When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.These words started a revolution and a unique experiment in representative democracy that continues to this day. If you haven't had an opportunity to read the full text of the Declaration of Independence or haven't read it for some time, we suggest you do so.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
The Declaration is truly an amazing document, not just for its main intent - the severing of ties with Great Britain - but for its acknowledgement of human nature.
...all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.In other words, we fear change and as a result we are willing to put up with just about anything in order to preserve the system with which we are familiar; particularly when the injustice or loss is perceived to be minimal or in the name of some greater good. Thus, human nature often forges the chains of our bondage.
We tend to view things on this blog in terms of freedom and liberty. We're always skeptical when government regulates, legislates or generally sticks its nose into anyone's business. The result is always a loss of someone's liberty... someone's freedom. The question becomes - is the loss of freedom just and necessary for the peaceful operation of society?
Let's take a look at Marty's favorite cash cow... the Red Light Scam-era system. The system has "liberated" over $9 MILLION from Albuquerque drivers, accident rates at intersections are in many cases on the rise, and lives are still being lost. Public safety arguments are clearly invalid and no one can name a single fatality that would have been prevented by scam-eras.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.Sounds like a description of Marty's Kangaroo Courts that are hearing up to 500 cases per day. As you can see, it actually came from the Declaration of Independence and was one of the reasons the founding fathers gave for severing their ties with England. The Almighty Mayor (King Marty the First?) has set up a "court" system that is beholden to him and serves at his pleasure. The "court's" objective is predetermined and therefore its impartiality is non-existent.
Therefore, the Red Light Scam-eras are an unacceptable loss of freedom; one that is neither necessary nor just. We're not arguing that drivers have a right to endanger others by recklessly running red lights. We are arguing that the safe operation of a motor vehicle requires the freedom to exercise one's judgment in order to safely clear an intersection.
We can apply this same argument to a number of pieces of legislation that have been enacted recently. Take the cell phone ban - a ban that isn't enforced as frequently as the non-existent license plate cover ban; or how about the city's foray into animal husbandry - H.E.A.R.T. Are these areas that were either uncovered by other law or required the coercive influence of government?
What would the people who risked their lives by signing the Declaration of Independence think of our city government? Would they believe that it empowers those from which its powers derive, while protecting their liberty? Or would they believe that it is an ever increasing burden on those governed, slowly stripping them of their liberty?
Freedom dies the death of a thousand cuts and what is left is tyranny. Our city government uses the knife far too frequently and far too freely for us to remain truly free.
29 comments:
i agree its to much govenment. man are that they might be free. man are free that they may have joy. free agency has always been a neccesity without it man is lost, and if man is lost??? these camera's and the other laws that are being enacted recently need to go.
At lunchtime today, on a quick jaunt to the bank, I managed to hit every single goddamn red light on the way there and back. As I was usually 1st at the light, I observed somebody running the red light in the other direction at least half the time. Blatent, not even close. As in, my light was green and they were in the intersection. And they say the scameras are changing peoples driving habits? I say bullshit. Do they think we will pay to put one at every intersection???
AMEN! One of the best posts ever on this blog. Whoever the "Eye" is, you have an uncanny way of getting the truth out, and your comparisons to the Declaration of Independence are right on. Keep up the good work!
Did anyone else notice the irony of people celebrating independence and freedom with illegal fireworks. I love this country!
Brillaint post, although one would assume from my years as a cop that Id be on the other side of many of these issues I must say that you wrapped it all up nicely! America is about freedoms and choices and this damn nanny state bulls**t is just an abomination. Marty is the local version . I hate the fact that our drivers are for sh*t in this town, but charging joe middle class a few hundred bucks desnt make him love law enforcement or government it just pisses him off! Marty's term will end w/the citizenry disliking cops more than ever, and its all his fault.
I can see well enough where responsibility belongs. I don't blame the cops for the city's bs. I appreciate the cops and the job they do, maybe even more than ever as I learn about the so-called "superiors" in city government.
The speed vans on the freeways are not calculted and they are sending people bullshit citations. They are lying about the speeds that you are doing. I was looking for one in particular and found it because I knew it was there. I was doing the speed limit or under last month when I passed by it. Two weeks later guess what? I get a citation for going 13 miles over the limit. I know this is bullshit becuase I remember this one and they are liars dowtown. That's right Chief and Marty and this city are MF liars and their F_ _ king us to death. There is blunt enough for you bastards.
AAaah pay ur ticket & shut the hell up you moron. If you knew it was there why did you speed through? Never mind don't waste everyones time & space.....
The original post is, as others have noted, excellent. I fear however that the complacency of the populus is just too much to overcome. Instead of marching on City Hall with pitchforks, buckets of tar, and bags of feathers, like our forefathers would have done, we buy the plate covers, and hope that no overzealous cop lurks along our daily travels. One of Herr Marty's terms came about when he won a mere plurality of 31% and the next day declared that he had a "mandate for change". It's hard to overcome that level of pompousness without resorting to revolutionary tactics and I just don't see many revolutionaries out there.
Excellent blog. Libertarianism for the win!
sometimes a revolution is the only answer. The Mayor and Chief and the entire City Council are all in this scam together. Revolt when you vote. If there was ever a time for a community to band together it is now, but everyone will have to vote. For once dont leave it up to the other guy. Put an end to these criminals and their millon dollar a month scam.
