Tuesday, September 07, 2010

How Dare You Exercise Your Rights...

...without OUR permission! [Read]

Having worked in a job where I had to deal with city bureaucracies for permits, I've seen first-hand where the petty tyranny and corruption leading up to Lord Acton's truism begins. Mean little people, with no personal success but power over others who are out there achieving...

There was always left a trace of 1930s Germany in the air of those offices.

It's either a testament to American tolerance that more sneering, bullying martinets aren't dragged over the counter and onto the streets, or an indictment on how far we've allowed ourselves to be abused.

[Via Darrel W]

3 comments:

Defender said...

I'd go with tolerance and self-control and our overwhelming desire for peace, but there are limits. There MUST be.
Gun sales and repair is not just a home-based business like selling vacuum cleaners or Amway or fixing lawnmowers. It is the essence of American freedom. It is the heart of the Bill of Rights, and Kansas, like the big coastal and Midwest cities, wants that heart cut out.

Anonymous said...

I had a friend here in Phx whose business was subjected to eminent domain (they forced him to sell for less than his property was worth at the height of the real estate bubble) for the new people mover to the airport.

At every step of the way, as a new gov't beaurocrat got involved and wanted to shake his hand he told them - "I'm only talking to you because you have a gun pointed at my head".

Seriously, he did. I'm really quite amazed that he didn't go postal.

Sean said...

It's not only about "me-too power", it's about that licensing fee, don't you know.