The Balance of Power, The Government vs the Citizen:
Chairman Mao said "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun". His observation was accurate. The 80 000 000 or so people who were murdered as a result of the exercise of that political power in China during their cultural revolution would certainly agree with Mao's statement. But how does a Libertarian approach the principle of power, and what relationship do they have with it? In terms of "power", what relationship exists between a citizen and their government, and what relationship ought to exist?
To provide a clear understanding for the context of this conversation, I would like to start by defining "power". "Power" is the ability to use force, and the threat of force to exert your will. This is coercion relying upon violence or the threat of violence to succeed. For this conversation, when I talk about "political power", I am referring then to the use or threat of violence in the implementation of laws and policies that has the perception of being legitimate because it comes from authority.
What relationship exists between the Libertarian, the Non-Agression Principle and "power"? The N.A.P states: "The initiation of the use of force is immoral". A Libertarian, indeed, any human can have "power", and not violate the N.A.P. Having the ability to exert your will through the use or threat of violence, is not the same as "initiating the use of, or the threat of violence". For example, I could, albeit at great risk of being murdered by my government, carry a pistol on my person at all times. The pistol gives me the ability to exert my will via violence or the threat thereof. If I were to carry a pistol, and I were to be attacked, I could use that pistol to attempt to thwart the will of my attacker, and to see that my will to survive, or to be left in peace comes out winning the day. "Power" is the first requirement of effective self-defence, and self-defence, is not the "initiation of the use of force".
What is the "power" dynamic that exists between the Canadian Government, and the Citizens of Canada? The Canadian Government has through the auspices of the the various police forces and the military, and by way of the sanction of most citizens, the ability to use, or threaten to use violence to see that it's will is made manifest. The Canadian Government uses this "power" everyday, but it does so not in self-defence, but rather initiates force, or threatens to, against every citizen in the implementation of its manifest will through policies, laws, and monopoly.... Monopoly on the "legitimate" use of force. The only legitimate and moral use of force, is self-defence. The actions of the Canadian Government are immoral, and constitute banditry, tyranny and oppression, but here's the rub; Nearly the entire population of Canada has been conditioned to see this as virtuous, and they participate and are complicit in this use of violence through the vote! Yet another civil act that is touted as virtuous. Let's get one thing straight, democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner. Also, It is deemed virtuous for the Citizens of Canada to be disarmed, and therefore "powerless". I'll be completely honest. Even I can feel inside of me a repulsion towards the idea of resisting anothers forced will over me. Also being honest, it doesn't last very long. This is the power of the conditioning, propaganda, and cognitive dissonance which is our constant companion in this age of social engineering by "globalist technocrats". So, to re-cap, the dynamic of power that exists between the Citizen of Canada, and the Government of Canada is this... The Citizen has no power, and is barred from acquiring power, and is rendered ineffective in all instances for the purpose of self-defence. The Government has all the power, and claims and enforces a monopoly on the use of force by the initiation of the use of that power. A large segment of the population believes it has power and is virtuous by having the ability to exercise a very limited influence over what policies and laws the Government makes through the "power of the vote". It's fallacy. The Government, on any issue that matters, marches to the drum of an interest that is not yours, and the sanction by the population towards the government initiating the use of force on their supposed behalf, is not moral or civil.
"The balance of power is the scale of peace"
- Thomas Paine
There is no balance of power in Canada, there is only servitude and slavery. I want to be free. I don't want to be a slave with gilded chains. I want liberty!
The relationship that ought to exist is summed up in this quote with which I will leave you.
"The militia (the people), sir, is our ultimate safety. We can have no security without it....The great object is, that every man be armed.... Everyone who is able may have a gun.
Congress, by the power of taxation, by that of raising an army, and by their control over the militia (the people), have the sword in one hand, and purse in the other. Shall we be safe without either? Congress have an unlimited power over both: they are entirely given up by us. Let him candidly tell me, where and when did freedom exist, when the sword and purse were given up from the people? Unless a miracle in human affairs interposed, no nation ever retained its liberty after the loss of the sword and the purse." - Patrick Henry
Your friend in liberty,
Leighton Wilson