We are a Republic gone bad. Government has acquired too much power and therefore exercises unrighteous dominion over its citizenry, which in truth is its own employer. In the Book of Mormon, Nephi quotes the prophet Isaiah and entertains a very clear point about power and control with respect to man prospering against God:
"Shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth therewith? Shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? As if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself as if it were no wood? - 2 Nephi 20:15
I have always loved this scripture for it speaks so correctly of man's nothingness before God and his foolish endeavor to usurp Him. Similarly, this same illogic can be applied to the way our government enacts and legislates policies on its own without our direct and total involvement. Free healthcare anyone? It could never be more expensive than if it is disguised as "free" but the wise and powerful Oz cares not for our opinions let alone the sound of discontent. This example illustrates a democracy. Conversely, in a true Republic the voice of the people is paramount and acts as death-knell to any policy, notion, or credo proposed by the elected few. In a Republic everyone has equal voice and responsibility to stand up for their rights and freedoms, much like the Great Council in Heaven before we all came here when "the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy" (Job 38:7) at the opportunity to come to Earth to be proved. More democratic forms of government, like our current one, are elected by the people but then those appointed grow above their constituents thereby passing laws and spending money with impunity. To put it simply, democratic governments and those therein view the people as too dumb and unsophisticated to decide for themselves. They falsely assume a caretaker role that takes rather than gives and assumes power that was never really theirs to begin with which leads me to my main point:
Today I read of Obama sending 25 million dollars to Libyan rebels for their efforts. As a citizen of a Republic, I did not receive word of this until it had already happened. This is unacceptable to me as well as countless other examples of insane amounts of money being sent outside our borders, which in reality speak have altogether crumbled and disappeared thanks to woeful government inaction. Thankfully though, the Book of Mormon sheds further light and truth on the purpose of a Republic. During the Nephite - Lamanite wars, Captain Moroni is constantly seeking the voice of the people in matters of the law and criminal punishment. For example, in Alma 51: 13-20 he becomes so wroth with those of high nobility (king-men) who wanted to overthrow the free government that he "sent a petition, with the voice of the people, to the governor of the land to be given power to compel those dissenters to defend their country or be put to death." (v.15) It was quickly decided that his desire be "granted according to the voice of the people." (v.16) Even in his anger he had the wherewithal and clear-headedness to consult the voice of the people rather than react and do as he pleased. Such wisdom! Earlier on, after King Benjamin delivered his powerful oration on Christ, service, and man's own nothingness, he:
"...sent among them, desiring to know of his people if they believed the words which he had spoken unto them." (Mosiah 5:1)
After their resounding yes! he then:
"took the names of all those who had entered into a covenant with God to keep his commandments" (Mosiah 6:1) as a testament of their will.
Surely, the Nephite nation was a Republic, by the people, for the people, and of the people. To be clear, I am not against humanitarian aid or succoring those in need of succor, within reason. Indeed, with great prosperity comes great responsibility for "are we not all beggars?" But I do not feel that government has the right to waste our money nor the power to collect and disburse it at pleasure, especially at this given time when we are close approaching $15 trillion dollars in national debt. We the People have the responsibility to ensure this does not happen and to hold those accountable who do so with impunity in the same way one honest man did many years ago.
In The Life of Colonel David Crockett by Edward Sylvester Ellis, we read of Congressman Crockett, also the famous frontiersman and defendor at the Alamo, and the lesson he learned from a constituent on how Congress should utilize taxpayer dollars. The excerpt details a great fire in Georgetown one night observed by Crockett and others and the compassion he felt for the suffering victims. The next morning, a bill was quickly passed appropriating $20,000 for the town's relief. Come election time, about one year after the event, Congressman Crockett was approached by a man who had been plowing in his field. This humble citizen then began to articulate and defend the Constitution and the limited role of Congress, expressing the violation that occurs when money is appropriated without the consent of the payer. In the end, Congressman Crockett "felt streaked" by the man's words and then told him that he was right; that he did not understand the Constitution as well as he should and that "if I ever vote for another unconstitutional law I wish I may be shot."
The point I am attempting to drive home is that the President has zero authority to appropriate our money for charitable purposes or for any reason for that matter without our consent, stimulus and all. Such action opens a very wide door allowing for fraud, corruption, and favoritism. Sound like today? It does. We hold the real keys to the office and can lock the doors and turn off the lights at any time. Most importantly, we can fire those who do not perform to our satisfaction and within the guidelines of the Constitution. We must fight the good fight beginning with town hall meetings and calling your congressman to ensure that he votes for limited government and responsible spending. Remember that a Congressman must return to his constituents ever two years for re-approval. Otherwise, the time will come when we will all be compelled to stand with one accord to ask our elected officials to do as Congressman Davy Crockett once promised: "...if I ever vote for another unconstitutional law I wish I may be shot."
Long live the fighters
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