The Government
Hoax

by Marc
Stevens

The government hoax is probably the oldest, most pervasive
and stubborn of hoaxes. It’s the belief in non-existent "states" and
"nations," and that "government" is both legitimate and necessary. In the
geographic area of the North American continent commonly referred to as
the "United States," it’s claimed only "government" can provide the
service of protecting "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." This
is nonsense if only for the reason "government" has no duty to protect
anyone and their property.

Another reason is: No service or product should be
provided at the barrel of a gun. It’s that simple. There are no
exceptions unless one believes people have no rights. If one believes
people have no rights, then "government" is not "necessary" to "protect"
what doesn’t exist. If you believe people have rights, then you don’t
"protect" them without their freely given consent. Also, protection is not
submission to the violent, unaccountable control of another, nor is
violent domination a legitimate method of doing business. Would you hire
people who don’t acknowledge you have property, to protect your property?
I wouldn't:

"The ultimate ownership of all property is in the State;
individual so-called "ownership" is only by virtue of Government, i.e.,
law, amounting to mere user; and that use must be in accordance with law
and subordinate to the necessities of the State." Senate Resolution
#62, April 1933.

What exactly is "government?" Have you ever seen a
"government"? While there are varying degrees, "government" is one man
violently controlling the life and property of another man. In some places
this violent control is "decreed" to be for the latter’s "own good" and
"protection" and hailed as the "best system in the world." Because it’s
based on violence, there
are no "states" or "nations," "states" being "voluntary associations."
You may recognize that violent control over a man’s life and property is
what we like to call . . . slavery. Slavery is a form of
"government," and in most cases, if not all, synonymous with "government."
Govern means control, not protection. Have you ever noticed the word
"protect" is mysteriously not included in any definitions of
govern?

"govern - To direct and control; to regulate; to
influence; to restrain; to manage. State v Ream, 16 Neb 681, 683."
Ballentine’s Law Dictionary, page 530.

In "democracies" and so-called "democratic republics," slaves
are given the false choice of choosing new masters. The old plantations
can be seen as "political subdivisions" such as "cities," only smaller:
"nations" have "presidents," "states" have "governors," "counties" have
"commissioners," "cities" have "mayors" and plantations have
masters.

"Government" is a group of men and women providing the
service of protecting "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" at the
barrel of a gun. We have no choice in accepting and paying for their
wonderful services. Their services are so valuable we’re compelled to
accept and pay for them. And non-political libertarians and voluntaryists
are the extremists?

To keep this short, I’ll use statements from politicians
themselves, i.e., their sacred "law" that’s worshipped, revered and most
importantly, feared. Compare the following:

"tax. A forced burden, charge, exaction, imposition or
contribution assessed in accordance with some reasonable rule of
apportionment by authority of a sovereign state upon the persons or
property within its jurisdiction to provide for public revenue for the
support of the government, the administration of the law, or the payment
of public expenses. 51 AmJ1st Tax § 3." Ballentine’s Law
Dictionary, page 1255.

"The organized use of threats, coercion, intimidation, and
violence to compel the payment for actual or alleged services of arbitrary
or excessive charges under the guise of membership dues, protection fees,
royalties, or service rates. United States v McGlone (DC Pa) 19 F Supp
285, 286." Ballentine’s Law Dictionary, page 1051.

The first is a "kinder, gentler" way of describing the
second. Both are accurate descriptions of how men and women pretending to
be "government" operate. I like the second one because it’s actually the
definition of "racketeer."

The government hoax is that "government," a racket, is
legitimate and necessary. That’s absurd. Maybe if you believe a service
should be provided at the barrel of a gun, then yes, you’d think
"government" is legitimate and necessary.

The government hoax is exposed with nothing more than
no service or product should to be provided at the barrel of a
gun. If the service men and women doing business as a pretended
"state" is so valuable, then people will voluntarily accept and pay for
it.

Some attack this saying, "What’s the alternative?!" That’s
easy:

Anything done under the guise of consent can be done by
consent.

Men and women pretending to be "government" only have to do
one thing different (here’s the "radical" "extremist" part): provide
their services on a voluntary basis like everybody
else.

May 4,
2004

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this column in the forum

Marc Stevens is
the author of Adventures In Legal Land, the controversial and
humorous new book that exposes the government hoax.  He
can be reached at http://www.adventuresinlegalland.com/.

Marc Stevens
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