You cannot claim to be ignorant of what crimes such a government will commit.
Lysander Spooner: “You cannot claim to be ignorant of what crimes such a government will commit.”
Editor's note · Context
Spooner asserts that ignorance of governmental crimes is not an excuse for lawmakers.
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For all these reasons, they are not only modest and sensible, but really frank, honest, and honorable villains, contrasted with these courts of injustice, and the lawmakers by whom these courts are established.
They do not attempt to deceive us, or mislead us, or reconcile us to their doings, by any such pretences, impostures, or insults as these.
They do not tell us of the almshouses, hospitals, schools, churches, etc., which, out of the purest charity and benevolence, they maintain for our benefit, out of the money they take from us.
They do not carry their heads high, above all other men, and demand our reverence and admiration, as statesmen, patriots, and benefactors.