Liberty or Tyranny
February 23rd, 2006 by Northern Farmer“When the Government Fears the People, There is Liberty; When the People Fear the Government, There is Tyranny†- Thomas Jefferson
One thing that I’ve been finding out lately as I talk to farmers and others about saving seed or GMO’s is that they will look at a person a little strange. At first I thought that they just figured I was a joshing or something, but after a while it came out and has been coming out since that it’s mostly nothing more than fear. Fear of the government and fear of the large corporation that has bought off the government. When we first start talking about saving seed most are very polite, but a person can see that they want to distance themselves from the conversation. The reason is that there is a fear, a very real fear that they are getting out of line, and something bad will happen to them. I can’t really blame them to much, they’ve had a heavy dose of brainwashing for decades. Now most have given up thinking that there is a better way, so they become serfs to the large corporation which in turn dictates farm policy so the serfs have almost enough money to barely squeeze by another year, planting the seeds that the corporation has patented, using the sprays that the same corporation manufactures and sells for that seed. The corporation and it’s boughten off government have teachers in the public schools teaching that this is the only good way to the children, indoctrinating them as early as possible. Tax dollars going to corporation indoctrination with ignorant teachers brainwashing the unsuspecting children. They’ll teach anything for a dollar. The majority of so called ag publications loaded with the corporations propaganda from front to back. Again, for the dollar.
Our founding fathers called fear of the government tyranny. I can say there’s plenty of fear, they’re not shaking in their boots, but farmers are getting to be like a well trained herd of cattle that has learned to respect an electric fence. They’re going to follow the corporate and government herdsmen because of fear of doing things independently. They fear that the corporation and government will come down hard on them if they stray. It’s nothing short of tyranny when decisions are made out of fear. The modern farmer has a lot to fear, energy prices that “will†skyrocket in the future, availability of fertilizers from the corporations, availability of all the other inputs with shaky energy and world situations, how will they be able to pay their never ending debts. Fear of loosing the government payments. Farmers are not independent anymore; they’ve been lowered down to serf status, nothing more. Mining the land till it cannot produce without it’s corporate “fixâ€.
The same corporations and government are now pushing Mandatory Animal ID down the throats of its citizens. They beat the drums of patriotism; they say it will ensure our safety. But again, it’s nothing more than wanting total control for the corporation and it’s boughten off government. Again, it will be tyranny, threats of huge fines, livestock confiscation, translated “you’ll loose everything you have†if you don’t bow down to the tyranny.
In the back of our little church I was reading a copy of the Declaration of Independence last fall. It almost brought tears to my eyes as I read it. The God inspired vision these men had, to give up all and fight for freedom. And to see it waste away in these days is heartbreaking. People giving up their liberty and dignity feeling it will make them safer, feeling the government can handle it so they can keep living beyond their means and in a downward spiral, ever downward. They will not get safety, rest assured, economically or personally, but will end up in a nightmare. And then try to get the freedom back, I don’t think so, it’s gone.
But with all that, it doesn’t mean we throw in the towel and give up, in fact, never! We will keep on doing what we’ve been planning; building a farm that is independent of the monsters. And we will pray to our God and be faithful, working to return this farmland back to the farm it was intended to be. We owe it to the generations to come.
“They that can Give Up Essential Liberty to Obtain a Little Temporary Safety Deserve Neither Liberty Nor Safety†- Benjamin Franklin
February 23rd, 2006 at 8:56 pm
HI Tom!
I don’t know whether to applaud or salute! I could cry when I see the freedoms we have lost and what sheep we all have become—except maybe us very few on the fringes.
And the government has plans for for the people that don’t fall into line as well. I was just reading how Halliburton is building detention centers on military bases (can you say “concentration camp” mein herr?)to hold 400,000 in case of an emergency.
I thought this was America. What happened to our Constitution? What happened to our Bill of Rights? What happened to “Freedom and Justice for All”?
Your quote from Thomas Jefferson about being afraid of the government equals tyranny sure hit the bullseye. I tell you what—I am afraid of our government. I’m afraid that by writing this, I am adding to my file the NSA has been keeping on “dissidents”. But I am even more afraid of what will happen if we remain silent.
