Driving, Privilege Or Right?

Is driving a motor vehicle a privilege or a right? It’s been debated many times in the past and I guess I’ll take this opportunity to throw my own two cents in. Let me preface my comments with this illustration: our world is in a constant state of flux. Like the ancient philosopher Heraclitus stated, "everything flows, nothing stands still." Let me give an example from more modern times. Fifteen years ago a cell phone was considered a luxury. The only people who really carried cell phones were business executives and the like. While I might not go so far as to say that a cell phone is a necessity today, it is certainly more than a mere luxury. Almost everyone from every age and walk of life carries a cell phone with them everywhere. Indeed, they have saved many a life when someone in danger and otherwise unreachable was able to call for help on the trusty cell phone they carried with them. Even computers have joined the ranks of ubiquity and are almost as common in homes as a television set, or should I say television sets. My whole point is that what are considered as luxuries and necessities are in constant flux as time and technology progresses into the future.
It is my belief that whatever is a necessity is also a right. Food, clothing and shelter are universally recognized as necessities and therefore a right where life is considered a sacred right. Many consider medical care to be a right as well. If we value human life, then anything that is a requirement to maintain that life is a necessity and therefore should be considered a right, not a privilege. Certainly most everyone would agree that driving a motor vehicle is a necessity to maintaining human life. Driving is necessary in order to purchase food, unless you are fortunate enough to live near a supermarket. Driving is necessary in order to purchase clothing. In order to visit your doctor you need to be able to drive. And unless your job is within walking distance, in order to hold employment you must be able to drive. It should be quite obvious that driving a motor vehicle is in fact a necessity for the vast majority of adults in this nation. Without the ability to drive; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness today would be a difficult task indeed.
The ideology that driving a motor vehicle is privilege is an antiquated idea that should be tossed into the dung pile of obsolescence. Today it is a necessity and therefore a right!
Now unfortunately the powers that be have a vested interest in perpetuating the outdated idea that driving a motor vehicle is a privilege instead of a right. Why? Three reasons come to mind, two of which are self-serving and small. One which seems legitimate and genuinely beneficial.
The first reason is money. As long as driving is considered a privilege granted by the government, it can be taxed and is thus a guaranteed source of annual income for the state. In Pennsylvania every motor vehicle owner pays $36.00 per year for a ridiculous sticker to put on their license plate so all can see that they have paid for another year of driving "privileges." Additionally there is the renewal fee every four years for our drivers license. So, you see, to declare that driving is a right risks the guaranteed income that comes from taxing privileges. Clothing is not taxed, most food is not taxed and neither is medical care taxed. These items aren’t taxed because they are necessities, not luxuries. Rights, not privileges. Politicians therefore will not back down easily from the progressive and enlightened idea that in this day and age driving must be considered a right.
The second reason why government is not likely to toss their closed minded idea that driving is only a privilege is because it empowers them. Two things that politicians love and will fight tooth and nail to hold on to are money derived from taxing the masses and the usurpation of power over the people. As long as driving is considered to be only a privilege, it can be revoked. And of course if our driving "privilege" is revoked, we will be required to pay handsomely to get it back. If driving a motor vehicle was recognized by the political machine as the right it is, it could not be revoked, even money/power hungry politicians shy away from the idea of taking rights away. Also, it couldn’t be taxed since rights aren’t taxed. But politicians with dollar signs in their eyes and the need to maintain power over others to compensate for their own weaknesses, insecurities and impotence will continue to take the low road and we will continue to suffer for it. Brotherhood, equality and self-determination are ideals too lofty for greedy and power hungry politicians because they require very little of their interference into the lives of the people.
There is a third reason the government wants to keep driving as a privilege is because it is a great and serious responsibility to drive a motor vehicle. I do not believe that any thinking individual would argue the seriousness of driving, but that does not mean it should not be considered as a right. Most people, myself included, support the idea of testing to obtain a drivers license. Rights without responsibility will produce chaos and driving a motor vehicle is indeed a great responsibility. I would even support requiring driving "refresher" courses for drivers with more than two at fault accidents. In fact, I contend that most of us take the responsibility of driving more serious than the politicians do. Think about it, when you are involved in a traffic violation or accident, what happens? You get fined and possibly get points added to your driving record. Isn’t it so obvious that it is all about money and not improving ones driving skills?
