Copyright by James Carlson
Rep. Jim Jorden on the House Committee on ‘Weaponization’ of Government
The weaponization and politicization of government is a concern for all American people no matter what their viewpoint is. We are seeing a dramatic increase in this type of behavior where we get legislators on the judicial bench, vigilantes in a badge, and others who use their government power and authority for purposes other than what it is supposed to be used for. The misuse of government is a danger to us all.
Government is God’s idea. We get that from the Bible in Romans chapter 13. God even reminded Christians in Romans 12 that they had to do what is right to achieve what is right. One cannot be exempted from obeying the Law because of their faith in the Son of God – Christ Jesus. The Law/Government is there to hold everyone accountable for their behavior and not their beliefs. So be sure to behave yourself, or despite your religious views, you too may be held accountable for your actions.
Our country was founded with Christian ideals such as these. In the Federalist Papers, we find in #51 the idea that government is not run by angels but men. If government were run by angels, there would be no need for a constitution to put checks and balances on the actions of the government because angels can do no wrong and always do what is right. But Madison went on to say, because government is run by men and not angels, we not only need a constitution to place limits on government officials, we need government officials to place limits on themselves. Self-control, moral boundaries, ethical behavior, personal responsibility… these are all hallmarks of people in government who are doing their jobs beyond just exercising and obeying the Law.
And here then is the dividing line. People in power using their power in a way that is not in keeping with the Law as people with power sometimes take that power to a personal level. A person in power taking their power personally, misuse that power for some reason other than what the Law requires. This then is the weaponization and/or the politization of government.
We need to stop name calling people in a childish effort of belittlement. Instead, we need to start identifying foul behavior by their proper names. Misfeasance and Malfeasance are the two names best suited to identify the Weaponization and the Politization of government. Misfeasance is the misuse of legitimate governmental authority and Malfeasance is the use of government power outside the bounds of authority. Having proper legal definitions of these two terms will enable the media, other government officials, and the People at large to attack the bad behavior of government officials (people in government need to behave as much as people outside government). It isn’t enough to throw words at people, they need to be held accountable in a Court of Law as well as in the court of public opinion.
So, when you feel abused in some manner by government officials, take stock of what is happening. And be sure you don’t take a presumed authority to yourself to tell government officials where to ‘get off’. Be patient so that you too don’t do what is wrong to achieve what you think is right. Be patient, collect information, and wait for the appropriate time to hold these government officials accountable for their bad behavior (redress of grievances); don’t get in trouble for your bad behavior even if you feel you are right. The old saying is true, ‘two wrongs don’t make a right.’
Take notes. Ask yourself, what is their job? Are they doing their job? Are you actually subject to their authority? Is this the right application of their authority? Are they taking their job personally by doing things beyond what their government position prescribes? Keep probing in your mind and then later, with or without a lawyer, try and answer these questions. Keep observing what the people in power are doing. And do not stop witnessing their behavior, making sure you are behaving yourself.
Now that you have an idea of what to do and what not to do, understand that people who abuse their authority and power are not doing this or the first time. People who abuse the public trust have been doing this for a very long time. Newcomers to government usually accept a polite response and respond to correct errors immediately. People who’ve been in government for years usually could care less what you think. They have already made their mind up that they’re right and you are wrong. And again, if you do something wrong in protest (and you have the right to politely protest) they may see your bad behavior as a sign that you cannot behave and have been doing so for a very long time.
So to be sure it is a contest. However, you can win this contest. I recall once being berated by a policeman at a traffic stop where he pulled me over and I called 911 to get him to stop. The dispatcher called this police officer and asked what was going on. The policeman calmed down and eventually let me go. I didn’t take the cop on myself but let someone else do that for me. And this leads to another principle…
…Everyone in Authority is under Authority. And instead of you holding them accountable for their wrong behavior in government, ask those over them to do so. But again, if you are not actually behaving as you should, you’re actually going to double down on the authority that is looking you over. So be sure to, “come to court with clean hands” as Judge Judy would say.
Holding people in government (and even in business) who have power is a job for someone who is mature. Children will whine, fools will yell, and idiots will rant. Don’t be one of them. As the Patriot’s Dream in the 1770s was The Freedom to Do What is Right in the Sight of God, exhibit that form of self-governance that leads to self-control and good behavior. The Founding Fathers understood that if you were already doing what you were supposed to, why would you need the government to tell you to behave?!
So the first step in holding the government accountable for things they are doing wrong, is for you to do what is right from the outset. Doing what is right in the sight of God (Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God) is the bottom line. Afterwards, you have a good foundation to hold government personnel accountable for their misfeasance and malfeasance. Let’s work together to put an end to and hold accountable the acts of weaponization and politization of government.
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