The "lessons" from the article are false. Here is the final paragraph.
"The lessons of the Whiskey Rebellion for the voluntaryist are numerous. First, we must recognize the damaging effects that arise from the government's initiation of force in the conduct of otherwise benign human affairs. Secondly, we see that we must delegitimize the State through education; that violence must not be used to oppose state violence (because the resort to violence only gives the State an excuse to use its armed forces). Finally, we must see that the strength of a free citizenry is not in how many guns it possesses, but in its collective determination to resist. Opponents of the State must have faith in their fellow human beings - that they will not let them stand alone against the physical force of government; that they will stand together and risk individual physical injury in order to prevent collective injury to their social freedoms." First, almost no one outside libertarian circles recognizes that collection of taxes in "inititation of force." There is little, if any, "damaging effects" to government. Most tax evaders are considered criminals (as, indeed, they are in the view of the state). Even tax avoidance, note the difference, is frowned apon, especially if the avoider is wealthy. Second, the State needs no excuse to resort to violence to collect taxes beyond discovering that they haven't been paid. You can be a peaceable as you wish. The State will collect the taxes it considers it's due with as much force as necessary. In fact, if you are part of an organized tax resistance, the State will use more violence and punishment than usual just to make a lesson of you. The strength of a free citizenry is, ultimately, in how many guns it has and in how willing it is to use them to fight tyrrany. On the other hand, do not depend on your "fellow citizens" to stand with you when you resist taxes. Most are only too glad to convict you if you even get to a jury trial. No one will "stand by you". You will be sent to jail and you will pay the taxes. Just remember, it is this same "free citizenry" who are willing to keep electing candidates based on promises of "free" benefits from the State. No one gets elected who promises to cut welfare, social security (the same thing, actually), unemployment payments, education, or anything that the State now provides. Sorry to rain on the parade but reality sucks. Get used to it. Ed$ --- In [email protected], Jane Stilwell <mejan...@...> wrote: > > Thanks, Sasan, but I have heard all my life, in song and story, about the > moonshiners runnin' away from the revenooers in their souped-up cars on the > back roads of some of the Eastern States...I am from OR, and raised in CA, > and it is very interesting to read the history of this, and its origins in > England... > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Sasan Sadat-Sharifi <sasan.sa...@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 12:10:53 PM > Subject: [Libertarian] The Problem of Governance in the Early American > Republic > > > This is a fascinating look at the core structure and operations of > Governments, even those that are supposedly "limited". It is well worth > the read. > > http://www.voluntaryist.com/forthcoming/whiskeyrebellion.php > > ---Sasan > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >
