Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

When good gov't goes bad

TO THE EDITORS:

The idea of a citizen's defense against government abuse almost seems silly, but Congress was designed by people who knew good government could turn bad.

The founders had representatives between themselves and the king's dictates in England, but that protective shield was weak in the colonies. People once respected by their government came to be disrespected and were overtaxed.

Fresh from the tragedy of good government that had gone bad, the new leaders developed a Constitution to protect their descendants against the troubles they had just experienced. Article 1, Section 1 of that Constitution reads: "All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.''

When government agents prosecute citizens under rules not made by Congress, our failure to inform our representatives of that abuse limits their ability to correct the offense.

Entrenched agency bureaucrats live well by convincing our Congress to tax us to pay them. Balancing agency cries for more money with citizen calls for more respect is a good discipline for us to practice.

Joe Heller

New Holland