I admire and applaud your strength and conviction. I admire your patriotism and love for this country—-
“and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Let your LIGHT shine!
February 23rd, 2006 at 9:10 pm
Would you please help an ignorant city boy and help me understand this? I get the impression that people who have bought certain seeds violate a contract or law or something if they save seeds from the harvest. Do I understand this correctly?
Maybe you’ve already explained this in a previous post?
Thanks for your patience!
Todd
P.S. Whereabouts are you in MN?
February 24th, 2006 at 7:32 am
I came across a quote not long ago, but I don’t remember the source:
“The Constitution may not be perfect, but it’s a lot better than whatever it is that their using now.”
Hang in there.
February 24th, 2006 at 8:21 am
Oh Boy! Yesterday I was going to run away back to Argentina or Brasil cause I knew I would be able to take stewardship of the land and the animals as mandated by Him without any government telling me how to do it, but today after reading your post, maybe I’ll stay put and see this through!
February 24th, 2006 at 4:58 pm
Steven,
I couldn’t agree more with your comments!The sad part is we’re just a Christian family, not bothering anyone, not radical, but we’re being made into almost crimminals as the rest of society changes and becomes a godless society.
But maybe it’s the ultimate privilage, to be able to follow the Lord as the luke warm modern church follows the dollar. These will be interesting times my friend.
Todd,
Thanks for stopping by! Boy, oh boy, where would I even begin, being the poor typer I am. I’m going to have to put together some basic information for folks like you, soon. If you’d like, send me an e-mail,it’s on my profile and I’ll see what I can whip up for you. I’ll compile a bunch of links for basic information to save the wear on my two typing fingers.
Also, we’re about a hundred miles northwest of Minneapolis.
Jim,
Thanks, and we will hang in there, and hoping you do the same. Have a good one down in the warm land
HH,
Thanks as always for your encouragement, believe me, sometimes it’s needed.
February 25th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Like a spouse caught up in an abusive relationship, there is security even in fear - the fear that comes about through endowing a separate entity control over ones life until one is left feeling helpless. True freedom begins with our reliance on our Creator. We have a plaque hanging in our home that states: “Men must be governed by God or ruled by tyrants.” We must step out in faith, out from under the oppressive thumb of a totalitarian-leaning government and a modern industrialized society which has made us its slaves. We have been redeemed in Christ by God’s grace and that gives us power because we are victorious in Him. “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8†May you continue to fight the good fight, Tom, reaping the blessings of an obedient life in the shadow of the cross, and creating a spiritual and agrarian heritage for your children and children’s children.
February 25th, 2006 at 6:59 pm
Amen to what you’ve said Tom!
February 26th, 2006 at 8:03 am
Boy, you said it. I admit that I also have fallen prey to the fear bug. There are many things that I would like to do on my little spread, but am afraid to do due to the power of the government and their ancanny ability and willingness to shut down any successful, outside the “box” operation.
I was just talking to a friend last night, for example, about another friend who was selling raw milk off his farm. Perfectly legal here in CT. One day, the government boy came in, tested some milk, said it was contaminated, and shut his operation down. Not just the raw milk, but he also couldn’t sell any products relating to the milk… ice cream, etc. Well, after a huge struggle, tremendous expense, and bad publicity - they were able to convince the state to retest. And whdayouknow… There was nothing wrong with the milk after all… (It turns out that the original inspector is a die-in-the-wool freemason. The familing family is orthodox Catholic. I don’t know if you know what that’s all about, but there aint no love lost - to make a long story short.) The family than asked the state to publicly apologize and explain the mistake.
A show of hands everyone… How many think that the state apologized, and explained the mistake to all of the *former* patrons of the farm?
I hear so many horror stories like that, and many of them are from people that I know struggling to make thier farms work. It makes a guy like me think twice about jumping full steam into the farm. I’m sure that’s all part of the plan.
It’s a very sad day in America.
February 26th, 2006 at 6:20 pm
Herrick,
Thanks!
Steve,
Thanks for the input. It’s not only farmers that get the bad end from the government. Small packers and processors get driven right out of business exactly the way you described the case with the farmer. The goal is to eliminate everyone except the couple corporations that want it all.