The Constitution of No Authority

Reason. The ability to reason is a special quality. It is the ability to think things through logically without the biases and presuppositions that most people are burdened with. It is the ability to examine the facts and make logical conclusions. This ability was profoundly demonstrated by Lysander Spooner in his essay "No Treason IV: The Constitution of No Authority".

Lysander Spooner was an American individualist anarchist, entrepreneur, political philosopher, abolitionist, supporter of the labor movement, and legal theorist of the 19th century. In his essay referenced above, he eloquently exposes the illegitimacy of the U.S. Constitution. He shows that the Constitution was nothing more than a statement of ideas and beliefs that had no binding effect on anyone.

The reason the Constitution had no binding effect was two-fold: First, the 39 people who put their name to the document only did so as "witnesses" and did in no way agree to be bound by it in proper legal form. Second, even if the original 39 people did enter into a legitimate contract - they could do so only with each other. They could not bind all the people living at that time, much less you or I and the millions of others who weren't even born yet because we were not parties to the contract.

The document starts out in the preamble "We the people...establish this Constitution...". Logically, ask yourself who are "we the people" and where are their signatures signifying their voluntary consent to be bound by this statement of ideas written upon a piece of paper?

The truth is that the only way this government gets its power is by force. If you do not obey their dictates you risk your life, liberty and property.

It is time to recognize those in government office for what they are: killers, thieves, and liars. Unfortunately, most are so intellectually lazy that they honestly believe that their existence is legitimate and, instead of being a liar, they are simply ignorant. These are the most dangerous.

If you have not read Lysander Spooner's essay, I highly recommend it. It not only exposes the fallacy of the current form of government, but it also exposes all of its derivatives such as taxation, voting, and police protection.

Another good resource is http://www.voluntaryist.com. Voluntaryism is the belief that all social interactions must be based on mutual voluntary consent (without threat, duress, or coercion). Anything to the contrary is illegitimate and immoral. Here is the Statement of Purpose from their site:

Statement of Purpose: Voluntaryists are advocates of non-political, non-violent strategies to achieve a free society. We reject electoral politics, in theory and in practice, as incompatible with libertarian principles. Governments must cloak their actions in an aura of moral legitimacy in order to sustain their power, and political methods invariably strengthen that legitimacy. Voluntaryists seek instead to delegitimize the State through education, and we advocate withdrawal of the cooperation and tacit consent on which State power ultimately depends.

Another great exercise in logic and reason is the excellent book by Marc Stevens entitled Adventures in Legal Land. This book gives you some great strategies for dealing with bureaucrats.

To conclude today's post I challenge you to begin exercising reason. Question every opinion offered to you - especially those opinions that are presented as facts. Question my opinions. This quote from Rudyard Kipling says it well:

I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.

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