STEP ONE...

 

 

 

By Rusty Mason
July 22, 2004
NewsWithViews.com

In "Sleepers, Awake," I tried to point out that both of the major parties are virtually identical (in) respecting liberty.

So, what to do? I think we must attack the root of the problem: widespread addiction to government.

It's everywhere. Witness the large and growing number of "conservatives" who now receive at least one monthly check from the government or depend on government for their income. They work in protected industries, in huge government organizations, and on government contracts. They depend on government handouts to educate themselves, raise their children, care for their sick and elderly, and provide for their retirement.

It's pathetic, really. Many of these addicts are our parents and grandparents who denounced big government most of their political lives and were fierce opponents of the New Deal, communism, and socialism in any form. Now look at them. They are welfare recipients, hopelessly addicted to the government teat. (As an interesting political science experiment, try to point this out to one of them. You might want to don safety equipment first.)

And, just like addicts, they are always craving more. They not only partake of this stolen money, but feel themselves entitled. They justify it by saying things like, "It's for the children," or "It's for the good of society," but in the long run, they're only fooling themselves. Through addiction, they have lost a sense of shame about taking that which belongs to another. If their younger selves could see them now, they would be disappointed.

So, how do we change?

The first thing is to get each person to acknowledge that he or she has a problem. We'll call this Step One. Let us begin -- ready? Repeat after me:

I, (state your name), am a government-aholic.
I have been a participant in a giant scheme to steal wealth and power from others for my own benefit.
I have elected representatives that have used government to take property by force or threat of force from those who came by it honestly.
I have received paychecks, bonuses, pensions, or other benefits from companies that use government to coerce others into paying higher prices, fees, and taxes.
I have delinquently ceded much of my God-given responsibility unto government.
I have invited government into the private affairs of my family, my church, and my community.
I have tried to control others through government and, as a result, have severely damaged them and my society.
I have been a tyrant by dictating to those outside my community.
I have endorsed involuntary servitude by supporting empire, standing armies, and mandatory community service.
I have strengthened support for world socialism and despotism by supporting their tenets in my own country.
I have accepted and endorsed behavior from government representatives that would not be tolerated from any other thief or murderer.
I hereby admit my addiction to government. I ask God, the Holy Saints, and the Founding Fathers to forgive me, and
I ask God to give me the strength and wisdom to fight this addiction.

I shall accept no more stolen money, goods, or time from any organized or unorganized criminal activities, including those of the State.
I shall endeavor to engage in free trade only with others who do the same.
I shall share what I have with those in need, not because I can receive a tax deduction, but because it is the right thing to do.
I shall retrieve from government any and all responsibility that belongs to me, my business, my family, my church, and my society.
I shall support myself, my family, my church, and my community through my own honest efforts, and encourage others to do the same.
I know that I am weak.
I cannot save myself, nor can government save me.
I ask for God's help to make me whole.

Amen

Step One is essential. If this or a very similar admission is not made by each of us, unless we each remove the log from our own eye, there will be no good change. Only when we do, can we move to Step Two.

© 2004 Rusty Mason - All Rights Reserved

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