As Washington consumes itself with the One Big Beautiful Bill and as the Second Season of the Trump Show launches a fragrance line of perfumes and cologne, it’s an opportune time on the eve of the 249th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence to remember that the United States, like most countries, is far more than the sum total of its government.
I understand the perspective and need for balance in assessing the state of the world. However, it is cold comfort to the millions of people dying and suffering because of this felon’s policies. Yes, we should celebrate what we have accomplished, while at the same time continuing to fight to preserve those achievements and strive to build a better world.
Thanks for this perspective. My biggest concern, though, IS the abuse of violence and force by this government. It is abundantly clear from the glee with which our "leadership" is discussing Alligator Alcatraz and denaturalizing candidates they don't like, that abuse is well under way and gaining speed.
Musk and all the billionaires forget this lesson which Putin and Xi have used to great effect. Of course we are all subject this immense power.
"Government — federal, state and local — has one unequivocal monopoly: it alone has the legal right to use violence and force against citizens. That makes government everywhere loom large in people’s lives because it has the tools to coerce. We hope that those tools are used sparingly and in the service of an agreed-on public good. Often, however, those tools are abused and misused. And with July 4th in the United States, we should remember that one animating force of the rebellion, and then the subsequent founding of the Republic in 1789, was the fear and awareness that with the monopoly on the legitimate use of force, people and institutions of power will tend to abuse that power unless checked."
Some things the federal government funds might not be attractive to private funding, like national parks, weather monitoring, environmental protection.
I understand the perspective and need for balance in assessing the state of the world. However, it is cold comfort to the millions of people dying and suffering because of this felon’s policies. Yes, we should celebrate what we have accomplished, while at the same time continuing to fight to preserve those achievements and strive to build a better world.
Thanks for this perspective. My biggest concern, though, IS the abuse of violence and force by this government. It is abundantly clear from the glee with which our "leadership" is discussing Alligator Alcatraz and denaturalizing candidates they don't like, that abuse is well under way and gaining speed.
Musk and all the billionaires forget this lesson which Putin and Xi have used to great effect. Of course we are all subject this immense power.
"Government — federal, state and local — has one unequivocal monopoly: it alone has the legal right to use violence and force against citizens. That makes government everywhere loom large in people’s lives because it has the tools to coerce. We hope that those tools are used sparingly and in the service of an agreed-on public good. Often, however, those tools are abused and misused. And with July 4th in the United States, we should remember that one animating force of the rebellion, and then the subsequent founding of the Republic in 1789, was the fear and awareness that with the monopoly on the legitimate use of force, people and institutions of power will tend to abuse that power unless checked."
Great piece.
Thank you for the attitude adjustment! We need to recognize the true balance of
government and the impact of “we the people”!
Your writing is amazing. Keep up the good work. It's appreciated and needed. Happy Fourth of July!
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/how-to-do-the-declaration-justice-fourth-of-july-250th-anniversary-2d2020e6?st=MPhuRy&reflink=article_copyURL_share
Some things the federal government funds might not be attractive to private funding, like national parks, weather monitoring, environmental protection.