4 comments up. Sounds like you work for the city you little prick. Are you in on it too? Let me repeat; I knew the van was up ahead because I was told about it. I purposely monitored my speed for a couple of miles, before I approached the van in front of me. My speed was well UNDER the posted limit and I have documented as such. I can't believe I'm explaining this to you. So before you call anyone a moron, you better go look for another job you "no balls" bastard. Keep on working for the theives at City Hall. You have no morals like the rest of them.
wow, I usually read this blog for fun because it is so ridiculous...but this post is way out there. Whoever writes this blog is nuts. "Brillian"??? That guy is obviously easily impressed. All this revolt talk, etc. You guys need to calm down, government exists for a reason...to provide basic services for its citizens, public safety is one of those. If you're so upset about the red light cameras its simple...you have 2 choices, 1) move away, beleive me, you wont be missed, and 2) stop running red lights. You will never have any power or be able to get anyone out of office because you are all lazy and think that posting a blog that 20 people a day read will change things. Good luck to ya, because you are useless and will never make a difference in anything.
And neither will you. Bad luck to you and I hope you live what you preach. Tell Marty "WE" send our regards.
Where be the freeway cameras????
The freeway cameras be near Alameda and I-25 (at least on the NB side), Paseo and I-25 (again on the NB side), Jefferson and I-25, and at least one south of the Big-I on I-25 (SB). The only one I know of on I-40 is EB at the actual interchange but I may just not have noted others along that route. The I-25 ones are very obvious with a fish-eye style camera at the top of the pole and several lane-monitoring, narrow-beam radar transducers along the length of the pole.
Keep smilin' so's King Marty can rake in the cash!!
I saw the white vans EB I40 near Tramway.....
Oops! I just passed one earlier on I40 WB at Juan Tabo. Are they white with out of state plates?
Why, yes they are. Arizona plates to be exact, since they are from our friends at Redflex in Scottsdale AZ. Herr Marty claimed that if he kept them past 30 days that they would be properly licensed in NM. That was about a year ago. Looks like that was a little law that he doesn't feel compelled to comply with. I think the State fine for "Failure to License" after 30 days in-state is the regitration fee plus a $1.00/day. By now that would make it about $500/van. C'mon, Yer Highness, just a couple of those tickets would make an honest man of ya. Or are you avoiding paying up by rotating them in and out of state every 28 days??
Wow! you're tough. Are you a bad boy? I like bad boys......
Sicko !
Thanks, I'll be looking for those vans. I will be sure to post where I see them snagging unsuspecting citizens.
I've never seen one of these vans actually maned. Isn't it illegal to park vehicles along the freeway?
There's always one at I-25 about 30 yards north of the Ceasar Chavez off ramp, northbound lane approx 30 - 40 yards passed the 55MPH sign. If you're doing the posted 65MPH prior to that,it doesn't give you enough time to bring 6 or 7,000 Lbs. to the 55MPH posted.
This is just un-ethical and wrong
Well if you know the speed limit is reduced ahead or if you just read one of the multitude of warning signs, then just start slowing your 7K # vehicle a wee bit sooner.....& no problem. I have always seen an Officer in the van when I passed it. Maybe you were going too fast to see him?
You obviously must work for the City or have never been screwed by one of these things, or both. I can't get my citation fixed like you
Aaaaah Shut up and pay ur fine. If you are not smart enough to avoid the vans & red light cams, even when you know they are there, then you deserve to pay.
"He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries."
Declaration of Independence, 1776
"Next to the impropriety of being Judge in one's own cause, is the appointment of the judge."
2 Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, at 82 (Ferrand rev. ed. 1937)(Remarks of Gouverneur Morris)
Although I actually support the use of the red light cameras and the use of the video for enforcement (I presume that there is no tampering, alteration or evidence spoilage), the way in which the cases are adjudicated denies the fundamental right to a fair hearing and is a clear deprivation of Due Process. Under U.S. Supreme Court precedent, Mayor Chavez could not preside over a "Mayor's Court". The hand picked appointment by the Mayor of the hearing officers in the red light camera cases where revenue to the city is the result of a finding of guilty, combined with the fact that the hearing officers are paid more than $1,000.00 per week of city tax dollars and may be removed by the Mayor at any time, including during the middle of an adjudication if the hearing officers are not finding enough persons guilty and imposing fines that become revenue to the city, is such a brazen denial of due process to permit a federal court to issue an injunction that enjoins the operation and shifts the cases to the Metro Court where its Judges are judicial officers neutral and detached from the Executive Branch. (Exception to Younger v. Harris abstention doctrine)
Alternatively, the process should be changed so that the individual against whom the red light or speed citation has been issued would appoint the hearing officer to hear and decide his or her individual case. This would remove the structural bias in the proceeding caused by the Mayor appointing the hearing officer while allowing the proceedings to continue in their current forum.
The freeway cameras be near Alameda and I-25 (at least on the NB side), Paseo and I-25 (again on the NB side), Jefferson and I-25, and at least one south of the Big-I on I-25 (SB). The only one I know of on I-40 is EB at the actual interchange but I may just not have noted others along that route. The I-25 ones are very obvious with a fish-eye style camera at the top of the pole and several lane-monitoring, narrow-beam radar transducers along the length of the pole.
Keep smilin' so's King Marty can rake in the cash!!
There are no fixed speed cameras on the freeway. the cameras you are seeing belong to the highway department. The speedvans are out on the freeway.
No there are bunches of cameras (Speed Cameras) on the freewys here, I've seen them. We should all slow down & avoid a ticket.
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