Thin Blue Line

To steal and then paraphase the opening line to each "Law and Order" episode -

Our system of rights consists of three separate but equal entities, those that make the laws, those that enforce them and those that empower the first two.

This is essentially a macro view, not an analysis of our federalist republic but essentially a step or two above that. Obviously, taking my analogy to ground, the first group consists essentially of the the three branches of government (legislative, executive and judicial) as each has a demonstrated propensity to make law from time to time. The second group is the police and lastly and most importantly the people. In that sense, ultimately the people are more than equal to the first two groups.

Three is a good number for most everything, perhaps the perfect number. In our system, two of the elements could be completely out of whack and the third ought to be able to check it.

Ideally, just as in our federal system of government where the three are supposed to be kept in check by a fourth - the states - if the system is looked at from a macro point of view we should expect that help from another source, i.e. the military, would be forthcoming if all three systems failed.

Well, the system is broken, the safety valves have been compromised at both the micro and macro level.

The three branches of the Federal government do not check each other, they may disagree at times on insignificant matters, but essentially all of their momentum is in the same direction.

The check on the federal government is non-existent - states' rights died long ago. The bitter reality is that no state government really desires to reclaim their rights, for doing so would cost the state money. Without statesmen at the state level there is no check or balance.

The people are no viable check, for the most part they are either too apathetic or too absorbed in material gain to truly care. We as a whole are too willing to buy temporary security and prosperity for long-term well-being.

In the macro view this leaves us with the police to guarantee our rights. The very people that are right now potentially collecting information on The People, these are our last defenders of our inalienable rights.

As I have said before, there is no further check or balance - you certainly cannot depend upon your military to defend you against "domestic" threats.

So what of the laws that our Congress passes, or our President merely signs via fiat that our Judiciary turns a blind eye to, our States choose not to resist and the majority of the American people say nothing about? Who will stand for us?

Greg Evensen, a former Kansas State Trooper writes:

Police officers will be given the ultimate responsibility to see that each one of us is carrying out the dictates of the government. They will do so because they have sworn to uphold the “law.” Ultimately, law will be what politicians and corrupted courts say that it is. Not what our constitution clearly states it actually is or is not. The due process protections will be gone as will be our dwindling Bill of Rights. Officers who have survived extreme background checks for compatibility with authority dictates and those who have proven that they will carry out ANY order given, will use this new definition of “character” to justify the investigation, arrest, detention, prosecution and imprisonment of “enemies of the state.” The same will be true of military forces. The failed Nuremburg defense (“I was just carrying out orders”) will be long forgotten or overlooked entirely. The only thing that will matter to the vast majority of American police forces will be that: 1) they obeyed their orders-and- 2) they obeyed their orders.

It is a frightening prospect to consider that after all other safety valves have been breached, all hope comes down to our police resisting. They will not resist - they will suit-up in their storm-trooper garb and kick in your door at 4am if you are deemed in violation of one of the government's laws - no matter how un-Constitutional that law may be.

There are still good men wearing blue, brown and gray and a badge - don't take me wrong in that regard. It is very important to elect good Sheriff's of character that understand their common law role as the high sheriff. But this is just not enough. If we simply allow all of our hopes for liberty to rest on the last line of defense we do not deserve liberty.