We must lead the way because those who claim to be leaders are derelict and seem incapable of embracing the enlightened idea that self-determination is the only way to harmony and peace. Remember, the government derives its power from the consent of the governed. That is us folks. We actually have the power, not them. If you believe that driving should be a right, then claim it as a right and tell your Senators and Congresspersons, both at the state and national that you are taking back control of your life and destiny.
I am a law abiding citizen. I have never murdered, raped, stolen or otherwise caused harm to my fellow human beings. I obey the laws of nature and of civil society. Laws intended to protect me from myself, empower others over me or impose financial hardship on me, I treat with the contempt they deserve and do not recognize that they are legitimate laws at all. All of this I can proclaim with a clear conscience and with the highest degree of patriotism. Indeed my idea of patriotism demands it.
The only way that true personhood and character can be developed is if the person is free in mind, body and spirit. Only then can they become fully human and fully responsible for their destiny. A government that hinders this process of becoming is indeed an enemy to humanity and freedom.

How Did We Become So Indebted To Big Brother?

Have you ever wondered how you have become so indebted to the government? Is it just the accident of birth? Think about it for a moment. Other than taxes and fees levied on you by the government, you can trace all of your debts to a conscious action taken by you. If you have a mortgage debt, it is because of your decision to purchase a home. Your credit card debt is the result of your decision to receive and use credit cards to make purchases. Car loans, college loans, etc. are all the result of a conscious decision. You decided that the debt was worth the purchase of a car, a sea cruise vacation, a home or whatever purchase indebted you. So while these debts are cumbersome at times, we know that they are the result of a choice we freely made, hopefully to enrich our lives. We choose college loans to receive a good education and thus increase our chances for a better and more lucrative career. We choose mortgage debt to achieve the dream of home ownership or perhaps to purchase investment property. There are numerous other reasons why people may choose to become indebted. Perhaps they want to open a small business, travel, improve or remodel their homes. My whole point is: while debt is cumbersome, it is often a necessary choice made by the person in the hopes of making an improvement to their lives. The operative word in the preceding sentence is choice.
Even though they are not technically debt, we also have necessary expenses that come with living on our own. We have monthly utility bills, we must purchase gasoline for our vehicles and food for our bodies. Then there is rent if we do not own the roof that covers our head. But all of these monthly expenses, like the debts discussed above, are the result of choices we have freely made. If we want cable television, we have to pay for it. Additionally, since our income is limited, we may have to defer on cable television if it means we cannot afford it and the car payment together. We choose daily whether we can afford something we want and still pay for something we need. But again, these are choices we make and therefore we have control over how much we spend.
In addition to monetary debt, there is the debt of gratitude that we owe to those who love and care for us. Our parents, spouses, and our closest friends. The people who stand by us in times of trouble and who look out for our best interest. Those people have a place in our hearts and we gladly reciprocate with our love and support.
Friends, our debt to the government; federal, state and local does not fall into either of the above categories. Let me explain. Our debt to the government is not like the examples of monetary debt listed above for two reasons: First, unlike all the monetary debts listed above, debt to government is not a choice. Taxes and fees are imposed on us by the government with the promise of punishment for failure on our part to pay. We have never been given a choice whether or not to pay taxes and fees. I guess technically we could avoid paying taxes legally, but at great cost. We can legally avoid property taxes by not purchasing property and many people choose to do so. But what about income tax? The only legal way to avoid paying income tax is to refrain from receiving an income. I think all would agree that for the vast majority of us, this is not a viable option. What about sales taxes? We can refrain from buying taxable merchandise right? Well, that is easier said than done. Gasoline is a perfect example of a taxable item that most of us cannot refuse to purchase.
Second, unlike the monetary debts listed above, most of us do not receive very little for the money spent. Sure, we have police, who when they are not collecting "taxes" by fining people for driving over the speed limit or perhaps driving without a safety belt, are there to protect us. Sure we have highways to travel on and a military to protect us from foreign invaders and terrorists. But how much of our tax bill goes to these services. You see, the problem is, we don’t know. Unlike the itemized bills we receive from our utility companies or the loan statements which show us how much money goes to principal and what is interest, we have no idea how our tax dollars are divided up and where the money goes. Until I see an itemized tax bill the accounts for every penny I send to the federal, state and local government, I will contend that most of us are not getting much of a bargain. So again, unlike the monetary debts above, we not only have no choice in paying the taxes, we also get very little return for our money. Friends, how is this not theft?
