Opinion: Time to stop respecting political authority

If you’re concerned about America’s direction, there’s a way to think about it that helps. It’s also true.

America is the people, the natural wonders and resources, and the spirit of innovation. America is liberty.

The U.S. federal government is the enemy of all those things and not something you should look to for guidance, protection, or answers. The regional and local governments are not on America’s side, either. Being loyal to government is misguided. Or worse.

When the CIA spies on Americans it is showing its loyalty to itself, not to America. It has methods to disrupt other countries; do you believe it won’t use these methods in America to make things go its way? Of course it will, regardless of legality.

When the FBI is caught pressuring desperate losers to commit crimes so it can congratulate itself for thwarting another plot, do you think this was an unusual case? Or have you realized the FBI is not looking out for America, either?

Presidents and members of Congress might pretend to listen to you, but even if they were sincere, there are millions of people with opposing values and goals. Don’t count on politicians to do the right thing, if they even understand what’s right.

The Supreme Court is just as bad. They may follow the Constitution as long as it doesn’t inconvenience government too much. Or as long as it doesn’t go against their personal preferences.

It would be great if it were safe to ignore all these anti-American institutions, but they’ve made sure it isn’t. You have to watch out for the next threat they’ll throw your way.

No one can fix them -- they are already working exactly as designed. You can try to hold them accountable in individual cases, but it’s like chasing down a single fly in a feedlot. You might succeed, but it will make no difference. It’s too safe for them to keep being the bad guys, and there’s safety in the illusion of numbers.

There’s nothing they can do to us if enough of us stop complying. They are a drop in the bucket, in terms of real numbers. It’s the superstitious belief in political authority that props them up.

The best way to respect America is to stop respecting those who fight against everything that makes America good. America will be fine, as long as you don’t give the political criminals too much power over it.

Farwell’s Kent McManigal champions liberty. Contact him at:

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