To measure the course in history, the steps by which America became an Empire, one need only consider a few simple tenets of government.
We follow one variant of what we call limited government, but which is not by any means limited.
Some people believe in government which can expand or contract, in the semblance of a living organism, based upon the vicissitudes of the moment. Government in times when all is well may remain small and unobtrusive; but when Great Events call, the Government must transform, in the manner of the children's toys, to meet the threat.
In a sense, we have a kept Republic, a pet form of representative government, that is quietly cared for by the Government. The Senate and House may be thought of in the manner of the Smithsonian's other exhibits - a living museum of actors who go about their business in an orderly manner, to remind us of what government WAS.
The show is suspended, though, when crises of the present moment arise. Extraordinary Government measures are what is necessary when things are afoot. And, as any fan of GI Joe or Rambo knows, there are times when the law just doesn't apply.
We ceased to be a Republic and became an Empire when the planning for Extraordinary Measures took place. Now, the history of empire snaps into focus. The New Deal lead us into it - the time when the slow and ineffective Republic was left behind for the speedy now-now! form of limited totalitarianism. The Bomb cemented it into our nature. Jefferson, Washington, Franklin - who would have been comfortable with the President holding the Weapon of Great Destruction in his solitary hands?
And yet, any American who pushes forth world-wide build-down of nuclear weapons is considered a loon. The concept that nuclear weapons are "radioactive" to limited governments is seen as daffy. "WE" must have them - we being the "Leader." With this ultimate measure of the Leader's trustworthiness, the concentration of power in Government trickles down. Yes, of course, it is reasonable for the Parks Service to have a SWAT team, for after all, "WE" trust Government with nucular weapons, don't we?
The question of what consists of a Governmental State of Emergency long remained inchoate. George W. Bush simply reminded us of the definition: that Government has a State of Emergency whenever the Government says so. Few leaders were rude enough to mention that before; Mr. Bush had no scruples preventing him from doing so.
Limited government ended when the Government acquired its emergency powers; not by the paper Constitution, but by the English manner of Constitution, the unwritten rules which fell into place after the "Glorious Revolution."
In our case, though, our "Glorious Revolution" had the effect not to disempower the King, but to celebrate the coronation thereof.
We follow one variant of what we call limited government, but which is not by any means limited.
Some people believe in government which can expand or contract, in the semblance of a living organism, based upon the vicissitudes of the moment. Government in times when all is well may remain small and unobtrusive; but when Great Events call, the Government must transform, in the manner of the children's toys, to meet the threat.
In a sense, we have a kept Republic, a pet form of representative government, that is quietly cared for by the Government. The Senate and House may be thought of in the manner of the Smithsonian's other exhibits - a living museum of actors who go about their business in an orderly manner, to remind us of what government WAS.
The show is suspended, though, when crises of the present moment arise. Extraordinary Government measures are what is necessary when things are afoot. And, as any fan of GI Joe or Rambo knows, there are times when the law just doesn't apply.
We ceased to be a Republic and became an Empire when the planning for Extraordinary Measures took place. Now, the history of empire snaps into focus. The New Deal lead us into it - the time when the slow and ineffective Republic was left behind for the speedy now-now! form of limited totalitarianism. The Bomb cemented it into our nature. Jefferson, Washington, Franklin - who would have been comfortable with the President holding the Weapon of Great Destruction in his solitary hands?
And yet, any American who pushes forth world-wide build-down of nuclear weapons is considered a loon. The concept that nuclear weapons are "radioactive" to limited governments is seen as daffy. "WE" must have them - we being the "Leader." With this ultimate measure of the Leader's trustworthiness, the concentration of power in Government trickles down. Yes, of course, it is reasonable for the Parks Service to have a SWAT team, for after all, "WE" trust Government with nucular weapons, don't we?
The question of what consists of a Governmental State of Emergency long remained inchoate. George W. Bush simply reminded us of the definition: that Government has a State of Emergency whenever the Government says so. Few leaders were rude enough to mention that before; Mr. Bush had no scruples preventing him from doing so.
Limited government ended when the Government acquired its emergency powers; not by the paper Constitution, but by the English manner of Constitution, the unwritten rules which fell into place after the "Glorious Revolution."
In our case, though, our "Glorious Revolution" had the effect not to disempower the King, but to celebrate the coronation thereof.
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