Additionally, our debt to the government is not like the debt of gratitude that we owe to those people in our lives who cared for and helped make us the people we are today. You see, unlike those people, the government really does not care for us and our well being. How can they? In order to care for someone, you need to know them personally. You need to develop a relationship with them and become involved in their lives in a mutual exchange of caring and commitment. The government cannot do this because it is not personal. It is an entity that while composed of individuals, takes on a life of its own not unlike a herd of cattle. All we are to the government are resources in which to extort money and objects over which it can exercise its insatiable power lust.
Now I don’t wish to sound ungrateful for what services I do receive from the government, nor do I believe that government can operate without some type of revenue. The problem is that the government at all levels has become so intrusive and has exceeded beyond comprehension what the founders intended. Additionally, the level of taxation has long passed an acceptable level and is not just bothersome, but actually inhibitory for most of us. When government taxation and oppression reaches levels like we have now, it must be stopped, forcibly if necessary. This may sound extreme and unpatriotic. While I agree that it is an extreme solution, it is in fact sanctioned by one of our greatest founding father and is in fact an act of true patriotism. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote:
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security
Friends, the government is not our country. It is intended to be our servant and it has failed miserably in that appointment and has instead become a self serving entity. We must all muster our patriotism and peacefully refuse to pay another cent to the government in lieu of a violent over throw. Hopefully this will get the message through so that a more violent solution will not be needed. But if it does, we have the permission of Thomas Jefferson, who I’m sure would agree it is long overdue.
I would imagine that the government would respond that we have given implied consent for the amount of taxation imposed on us. Take income tax for example. They may explain that in the very act of gaining employment and consequently completing the required W4 form, we are giving our permission to have our income taxed. I believe that is bogus thinking and is tantamount to a forced confession under duress. Let me explain. A job is a necessity for most of us. Because we need a job and income in order to survive, who is going to refuse to complete a W4 at the risk of not being hired? Probably nobody. When something as important and necessary as a job is at stake, the "choice" between completing a W4 and being hired, or refusing to complete the W4 and forfeiting the job is really no choice at all.
By now it should be quite evident that the government as it is today is a destructive force and an enemy to freedom. Let’s take Thomas Jefferson’s advice and take our country back. Remember he also said that the government derives its power from the consent of the governed. That’s us folks! Let me ask you, do you remember giving consent willingly to such high levels of taxation? Do you remember a moment in time when you willingly, without duress or fear of having something you could lose if you refused, freely given consent to have your income taxed? Your property?
Do you remember a moment in time when you freely, without duress or something held over you, gave consent to the myriad government intrusions in your life and on your rights as a free, autonomous being? Do you remember freely consenting to the idea that driving a motor vehicle is a privilege and not a right? Do you remember freely consenting to being required to wear a seatbelt when driving your vehicle? Here I’d like to digress a moment. It should be clear to anyone who has read any of my essays, that I abhor laws intended to protect us from ourselves. But another thing that I find equally distasteful is inconsistency. Well there is plenty of inconsistency with the government and the laws requiring seat belts in Pennsylvania and the recent repeal of the helmet law for motorcycle drivers is a glaring example. Let’s be consistent you idiots in the state legislature! Who is more at risk of serious injury, a motorcyclist with no encasement or a driver of a car who is encased by four "walls" a ceiling and a floor, unless of course it is a convertible. Consistency dictates we either bring back the helmet laws or toss the seat belt laws. You all know which one I choose.
Returning to the point I was making above: if you cannot remember a moment in time when you freely and without duress or fear of having something taken from you, did not freely consent to the above mentioned ( and a host of others) taxes and laws, then my friends, they are illegitimate. Again, according to Jefferson, if the government does not derive its power from the consent of the governed, it is tyranny and usurpation.
I suggest we take the power we have always had and we start making the rules rather than having them imposed on us from without. Refuse to pay your taxes in every and any possible way you can. Right is on your side. Refuse to obey unjust laws. What are unjust laws? Laws intended to protect us from ourselves or intended to keep the government enriched and in power and us subservient. Real laws are the ones that are recognized universally, like laws against murder, rape, theft etc. Those laws should not be broken and the enforcement of them and the punishment of offenders is required and necessary if human life is to continue to exist. Artificial and unjust laws, which encompass the vast majority, must be broken. Indeed it is our duty as true and patriotic citizens who value freedom as our founders did.
So be a true patriot and scoff at the laws and lawmakers who with their actions do a great dishonor to the tradition handed down to us. Don’t feel guilty for trying to keep your hard earned money or for cheating on taxes. You are the true American. Don’t feel guilty for breaking unjust laws that you did not consent to freely. The lawmakers are the guilty ones, not you.