By: Chad Kent
Chad Kent Speaks
Every law the House of Representatives passes will operate on the Representatives and their friends, as well as the society.
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This creates a strong bond and common interests between rulers and the people. Few governments have this feature. And without it, every government degenerates into tyranny.
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If the people of America ever tolerate a law that does not apply to legislators, as well as on the people, the people will be prepared to tolerate anything but liberty.
James Madison, Federalist Papers #57
Translation by Mary Webster
The principle that Madison lays out above is essential to preserving our liberty – without it freedom cannot survive.
On the other hand, when we force our politicians to live by the same laws as everyone else – that approach to government serves as a rock solid guardian of our liberty.
Why? Because no politician is going to vote to oppress himself or take away his own rights.
Look at it this way – do you think Obamacare would have passed if our politicians thought they were going to get the same third-rate health care that the rest of us will be stuck with? Of course not.
Unfortunately, we have allowed our representatives to vote themselves healthy pensions, life-time health care benefits, and all kinds of other special exceptions that insulate them from the effects of the legislation they pass – and reinforce the belief that politicians are superior to the rest of us mere peasants.
As Madison said, if the American people accept this behavior from our representatives, then we are clearing the way for our own oppression.
