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Rules of Thumb for Making Laws - Rule #4  Put The Shoe On The Other Foot (Or imagine that you are the sheep)

by Pat Pending 

Democracy has been described as two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.  It is very tempting to support an increase in government power when you are one of the wolves, but, if you are smart, you will also think about how that power might be used against you when you are the sheep. 

When you are a member of the majority (one of the wolves), you may think it is a great idea to give the government more money and more power to use in support of your favorite cause.  But remember that, once the government has that power and money, the control can easily shift to someone with whom you strongly disagree.  If you are a liberal, imagine that the likes of Newt Gingrich or even Adolph Hitler takes control of the reins of power.  If you are a conservative, imagine that someone like Ted Kennedy or Josef Stalin takes over.  Then, having handed over your money and power, you are helpless to stop them.  Your causes, and perhaps even you, will then become the sheep -- sacrificed "for the good of society as a whole".

Many people think the right to vote ensures that government will not abuse its power -- that the majority will always do the right thing.  But even Hitler was elected under a democracy.  The next time you are at a large gathering, such as a sporting event, take a look around at the crowd of people there.  Do you think the people in that crowd are better qualified than you to decide how you should live your life and how you should spend your money? Whenever you give more power to the government, you are giving it to that crowd.

According to GOP News and Views, Congressman Barr recently began a speech by saying: "John Walker Lindh is a traitor and ought to be hanged." His statement received thunderous applause.  Barr then reminded his audience how dangerous it would be for us to give up our rights under the Constitution in order to punish Lindh or other terrorists.  "He reminded the gathering that getting back a right once lost is as likely as putting the toothpaste back in the tube once out."  Barr was exactly right.

So, when the opportunity arises for you, as a wolf, to raise taxes to support your favorite cause, you should consider how you will feel when, as the sheep, your money is forcibly taken from you through taxes and used for other purposes, thereby preventing you from supporting that cause.  When you, as the wolf, are tempted to give the government the power to limit the free speech of others, perhaps through "campaign finance reform" or through the rhetoric that "if you criticize us you are a terrorist", you should consider how you will feel when, as the sheep, you are prevented from speaking out.  When you, as the wolf, are tempted to use government schools to imprint your idea of morality on the minds of children (for example on the subject of homosexuality), consider how you will feel when the power shifts and you, as the sheep, are forced to support a school system that teaches ideas with which you strongly disagree. 

The best way to ensure that you can continue to promote your causes, no matter who controls the government, is to respect the rights of other people to control their own lives and money -- keeping the power in the hands of individual people, not in the hands of the government.  If you are free to control your own activities and your own resources, then you can continue to devote them to the causes that are important to you no matter who controls the power of government.  However, if you seek to be the wolf -- to use government force to plunder others through taxes or regulations in order to support your cause -- then be prepared to become the sheep when the balance of power shifts, as it almost certainly will. 

Rule #1 - Don't punish the victim.

Rule # 2 - The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions -- So Consider Unintended Consequences, Measure Results, and Include Sunset Provisions

Rule #3 Just say “No” to subsidies

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