Dear Friends,
It seems to me, if the protesters, elite or rioters actually wanted to solve the problem that led to George Floyd’s death… they would unanimously demand a Numa. For government to be legitimate and Just, it has to be transparent, limited, policed and there has to be consequences for violating the laws and our Constitution. There would even be a system that advocates for the consumers of government. That bureau would be the one someone would file a grievance with in the case of government misconduct. The Numa would then investigate the matter, and if the government agent acted in violation of the Constitution or the law, they would be punished. Such a system would give vent for frustration, protect individual Rights and force government to fit in the Constitution to resume it’s legitimate role.
All government officials must be policed, else why should they follow our Constitution, or even their own laws? If we were treated as the elite are, robbing a bank would have no consequences, if caught, and all you had to do is give back what you haven’t spent… why not rob every bank you come to and live like a king? If you sped down the highway and refused to stop, eventually some violent means would be used to stop you, and there would be a negative outcome for you or I. When the governor of MI violated every citizen’s Constitutional Rights, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of travel, freedom of the use of your property, etc… nothing was, or will be done about it. Except she will have to give back the Rights she hasn’t already spent.
People that allow their government to be opaque are demanding their own oppression. It is like giving a salesman a signed blank check for a used car you haven’t even seen. Everyone recognizes the foolishness of the second… while falling victim to the first. We have been so inculcated with the notion to trust government, it’s bureaucrats, police, legislators, senators, presidents and assorted bootlicks in the media, that when they say jump… we reflexively leap into the air, unaware we have done it. Moreover, why should people who are above the law and work in darkness not be corrupt? Maybe the “average” person wouldn’t take a pile of money they don’t own, even if they know they would never be caught, but those who seek office are not “average.”
There are some nibbling around the edges of the idea. Dallas has a police oversight committee. Filled no doubt with partisans. Nevertheless, it is a step in the right direction, Vermont, when founded, had a government oversight committee. Filled with good ol’ boys, who promptly decided they could be trusted absolutely, just ask them, and so broke it up as soon as it started. The Freedom of information (FOA) is another false start. It has the right idea, but no teeth nor does it change the default position, that government action is opaque unless adjudicated through FOA. There is not and to my knowledge there has never been an attempt to enact a consumer protection bureau, for the consumers of government goods and services, of any government.
Maybe I’m projecting, but I believe most of us want to be able to live our lives, without too much government intrusion, but keeping other people from making our lives a living hell. That balance is a hard one to achieve, but made impossible when the default of government is to become constantly more opaque, powerful and thus corrupt. The only way to reign in bad actors in government, including law enforcement, is transparency, oversight and consequences. To that end, a consumer protection bureau for consumers of government, would be another way government operators can be monitored and policed… by their consumers. From a man abused by cops to a bakery shut down for politics, there should be an effective process for citizens grieved by their government… other than rioting.
Sincerely,
John Pepin
