A “despot” is a tyrannical ruler. “Despotism” is a government or political system in which the ruler exercises absolute power.
Who is the “ruler” of the United States? Is it President Obama? Is it Congress? Is it the Supreme Court? Are we “ruled” by special interest groups? What about wealthy corporations? Or is it that we are ruled by a complex and convoluted (albeit effective) combination of them all? I think this is so.
I have never read a more succinct and accurate description of this complex labyrinth that is the current state of American government than Thomas Paine’s 1790 description of France’s government. Read what follows and tell me if this is not an accurate depiction of modern day American government.
“When despotism has established itself for ages in a country, as in [The United States], it is not in the person of the [President] only that it resides. It has the appearance of being so in show, and in nominal authority; but it is not so in practice, and in fact. It has its standard everywhere. Every office and department has its despotism, founded upon custom and usage… The original… despotism resident in the person of the [President], divides and subdivides itself into a thousand shapes and forms, till at last the whole of it is acted by deputation. This [is] the case in [the United States]; and against this species of despotism, proceeding on through an endless labyrinth of office till the source of it is scarcely perceptible, there is no mode of redress. It strengthens itself by assuming the appearance of duty, and tyrannizes under the pretence of obeying.”
The question then becomes: what are citizens to do under such a government to defend their freedom? How are the people to check that massive government? Can effective boundaries be put in place? Or is it too late? Do we have anymore a mode of redress? Can even a million people standing shoulder to shoulder hold back a tide that is coming up the shore?
And once that tide has come up show me ten million standing who can force that tide to recede even an inch.
“…an endless labyrinth of office till the source [of its power] is scarcely perceptible…“
“…It strengthens itself by assuming the appearance of duty, and tyrannizes under the pretence of obeying.“
We perhaps need a revolution such that Paine described: “a revolution generated in rational contemplation of the rights of man…”
Quoting Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man (page 48). Alterations my own.
Speaking of despotism: “Despotism . . . is the only form of government which may with safety to itself neglect the education of its infant poor.” –Bp. Horsley.