Patriots not deserving of criticism

I’m sure the High Plains Patriots would consider themselves conservative rather than libertarian. But I’ll bet I’d agree with them on about half of their opinions, those that promote and respect liberty for all.

I think about this because I have to admit that, although I am not a fan of using the political method for getting things done, greatly preferring the economic method instead, I admire the spunk of the High Plains Patriots and the way they frustrate the plans of local politicians by forcing their tax-and-spend schemes to a vote. Anything that irritates those who would rule by fiat amuses me.

I certainly don’t agree with the criticisms that the High Plains Patriots are wasting tax money by insisting that the plans of those in government not be imposed unilaterally. If you are that worried about saving tax money, then stop proposing ways to spend it in ways that the High Plains Patriots and others will insist go to a vote.

If you have a system in place that you use against people to get your way, you can’t be surprised when people use that same system against you, or at least use it in ways you don’t like. That includes playing by the rules when those rules are inconvenient, expensive, or when you are scared of the possible outcome.

No one is forced to enter politics and risk having their schemes thwarted. Politicians could simply enter the market and gamble with their money.

It is part of the price of entering politics that there are rules that are not supposed to make life easier for politicians, but to bind them. Then it isn’t too easy for them to violate the liberty of those they claim to represent — and those they don’t.

For those who believe in politics to say that once a politician has been elected, whatever he does is “the voters’ will,” is dangerous. There must be a safety switch.

One of the least offensive, to most, has been putting things to a vote when the politicians would rather you simply go along with their grand designs. Demonize this rather innocuous safety switch too much and more people may decide the whole thing is a scam and join those like me in working toward real liberty.