The debate over wiretapping U.S. citizens has joined critics from
both the Left and the Right. There are not yet many details
known about the surveillance and until there are I think reserving
judgment is prudent. What I wonder is where some of these commentators
who now seem so troubled about encroachments on citizens’ liberties
have been the last several decades.
In ways large and small,
government at every level has been curbing our freedoms for a long
time.
We aren’t free to decide our own retirement plans. Government mandates participation in the actuarially unsound Social
Security system.
We aren’t free to protect the most vulnerable
among us, unborn children. Government has decided the Constitution
protects the taking of innocent human life.
We aren’t free to
do with our own property as we see fit. Government sets up zoning
laws dictating what we can do and, if government deems it necessary
for any reason, our property can be seized.
We aren’t free, as
employers, to pay whatever wage an employee might be willing to work
for. We aren’t free, as employees, to accept any wage we might
find satisfactory.
We aren’t free to decide how much water our
toilets use. Government requires that toilets manufactured in
the U.S. use no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush.
We
aren’t free to send our children to any school we’d like. Government
enforces rules pertaining to education and only government-approved
schooling is permitted.
We aren’t free to exercise our rights
under the Second Amendment. Governments at various levels have
infringed on those rights in numerous ways.
We aren’t free to
choose our cable television provider. Many government municipalities
have granted monopolies in exchange for franchise fees.
We aren’t
free to work in the occupation we want. Government regulates
scores of professions, sometimes enforcing licensing rules that have
little to do with a person’s competence to enter a particular field.
We
aren’t free to pay the genuine price for milk and other foods. Government operates farm supports that artificially drive up the cost
to consumers.
We aren’t free to avoid having our tax dollars
used for purposes that run far afield of government’s legitimate functions. Government funds almost everything from abortion to zoos, including
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the National Cowgirl Museum.
And
these are just a few examples of how our liberties have been eroded. Why has that happened?
Part of the answer was provided by the
late Barry Goldwater in his book “With No Apologies.” He noted:
“The
root of the problem lies in the Congress of the United States – 535
men and women who have been taught to believe that they are competent
to control every aspect of our complicated, inventive society. Congress assumes it knows more about banking than bankers and has
written millions of words of regulation. Congress believes it
is competent to run every service station, barbershop, library, bus
company, construction crew, airline, manufacturing plant, extractive
operation, pharmaceutical house, dairy and dog kennel. Common
sense condemns this assumption as ludicrous, yet we do nothing about
it.”
Not that Congress is the only difficulty. Courts that
create laws rather than interpret them have limited our freedoms. State and local governments have shown a willingness to restrict rights
in ways that Congress hasn’t tried. Yet.
Many of us are
part of the problem. Viewing the president as the national problem-solver
isn’t consistent with a belief in individual rights and responsibilities. Neither is looking to government for solutions. It’s much better
at creating problems than providing results.
Yes, it’s
true that Americans enjoy freedoms that for most of history others
have not. It’s also true, however, that decades of laws, rules,
regulations, mandates, red tape and poorly reasoned court decisions
have taken their toll.
Ultimately, it’ll be determined if President Bush exceeded his authority by eavesdropping on calls made between the U.S. and overseas. That’s as it should be. But will the same critics who caution that government has gotten too big in this situation then be willing to do something about other instances of governmental intrusion?
Don’t hold your breath.
This
appears in the January 26, 2006 Oak Lawn Reporter. Mike Bates is the
author of Right Angles and Other Obstinate Truths.
