November 13, 2003

Last summer, while driving my automobile, I got caught in a speed trap and received a traffic citation. In California, speed traps are illegal. But when it comes to extracting tribute from the serfs to feed the insatiable appetite of politicians to spend money, government can't let a little thing like the law get in their way. In the minds of these so-called "public servants," laws are written by government to control the people. Government is too important to be constrained by the law.

In case you are not familiar with the traffic ticket scheme, the entire system is structured to discourage you from challenging the ticket. Irrespective of whether an individual is innocent or guilty, the time, trouble, and expense of fighting the average ticket far exceeds the fine. If you lose and decide to appeal, the cost of the trial transcript alone will you cost 2 to 3 times the amount of the ticket. This makes it easier for government to shield itself from any unlawful activities connected with the ticket and trial.

In my case, not only was the ticket unlawful, but there were at least 10 procedural and due process violations during the so-called trial. Court documents were also secretly altered to protect government from its violations of law.

Friends and family members think I have lost my marbles because I have stated that I will spare no expense fighting government over their violations of law concerning this ticket. A family member told me I should view this as a purely economic decision and forget about the government's violations of law. She said that even if you win the appeal, you will lose because victory will cost more than simply paying the $96.00 fine and walking away. This individual also stated that if I attempt to rock the boat and expose these gross violations of law, I will have to watch my back because government will "have it out for me."

I told this individual she has it backwards and I refuse to cower in the shadows. We lose when we don't fight back. A lack of resistance signals government that the people no longer prize liberty.

Here is the problem as I see it. Tyranny has a price¯liberty does not. The American people are willing to accept a little tyranny here and there so long as the sanctions imposed by government are not too severe. They are not willing go the extra mile and fight for their liberty.

If the American people are not willing to stand toe to toe with government and fight the little battles, then how far does government have to go before the people will step forward and resist?

A wise man once said the price of liberty is constant vigilance and a constant willingness to fight back no matter the cost. Have we reached the point where the average American is no longer willing to pay the price

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