The Cycle of Government

The Cycle of Government

By Matt Schnackenberg

The cycle of government has been studied and philosophized by many ancient philosophers. Also called “Kyklos” in Plato’s Republic, he believes there are four states within the cycle. Starting with Timocracy, ruled by the honorable or honored hierarchy, it evolves into an oligarchy as people push for more freedoms followed by democracy, then it regresses back to Timocracy through the Tyranny stage of the cycle.

Plato’s student Aristotle expanded on this idea and simplified the cycle to a process that is easier to see throughout the world, which states the rise of liberty begins through the evolution from a monarchy to a republic ending in a state of anarchy. Aristotle viewed constitutional republics the most virtuous due to the freedoms individuals enjoy.

As most of you readers know, the United States of America is a constitutional republic. We started as a part of the British monarchy and fought for our freedom and for a form of democracy. Yes, a republic is a form of democracy. The difference being we elect representatives and majority should not have a strong control of the government. There are also rights that should not be infringed by the government protected by the constitution.

“The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public
welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy.”
Charles de Montesquieu

Lately, it seems the this young country has started its trend towards tyranny, and could very well collapse into anarchy restarted the cycle back to Plato’s Timocracy, a Monarchy, or Totalitarian Dictatorship of some form.

Most of the problem is that the United States has fallen to become just another empire state in history. How can I say that? Simple, here is a short breakdown of what an empire does.
Control various other nations through means of fiscal or political “assistance.”
Gain control of other nations political systems and use those nations as puppets to benefit the mainland in some way. (Note: This has failed with US puppet nations like Japan and South Korea as they have been fiscal strains on our economy.)
War with other nations to protect “our resources.” Or “national security” as pundits and politicians say.

Where did this quest from empire start though? To quote Thomas Jefferson, our founding foreign policy is “Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.” So we have pretty much fallen completely away from our founder’s ideals in terms of no alliances, but that is far from the problem.

“Our 'neoconservatives' are neither new nor conservative,
but old as Babylon and evil as Hell.”
Edward Abbey

Within the last 100 years there has been a driving force within our legislative halls. That force is called Neo-Conservatism. While generally we consider various republicans to be neoconservatives, but frankly, it is obvious we have neoconservatives on “both sides of the aisle.” Bringing together the two parties into an oligarchy.

Neo-conservatism’s roots comes from a man named Niccolò Machiavelli. Machiavelli was a very interesting man for the 15th century. He specialized in military theory and politics. His overall belief was that government should is morally responsible to inspire people. The way to inspire was of course through military force for “the benefit” of the country attacked. In order to move public support all efforts are taken under the guise of religious, humanitarian intent, false flag attacks, or using events such as 9/11.

"If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land,
it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."
James Madison

Fast forward to the 20th century, author Michael Ledeen who can be considered one of the strongest supporters of the neoconservative movement. Ledeen worked as a consultant for the State Department, Dept of Defense, and National Security Council. During which he has personally handed out his book, Machiavelli on Modern Leadership, to members of both legislative houses.

In 2002, He has also spoke out staunchly in support for a massive war in the middle east and criticized National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft stating:

“He fears that if we attack Iraq "I think we could have an explosion in the Middle East. It could turn the whole region into a cauldron and destroy the War on Terror." One can only hope that we turn the region into a cauldron, and faster, please. If ever there were a region that richly deserved being cauldronized, it is the Middle East today. If we wage the war effectively, we will bring down the terror regimes in Iraq, Iran, and Syria, and either bring down the Saudi monarchy or force it to abandon its global assembly line to indoctrinate young terrorists. That's our mission in the war against terror.”

Ledeen during his political career he successfully assisted in spreading and defining the modernized variation on of his hero Niccolò Machiavelli’s beliefs.

“Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security”
Benjamin Franklin

Of course, throughout USA history there were those of similar logic and understanding as neocons today. Those individuals include Abraham Lincoln, Alexander Hamilton, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. These national leaders believed in centralized government power, weak state power, and most importantly increased power of the executive branch. They attempted, and some succeeded, in removing checks and balances that stood in their way.

Outside influences do have interesting effects on government cycles as well. Outside influences like foreign aid can slow down the collapse of a tyrannical regime.

