by Richard A. Cheatham, Press Media Group, LLC

For most humans their own survival is at, or near, the top of their list of values. Survival requires certain basic things, among those are water, food and security from physical aggression.

In government’s attempt to appear to “do something” about the catastrophe in New Orleans, a catastrophe government was unwisely trusted to prevent in the first place, it’s done a number of things that have actually caused people to die. This was the case because government is typically determined to at least appear to be “in control” and it’s very jealous of its turf.

Force and threats of force are primary tools of all governments; force to confiscate income and property to be distributed in ways and to whom government leaders choose, force to prevent certain things and make other things happen. George Washington understood it, “Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force. Like fire it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.” If government has to kill, or cause some citizens to die, to assert “control,” it doesn’t hesitate to (have someone else) pay that price. It’s kinda like “collateral damage” government willingly inflicts upon many innocents when it “helps” overseas.

People in New Orleans were encouraged to gather at the Super Dome and the Convention Center during flooding resulting from Katrina. Food and water, available through the Red Cross and other non-government relief agencies was prevented from being delivered to those people for days because government didn’t want to “encourage” people to remain in the city.

In addition, many peaceful citizens who were simply defending their property from looting, and their lives from violent predators, with the same efficient tools that cops and soldiers use, were forcibly disarmed (by their armed government servants). These citizens were only acting to protect themselves in a situation where government helpers had been less than successful.

What is this dangerous servant’s message to its trusting masters? “Don’t rely upon yourselves. We’ll protect and save you if we choose to and if we can figure how. Put your lives in our expert hands. If it turns out we can’t help you, we’ll oppose you with force if you try to do those things for yourself.”

Many individuals in government, trying to do their best in a very difficult situation, are not to blame for the horrible events in New Orleans, though some heads certainly should roll. The greatest problem is the government system itself and people’s unjustified reliance upon that system for things it can not possibly deliver. Systems of compulsion and threat can accomplish some things, dominating turf like gangs, for example. During catastrophes, however, they must never get in the way of people saving themselves and of those able and experienced in emergency assistance.

Be wary of anyone who says, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help you.”

©2005 by Richard A. Cheatham. All rights reserved. Mr.Cheatham is a professional speaker/writer and is syndicated through Press Media Group, LLC. Contact him through, Living History Assoc., Ltd., at www.LHALtd.com or DrawBackVeil@aol.com.