On the record
Is not this asserting that governments have all power, and the people no rights?
Said by
Lysander Spooner
Source
gutenberg.orgLysander Spooner: “Is not this asserting that governments have all power, and the people no rights?”
Editor's note · Context
This statement reiterates the assertion that governments claim all power, leaving citizens with none.
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More from Lysander Spooner
On the contrary, they acknowledge themselves robbers, murderers, and villains, pure and simple.
They acknowledge it to be our unquestioned right and duty to kill them, if we can; that they expect nothing else, than that we will kill them, if we can; and that we are only fools and cowards, if we do not kill them, by any and every…
They do not tell us that all liberty and order would be destroyed, that society itself would go to pieces, and man go back to barbarism, if it were not for the care, and supervision, and protection, they lavish upon us.
They do not carry their heads high, above all other men, and demand our reverence and admiration, as statesmen, patriots, and benefactors.