A NEW CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

Cities must realize they have the power to break unjust laws. Most unjust laws do not enjoy sufficient popular support for the oppressive response required by state and federal agencies, to impose their will on local communities. Most unjust laws in America are not supported by most Americans, and when they are, it is of small conviction. This is natural in that unjust laws tend to have been written in favor of small and powerful minorities to the great misfortune of most men. Unjust laws tend to oppress and so tend not to inspire men toward their defense.

Now a lesson may be observed here of great value to those that would live under just laws, chiefly those made closest to home. We have the most freedom the closer our decision making is kept to home (once a conservative conviction). Public opinion will not sustain the level of oppression required to impose the will of the federal government on a local community when that community unites to break an unjust law. Without the support of the public, the government is paralyzed and its citizens are free. The people of the United States do not support the incursion of federal agencies to enforce/impose laws on large dissenting populations, such as that of a city or state. They will not support such action unless inspired by a great moral injustice, such as the segregated Alabama school system, which was forcefully integrated under JFK. And that was for the RIGHT thing.

Conversely, the American people would not support the federal government in any effort that sought to seriously subvert the local political process. If a city had the courage, they could defy the federal government when unjust and live under no law save for their own. If a city's populace and its local government are united in one voice, it cannot be silenced. Federal authorities would have to remove the local government and/or take charge of local police forces. At the end of the day, the only way to enforce anything is at the point of a gun. And if someone in the federal government seeks to point that gun at a dedicated, dissenting population, the degree of coercion necessary for them to succeed will, in the final analysis, turn many of even their closest supporters against them and any remaining will to interfere will be spent.

Much, of course, depends upon the willingness of the local population to suffer for their beliefs. It is when others view this suffering that the hearts and minds of public opinion are won. If the local community is not willing to protest, be jailed, maced and beaten, then their cause stands little chance. It will probably never come to such a scene, but if all that is necessary for the federal government to succeed is to have a federal task force arrive and start telling the locals how it's all going to work from now on, then victory cannot be reasonably expected. Nor deserved.

(Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.)