REBOOT THE GOVERNMENT

“Once the religious, the hunted and weary

Chasing the promise of freedom and hope

Came to this country to build a new vision

Far from the reaches of Kingdom and Pope”*

While pondering life and livingness in the USA the other day, I was quite taken aback by the similarity of a computer gone amuck, and a government gone amuck. Consider:

Virus: A program or piece of code that is loaded onto your computer without your knowledge and runs against your wishes

In Government, a program or operation, or agency, doing things in the government without your knowledge and which runs against you wishes.

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands, to court the wild
But she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light*

Trojan Horse: A destructive program that masquerades as a benign application.

In government, know of any programs seemed to be a great idea at the time but turned out in reality to be a monster?

And though the past has its share of injustice
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But its protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it's a monster and will not obey*

Malware: Short for malicious software, software designed specifically to damage or disrupt a system.

In government, any program specifically designed to harm the country or people, economically perhaps or freedom-wise, for example.

The spirit was freedom and justice
And its keepers seemed generous and kind
Its leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won't pay it no mind
Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
Now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it's all just an echo of what they've been told*

Maybe it’s just the geeky side of my nature coming through but I just have to carry the analogy further. I feel it is time to REBOOT the government and start over with just the basic government as it was originally designed.

Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into the noose
And it just sits there watchin'*

There is no doubt that it is time for a change. Our government now faintly, nay hardly, resembles the form that our forefathers had in mind. And changes since then have not been for the better. Surely it is time to change its form more to our liking.

"We surely cannot deny to any nation that right whereon our own government is founded, that every one may govern itself according to whatever form it pleases and change these forms at its own will... The will of the nation is the only thing essential to be regarded." --Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 1792. ME 9:36

Starting over would not be easy, nor would it be without its turmoil and strife. It is not something to be taken lightly, but should be planned and organized to make the transition as easy as possible.

"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established, should not be changed for light and transient causes; and, accordingly, all experience [has] shown 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 [the people] 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." --Thomas Jefferson: Declaration of Independence, 1776. ME 1:29, Papers 1:429

So perhaps now is the time to rise up and demand that our legislators revoke all legislation passed since the Bill of Rights. Otherwise, our country may well go down the tubes.

If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin. – Samuel Adams

If they are not willing to do this, then we have the right and power to start a new alternative government based on the original concepts and ideals of our forefathers.

The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on Earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but only to have the law of nature for his rule. – Samuel Adams

* Excerpted from Monster by Steppenwolf