One thing that shocks people is that fact that foreign aid is a form of economic warfare. Reason being, the country that starts receiving out funds start making them dependent on our aid money, and less on their own currency or financial system, to finance large projects or their military. The reason most tyrannical regimes that receive our money stay in post longer than they should is because they use the funds received to buy more arms and finance employment more soldiers.

The tyranny in this country has been slow growing, but starting to show its ugly head. Insane debt, tax-based slavery through the 17th amendment, imperialism abroad, and rights encroaching executives orders and legislation at home is there any surprised?

“He who controls the present, controls the past.”
George Orwell

Is it really that shocking? Back in 1980, CIA Director nominee John Brennan stated with his graduate thesis from UT Austin that “Since the press can play such an influential role in determining the perceptions of the masses, I am in favor of some degree of government censorship.” Meaning that the government has full knowledge that control of the media is key to control the populace that things are going smoothly. That government is good, and will not censor or remove fundamental rights. Just like in Roman, it will also use sports to pull the attention away from what is really happening in the world, dumbing down the masses through useless government education systems, and in some cases use drugs to reduce overall IQ.

"... we are frequently criticized both on economic policy and
foreign policy and we're going back to the old days of isolationism
and the old days of the gold standard. But let me tell you,
big government is very very old, and big government and inflation
and destruction of currency - that is ancient
and based on ideas that are wrong. Those who criticize us
who want a lot less government - they are the past, and
we are the future!"
Ron Paul

History repeats itself because human nature allows it. This is why the cycle has been allowed to continue unimpeded since humanity was first able to collectively think as a community and an individual. It should absolutely be possible to change the course of human events, reverse the cycle to liberty, and freeze the motor of the world at that point. Return this country to a Jeffersonian, now Libertarian, philosophy of limited government and leave it there. We would benefit from it economically and internationally.


Sources:
Cornford, Francis Macdonald. The Republic of Plato. London: Oxford University Press, 1945. Print.

DiLorenzo, Thomas J.. The real Lincoln: a new look at Abraham Lincoln, his agenda, and an unnecessary war. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2003. Print.

Ledeen, Michael Arthur. Machiavelli on modern leadership: why Machiavelli's iron rules are as timely and important today as five centuries ago. New York: Truman Talley Books, 1999. Print.

Machiavelli, Niccolò, W. K. Marriott, Nelle Fuller, and Thomas Hobbes. The prince,. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 19551952. Print.

Napolitano, Andrew P.. Theodore and Woodrow: how two American presidents destroyed constitutional freedom. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, 2012. Print.

Paul, Ron. A foreign policy of freedom: "peace, commerce, and honest friendship". Lake Jackson, TX: Foundation for Rational Economics and Education, 2007. Print.

End Gun Free Zones

Note: This is an editorial for a local newspaper. They limit submissions to 250 words.

Another horrific tragedy has started the blaming the inanimate object game instead of the laws, or rules at certain establishments, that prevented anyone from stopping psychopaths doing these deeds. The laws I blame for these tragedies are the ones that create gun free zones. These types of laws make it so law-abiding citizens are disarmed; therefore, preventing them from defending themselves or others in situations which with a gun they could have prevented the deaths of my innocent individuals.

Let us take a look at the most recent school shooting. It claimed the lives of 20 children and 6 adults. Schools are, obviously, gun free zones due to laws and regulations that prevent teachers and faculty from carrying firearms for defense. While this recent shooting had an unexpected variable (the perpetrator being a student’s father) if teachers were allowed to carry firearms for the defense of themselves and their students, there would have been less innocent lives lost. This is true for all school shootings.

The infamous Colorado theater shooting, and all shootings in general, could have easily been prevented if firearms were allowed. Theater guests (overzealous law-abiding citizens) voluntarily disarmed themselves to follow the theater’s posted rule. This rule unfortunately prevented the ability for disarmed citizens to defend against the attack. If someone had a concealed weapon few would have been killed by the shooter.

These are just two examples of why Gun free Zones should be abolished. Blame these laws for the loss of innocent lives.

Dime Cards to Replace U.S. Currency?

