Banding Together

Democracy is a beautiful thing.

To me, democracy is more than just plotting down an 'X' on a ballot.

It entails so much more. Many of it to numerous or even impossible to detail since it entails human activity and creativity. Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist Papers objected to the argument put forth by other Founding Fathers that the Constitution didn't go far enough detailing specific language protecting state and individual rights (a few of whom, including George Mason, didn't end up signing) because it was impossible to account for everything.

He was kinda right but by the same token look at how the Constitution has been bitched slapped since the Civil War. I get the feeling there was a sense of pragmatic resignation among some of the Framers on this note. They knew damn well the natural default setting of civilized man was tyranny. They just hoped that Americans would be vigilant and diligent enough to preserve the Republic. 'A republic if you can keep it' as Franklin once said.

Alas, Rome was not able to maintain hers before falling before empire and tyranny. Neither did Athens.

Establishing free states by free peoples is the exception to world history.

And we're NOT free in contemporary Western civilization. Go ahead and break any of the laws government legislates (often to the detriment of free citizens) and see how far it gets you. Look at all the taxes, regulations and permits demanded of you to set up anything. Everywhere you turn it's a bureaucratic apparatus that governs us leaving citizens to ask permission for our private endeavors.

The bureaucrat has MORE power than the citizen.

The only way to reverse or change this is government reform. Reform only happens when people cease being apathetic and accepting things as they are as being normal.

In my municipality in Rosemere, Quebec small business owners and residential property owners are beginning to band together to challenge the towns excessive tyrannical attitude.

What do I mean? Oh, let me count the ways. I noticed it ONE month into operation. Some citizens have been at it for over 20 and 30 years facing the full blunt force of irrational council strong arming.

Long story short, big powerful money gets what it wants, the small guy gets picked on like bully by the municipality.

The stories I hear keep piling up. And they're outrageous. For example, a resident has to get a PERMIT to simply change their own stairs or to apply asphalt to their driveway - and that's after they beg to the urban planning bureaucrat to accept what they want to do.

One of the principles of a functioning and healthy democracy is the presence of the rule of law. The other indispensable necessity is the concept of private property.

When the government tells you what you can and can't on your OWN property - never mind the power of eminent domain and all its abuses - that's violating your private property rights.

In our case, the government has no real compelling or valid reason to over stress its citizens the way it does. By with holding a permit to a small business looking to enhance its, for example, signage because it doesn't like the colors presented, has ZERO to do with preserving and protecting the people and everything to do with control and abusive power.

No one is arguing there are rules and laws to observe. Like any rational and free individual we will do so to the common good and with pride. What we're objecting to is what we regard to be municipality over reach. This town has much more to offer but it won't happen in its current state and form.

The irony is the former mayor (who I was not impressed with) went on to get elected with the pro-business CAQ at the provincial level. How she fits in to its mandate is lost on me but that coupled with its stupid flirting with Bill 14, the CAQ has a lot of proving to do with me if they want my vote.

Come October there will be an election. A new party is forming and I've been reinvigorated to advance the cause of liberty. I will do my part, however small, to put my money and action where my mouth is.