Missouri billboard calls for war
Forget atheist billboards, why is the new sign off a Missouri highway not the very definition of offensive. It provides a three step guide for dealing with a corrupt government.
The sign reads:
A Citizens Guide to Revolution of a corrupt government.
1. Starve the Beast.
2. Vote out incumbents.
3. If steps, 1 & 2 fail?
PREPARE FOR WAR–LIVE FREE OR DIE!
To make matters worse, it seems the Lafayette County Republican Central Committee may be endorsing its message.
Here’s another picture to pass around:
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All I can say is wow. If this is where our political parties are headed then I fear it might mean the end of this nation as a functional nation.
Well, I'm not so certain this is a big deal. It is perfectly valid to believe that the government is deeply corrupt and that citizens have a 'right to revolt'. Now, we may know the impracticality of this but the deep anger among rural America is reflected in this billboard and it's important. I may not share most of their opinions, but I live around some decent, reasonably intelligent people that would agree with this billboard entirely.
This kind of behavior is supported by the Declaration of Independence.
"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new guards for their future security…"
http://www.usconstitution.net/declar.html
I'm not a fan of another civil war, or any non-defensive war for that matter. However, the hijacking of our government by lobbyist and campaign contributors has allowed "of the people, by the people, for the people," to perish from, at least, America's earth.
To be patriotic toward America's founding principles, change is desperately needed. That change may or may not include the current government. Nevertheless, preserving the principles is more important than preserving the institutions.
John, that is a really well thought out post, man. I will say that what is a bit disturbing is that I don't trust the motivations of the Republican party endorsing the billboard. If it was done in the spirit of the Declaration, then I say 'yea verily, make the statement!' However, I'm afraid that it is merely another piece of partisan politics and frankly rabble-rousing by the out-of-power party.
Hell, I don't know what to think anymore. I don't like the President's agenda at all but I despise what the Republicans are doing to the debate. Sigh.
This kind of behavior is supported by the Declaration of Independence.
"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new guards for their future security…"
http://www.usconstitution.net/declar.html
I'm not a fan of another civil war, or any non-defensive war for that matter. However, the hijacking of our government by lobbyist and campaign contributors has allowed "of the people, by the people, for the people," to perish from, at least, America's earth.
To be patriotic toward America's founding principles, change is desperately needed. That change may or may not include the current government. Nevertheless, preserving the principles is more important than preserving the institutions.
It may not be popular to say, but I agree with that billboard. I think we have lost our way as a country (and I DON'T mean that in a "repent and turn from your evil ways" sense) and our leadership has become institutionally corrupt. All my votes reflect my certainty that our governments, at every level, are incapable of financial accountability. As such, I refuse to approve ever giving them another dime to waste.
I don't know what the ultimate answer is, but I worry that we may come, sooner rather than later, to a place where some form of revolution is the only real choice. It may be that such is the fate of every government throughout time. History certainly suggests that to be true.