This is chapter 47 of my 1991 book, “I Hold These Truths.” It seems just as appropriate now as it did then.
Far too many people think government GIVES freedom, rather than taking it from them, as is the case. People with red, white, and blue attitudes, rave about our freedoms, and thank government for them. This is totally wrong, and it’s high time someone said so. Government is a cancer, growing unchecked. Remember the “Thing,” in the old horror movie, that kept growing and eating everything in its path? The comparison to government is unavoidable. Government bureaucrats have two main goals. (1) Increase their power base by expanding bureaucracy so they will rise as it expands, having newcomers under them. (2) Make themselves appear to be necessary and indispensable.
A businessman increases his wealth and importance, by increasing his efficiency, whereas a bureaucrat operates exactly the opposite. Bureaucracy expands itself at the expense of efficiency, resulting in less freedom, because as bureaucracy enlarges, government control over us grows.
Our system of government lets voters decide who will represent them. Originally, in order to vote, you had to be able to read and write. Voting was intended to be a privilege, not a duty. It has become a devout belief that voting is some sort of scared, patriotic deed, which must be performed. Voting is not desirable if you are stupid, illiterate, or unread, contrary to common thought of today. If the ignoramuses didn’t vote, it would be a service to their country, because they always vote for the candidate promising the most from the public treasury, guaranteeing eventual bankruptcy, as well as the worst possible office holders. The ignorant will always elect the ignorant.
How is America helped by an ever larger proportion of voters being of the lower class? How is America aided by college kids invading the slums, getting trash people registered to vote? Their vote always cancels out an intelligent vote, which would be for a candidate against ever more government spending and larger bureaucracy. When a poll tax was in effect, it meant that in order to vote, a voter generally had to pay a dollar or so to cover the cost of the election. A pittance, that generally weeded out the non beneficial votes. The Supreme court threw out the poll tax many years ago, unfortunately. I would prefer no one vote, unless he or she had a job, could read and write, and knew something about what they are voting for or against on election day. The literacy test for voters was also thrown out by the Supreme Court years ago, although I could never comprehend that decision either. Freedom coasts downhill into a slave state ever so much faster, now that more and more voters, with no ability to think, read, write, or reason, are added each year to the voter lists. This is not patriotism, but self destruction, from which we probably will not recover..
Freedom is not given by government and the bureaucracy, but ravaged by them. If voters are self registered, they will have proven themselves to be good citizens. If it takes coercion for them to be registered to vote, they are not worthy of the privilege.
P.S. Now, in 2012, the feds have decided that photo ID is bad, and unnecessary. You can’t drive a car without a photo ID,. nor travel overseas without a passport which has your photo on it. Why, in the name of peace and common sense, is it wrong to require a photo ID in order to vote? Recently, a man went to vote and gave the Attorney General’s name and address, and was given the ballot to vote. It wasn’t the Attorney General, and no photo ID was required. He begged to show a photo ID, and the judge said that it isn’t required and was not necessary. Was it a plant? Of course, but the point was made! Photo ID should be required, if a state wants it, and no federal judge or the Supremes should ever negate that. If a state didn’t want to do it, and illegal voters voted, that state will have bad results.