Salutary Neglect

Say what you want about Cliven Bundy, but his standoff against tax collectors over unpaid cattle grazing fees is just the reminder America needs of our deep roots in libertarian insurrection.

If you’re not familiar with Bundy’s rebellion, here’s a refresher. Cliven Bundy, a Nevada cattle rancher, has been grazing his cattle on federal lands for over 20 years. In 1993, federal rules changed, and Bundy was required to pay a grazing fee. Twenty years and several court orders later, Bundy hasn’t paid a dime. As a result, a few weeks ago, government officials tried to herd Bundy’s cattle off federal lands. Not to be ousted, Bundy and a gaggle of armed supporters showed up to the scene, ready to stick it to the man. The federal representatives abandoned Bundy’s cattle, and are still trying to figure out how to react.

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A recent study that’s gaining a lot of attention describes the United States as an oligarchy — serving the interests of the wealthy and powerful — rather than a democracy. Is anyone actually surprised? As the scope of federal power has expanded, there’s more and more that the government can do for those who have the influence and power to guide the government’s actions.

The United States’ pathway to democracy isn’t campaign finance regulation or lobbying restrictions, but decreasing the size of the federal government by simplifying the tax code and delegating more power and responsibility to the states. The less power the government has, the less it can do for special interests, and the more democratic our society will be.

Read a response to this article here.

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American Exceptionalism is in crisis mode. Maybe President Obama articulated it best when he was asked about it in 2008.

“Sure I believe in American Exceptionalism,” he said, “just like the Brits believe in British Exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek Exceptionalism.”

Some people just don’t believe in American Exceptionalism anymore. Some people actually find the whole notion of American Exceptionalism to be unfounded, nationalistic hubris created to justify American cockiness and aggressive foreign policy. While American Exceptionalism and its drivers are changing, we are still an exceptional nation, but for different reasons and with different implications than before.

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