Our Out of Control Federal Bureaucracy

By:  Dale Weckbacher

1 Samuel 8:11-18

“This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. 12 He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. 16 And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. 18 And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day.”

NKJV

The context of the above scripture occurs at a time in Israel’s history when they asked for a king to rule over them just like the other nations surrounding them (1 Samuel 8:5).  The fact that Israel asked for a king was actually a rejection of God and demonstrated a lack of faith in God being able to protect and provide for the nation.  Prior to this, Israel had judges that ruled them some of which were good and ruled the nation according to the God’s Word and some that did not.  The book of Judges is a history of these judges.  Israel’s asking for a king occurred after Samuel’s sons had been appointed judges and were among those that did not follow God’s Word (1 Samuel 8:3).

The above passage of scripture was a warning issued by God, warning people of what would occur when they chose a king to rule over them.  As we read this warning, we see that it is a warning we also should heed for many in our country believe that a bigger more centralized government is beneficial to our nation.  In fact, our nation’s failure to heed this warning has already resulted in an out of control bureaucracy that threatens the liberties this nation was founded upon.

For example, we can point to the out of control IRS.  Last week on April 15, we went through our annual exercise of determining our income tax liability.  Our tax code has become so complex that many individuals either hire a tax professional to prepare their taxes or purchase software to assist them.  The government established the IRS in order to collect taxes for the government but through the years, the complexity of the tax code has opened the door for the IRS to become an agency of the federal bureaucracy that intrudes in a major way into the personal lives of individuals.  They have the authority to determine how much money we make, whether or not someone lives in our homes and whether or not we provide all of their support.  They know where we live, who we work for, and for those owning a business, who they have working for them.  Now, with the passage of Obamacare, they will know about our health.

However, this administration is now using the IRS to not only harasses political opponents but also seeks to prosecute organizations at odds with the agenda of the administration.  (1)  So much for the IRS being the revenue-collecting agency of the federal government for the IRS has now evolved into the main enforcement arm of the administration insuring the silencing of political opponents. 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is also an example of our out of control government.  For generations, the federal government allowed ranchers to graze their cattle on federal land adjacent to their properties.  The Bundy family was one such family that since settling in Nevada in the late 1800’s is allowed to graze their cattle on land adjacent to theirs.  However, the federal government later created the BLM to protect vast swaths of federal land.  (2)  In other words, the mission of the BLM is to protect federal lands.

By grazing their cattle on federal land, the Bundy family was actually providing a service to the government by cutting the grass and fertilizing the land.  However, with the alleged discovery of a desert tortoise on the land, the BLM began restricting use of the land in order to protect an endangered species.  I guess the BLM’s authority has expanded from protecting the land to protecting animal species living on the land.  The BLM believes it has the authority to seize a rancher’s cattle, which are his property and livelihood, and surround his ranch with heavy artillery and snipers to enforce their authority.  I thought the Constitution guaranteed citizens protection against seizure by the government of their private property; I guess Mr. Bundy’s cattle are an exception.  There was also no need to come to Mr. Bundy’s ranch with a show of force for all they had to do was place a lien on Mr. Bundy’s property or cattle in order to collect past due fees.  It would appear to me that the government might have a more sinister agenda.

This leads me to make anther observation.  Why do various government agencies need to stock up on ammunition?  (3)  (4) (5)  It would appear that the government formed to for the people and by the people now fears the people.  Our founding fathers must be rolling over in the graves seeing what has happened to the country they risked their lives to form. 

This is why it is imperative that we begin electing people to office that favor smaller government that functions within the confines of its constitutional restrictions and if these elected officials refuse to uphold the constitution, we will force them to do so using article 5 of the constitution.  If you are unsure what article 5 of the constitution means, I recommend reading it and purchasing Mark Levin’s book the Liberty Amendments a link to which is in the upper right pane of this webpage.  We are still a government for the people and by the people and it is time for our elected officials to realize this. 

Samuels warning to the nation of Israel is as relevant today as it was in his time.  Our founders understood this and is why they established a government with limited power.  It is time for us as a nation to heed Samuel’s warning and reestablish the limited government our founders envisioned. 

1. Adams, J. Christian. A NEW, MORE SINISTER IRS SCANDAL. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, April 17, 2014. [Cited: April 19, 2014.] http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/04/17/A-New-More-Sinister-IRS-Scandal.

2. Darby, Logan Churchwell and Brandon. THE SAGA OF BUNDY RANCH--FEDERAL POWER, RULE OF LAW AND AVERTING POTENTIAL BLOODSHED. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, April 12, 2014. [Cited: April 19, 2014.] http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/04/12/The-Saga-of-Bundy-Ranch.

3. Watson, Paul Joseph. Social Security Administration To Purchase 174 Thousand Rounds Of Hollow Point Bullets. www.infowars.com. [Online] Alex Jones Infowars.com, August 15, 2012. [Cited: April 19, 2014.] http://www.infowars.com/social-security-administration-to-purchase-174-thousand-rounds-of-hollow-point-bullets/.

4. Brown, Peter F. Congressman: DHS Must Explain Ammunition and Armored Vehicle Purchases. www.westernjournalism.com. [Online] Western Journalism, March 18, 2013. [Cited: April 19, 2014.] http://www.westernjournalism.com/congressman-dhs-must-explain-ammunition-and-armored-vehicle-purchases/.

5. Chumley, Cheryl K. US Postal Service Joins in Federal Ammo Purchases. www.newsmax.com. [Online] News Max, April 15, 2014. [Cited: April 19, 2014.] http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/USPS-ammo-purchase-federal/2014/04/14/id/565541/.