I just wanted to share this video. Dime cards are such an interesting idea and a great alternative currency.

Tax Incentives and Energy by Matthew Schnackenberg

                Here in Florida a bill numbered HR 7117 is currently sitting on Gov. Rick Scott's desk. The bill is to provide tax incentives for companies and farmers in Florida to build renewable energy plants.  As a libertarian I do take issue to the idea of handing out money to any company as a subsidy or tax break. You want to do business within our state; you pay taxes like the rest of the companies in the state.

                Tax incentives for energy of any kind are not new. According to the firm Earth Track, the US federal government gives incentives to oil, coal, and nuclear companies ranging for an absurd $41 billion to much lower yet still unnecessary $6 billion. Compare this to the incentives of all renewable sources - which include wind, solar, hydro, and other sources - receive a modest $6 billion combined.  These numbers also do not include state and local subsidies.

                Now, I believe all incentives need to end completely, but unlike the wishes of those following the libertarian philosophy of limited government and free-market economies, there is no way this will happen anytime soon. As many people know, many Democrats will never back off their pushes for green energy subsidies as long as there are fossil fuel subsidies, and many Republicans tend to be knee deep in oil lobbyists' pockets so we will never see a push from their side to end oil subsidies.

                As a libertarian myself, I will be overjoyed if HR 7117 is vetoed as it will save taxpayers more of their hard-earned money. Of course, I never like to simply view situations like this from one prospective. A person can never truly be able to judge how things might play out if you hide yourself inside your philosophy and never look from the prospective of those affected by this bill.

                With the massive incentives stated above for oil and nuclear resources, there is an obvious display of favoritism when it comes to which resource our elected officials have chosen for us to use. This creates unbalance within the energy market and tilts it unfairly towards a select few energy sources artificially priced lower. This reduced competition and removed the consumer from the marketplace. 

                The most logical solution is of course the one that cannot currently happen; which is ending all subsidies so that the free-market decides which energy sources become the more prominent in society. This would allow for the most unsafe and costly sources of energy to either be revised to become more efficient or disappear from the market completely.

                Ultimately, the only solutions left is either allow the continued disparity in the energy market continued by favoritism caused by both the state and federal government or allow the state to at least allow a bit more balance to the energy market within the state of Florida. This is a very tough call to make as the taxpayers have already lost no matter which way Gov. Rick Scott goes. 

                While I personally dislike Rick Scott for his shady operation as governor of this state, I think I am willing to support his decision no matter which way he goes with this bill. Vetoing the bill eliminates additional taxpayer burdens, but does not allow for a fairer marketplace within our state that could easily create some much-needed jobs. Signing the bill into law will create more opportunities for job creation with new businesses opening, current businesses expanding operations, and more consumer choice, but at the cost of increased tax-burdens on the people. Both are fairly equal when weighing the positives and negatives revolving around this bill.

                From a libertarian's prospective, increased taxation is increased theft, but I have also seen how the government is already creating a huge disproportioned mess that disallows fair competition. Taxpayers are already burdened by the debt created by pre-existing subsidies that are bound to rise as oil prices raise due the dying Federal Reserve note aka the dollar. We should support a fairer market until we can eliminate all subsidies whether it is by slowly removing them one by one starting with the most burdensome or removing all federal subsidies at once by the elimination of the DOE. We should never support the government giving a wad of money to one market of companies and ignoring their competition. 

                History dictates that any internal improvement project and tax incentives at any level of government tend to end in dismal failure leading to massive debt. Sadly, we are at the age were internal improvements and tax incentives are everywhere. As libertarians and like-minded constitutionalists, we have a duty to be shepherds to lead this nation back to its roots. Along the way, we will have hard decisions to make, like supporting or disapproving bills like HR 7117. Our overall goal is a society and market free from government influence. As we battle towards our goal, we should consider ways to temporarily balance areas of the market until we can remove government completely. For Florida's energy market, HR 7117 could be that temporary answer until we can eliminate federal overreach.

A Floridian's Liberty Podcast - Ep4: State of our State

No idea why I never posted this two days ago, here.

A Floridian's Liberty Podcast - Ep2: War

This episode focuses on Iran, the US's history with them, as well as Israel.

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