censorship is legalized. This law forbids any non-governmental political activity like street demonstrations, non-approved political organizations, and all “unregistered” financial donations. In addition, and even more heinous, is that under this law, the government has the right to imprison individuals for any period and for virtually any reason. They may be kept in prison without trial for as long as the government desires. Considering recent events there, with police and military actions, rules and curfews, murder of innocents, and the shutdown of communications, including the Internet, this evil law is obviously in place. Does any of this sound familiar? It should, because the U.S government has either committed many of these same crimes, or is threatening to do so. Just consider Guantanamo, secret renditions, black prison sites, suspension (or elimination) of habeas corpus, incarceration without charges or trial, suppression of speech, spying and wiretapping, and brutal torture. The U.S. government and its police-state accomplices have committed all of this and much more for some time now.
The United States government and its corporate partners in crime have already achieved a level of corruption beyond any in history. I base this on the monumental scope and reach of this empire. Many I fear will doubt this bold statement, but before you do, be very careful not to dig too deep. If you do, be prepared for a startling dose of truth and reality. This newest round of tyrannical behavior began with the passage of the atrocious USA PATRIOT Act, the Military Commissions Act, the development of the Department of Homeland Security, he legalizing of assassinations of Americans, and more civil liberty destruction continues constantly. This does not include the atrocities being perpetrated by American forces overseas such as aggressive wars of occupation, operating military bases in over 170 countries, infrastructure devastation causing the displacement of millions of innocents, torture, and murder. Even with all this, the surface has barely been scratched. Most all police in the U.S. have now become militarized and federalized. Large-scale holding centers have been opened or constructed, and the regular military has taken up residence on American soil; not for the purpose of protection from enemies from afar, but strictly for the control of Americans. I’ve written about this here and here.
While the U.S. is obviously one of the most advanced nations on earth, with a very high standard of living, politically speaking, our country is deteriorating at a very accelerated pace. But most in this country still cling to the false notion that America is the land of the free and the home of the brave, and that all other countries, especially those in the Middle East, are either far inferior, or simply third-world parasites with a populace that is less than human. Those who continue to cling to this most arrogant and farcical notion will be the last to grasp the reality that in many regards, the U.S. political structure is little different than that of its so-called enemies. The reason this truth is still so elusive to most is due to the fact that the general citizenry of this country has over time been dumbed down by the government school system. In addition, our society has become one based on almost total dependence, with little concept of personal responsibility or self-reliance, one without morals, and one that is consumed with a belief in the myth of American exceptionalism. This distorted conventional thinking will have to change dramatically before any true progress can be made.
The Imperial United State of America is headed straight to hell, and without an honest awakening by the conceited, and seemingly unconcerned sheep-like masses, this departure from grace will happen before most are aware of the imminent collapse.
This, in my opinion, is why the revolutionary events in Egypt and elsewhere in the world are so important. We all can learn valuable lessons from these revolts. We can learn first that tyrannical governments can be ousted and overturned. We can learn that freedom is still entrenched in the hearts and minds of the human species, regardless of where one lives or was born. We can learn that violence is never the way to achieve a proper revolution unless self-defense is absolutely necessary. We can learn that the people can achieve great strides toward liberty even if the odds are stacked against them. We can learn that a people who do not possess those inherent rights to life, liberty, and property are nothing more than slaves!
The U.S. is headed toward total tyranny in my opinion. I don’t think this is arguable. The government and its controlling partners are in perpetual war with those who never attacked or threatened to attack us. The military power structure is entrenched in most all countries around the world. We are now a people that are spied upon, groped, x-rayed, harassed, and stolen from on a daily basis. The United States while considered the freest country on earth, has the highest incarceration rate in the world. With less than 5% of the world’s population, the U.S. houses over 23% of the world’s prison population. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1 in every 32 adults, or 3.1% of the population was either on probation, in jail or prison, or on parole in 2009. To add to this insanity, approximately 70 percent of those “criminals” are being held for victimless “crimes”; this due mostly to the evil war on drugs, which is nothing other than an anti-liberty prohibition used to expand the power and scope of the State. The number of normal citizens that are abused and beaten by the domestic police state gendarmes is increasing beyond imagination. Our government can now legally assassinate its own citizens, and is threatening to shut down our main lines of communication should it deem it necessary. This cannot be allowed to happen!
The U.S. government, as is true of all governments, has nothing, creates nothing, and produces nothing. It can only steal and kill in order to survive. By definition, as the great Ludwig von Mises pointed out, government is force, and force is the absolute antithesis of freedom and liberty. Therefore, government is always against freedom, and does everything in its power to squelch the voice of the individual, and to squash the natural rights of man. Government literally lives and thrives on the blood and sweat of others, a literal vampire in disguise living off its gullible host. That host of course, is the very people who put the government in power in the first place. This is an irony that is almost impossible to bear.
Considering the modern history of the developed nations, the masses have continually sought a governing system ruled over by their peers who are simply common men. But all men are fallible. Those same fallible men when placed in a position of power have invariably become tyrants. This seems to be the natural progression. Why then, have we never learned from the past? Why do the people of this earth continue to place themselves in the servitude of other common men in government; common men who when given the chance will always abuse the trust given them?
We have little time left. When tyranny rears its ugly head for all to see, as is the case now in the U.S., then it is time to cut off the dragon’s head. The people of this country should look upon the Egyptians as prognosticators of our future. We should all understand that if we simply continue to behave as serfs, we will continue to be serfs. All great societies in history have fallen for the same reasons, and America is no different. Instead of repeating history, wouldn’t it be better to change it? Wouldn’t it be better to rid ourselves of this albatross we alone have created? Even if the masses wanted to continue to have a government, wouldn’t it be better if that government had no power to destroy freedom? Wouldn’t it be better if we were truly free?
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning. Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
Ludwig von Mises, Human Action [1949]
February 10, 2011
Gary D. Barnett [send him mail] is president of Barnett Financial Services, Inc., in Lewistown, Montana.
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