We the Serfs

By Tom Rhodes, 8/5/2013

When you think feudalism, with kings, dukes, princesses, etc., you think of royalty who live off the work of the toil of serfs. The federal government has just confirmed that the US consists now has a two-tiered system of justice and governance. There are two sets of laws: one set for the government and the corporations, and another set for you and me.

The ruling elite, ruling class, government oligarchy,whatever you want to call 'em, no longer is even trying to hide the fact that they don't want to live by and won't accept the same rules for them and their favorites as you and I. The Office of Personnel Management, under pressure from Capitol Hill and Obama, has said that they will issue a ruling that the government can keep making contributions to the health care premiums of members of Congress and their aides in clear violation of the law.

If you weren't paying attention, a feature of Obamacare was put there by Sen. Chuck Grassley that said members of Congress and their aides MUST be covered by plans created by the law or offered through an exchange. You know that "We have to pass the law to see what's in it" bit? Well, it had a good bit of wording that made Congress and their staff subject to the exact same treatment as the rest of us.

As Congress was "finding out what was in the bill", they learned that following the law would result in a massive increase in health insurance premiums for congressional staffers, IRS workers, etc. That meant the government had the same costs that we the common people have to experience. They didn't like it so exempted themselves from the pain and cost that you and I have to endure. They have loudly proclaimed that "We the People" are actually "You the Serfs" and will be forced to pay for Congress and their staff's "Cadillac health plans" and subsidies while hard-working taxpayer lose ours or face enormous premium hikes.

The next example you will see is IRS being made magically exempt from the Obamacare Law without congress actually passing a new law. The rule of law is dead, and if you are a mere serf who if you are lucky enough to work at the big house in DC you too may receive favors by the ruling elite. IRS Chief, Daniel Werfel clearly declared that he wanted to keep his health care and didn't want any part of Obamacare. Those who collect the taxes for the rulers in DC want the same special treatment as Congress. I don't think he has to worry as Chief Potentate Obama will grant him and the IRS special dispensation.

Has the hypocrisy of Washington pushed the American people to their breaking point? When did the Constitution get changed to grant the President dictatorial powers and create law by executive order if Congress doesn't write the laws he wants?

I don't get it. Congress passes a law that specifically says members of Congress and their aides MUST be covered by plans created by the law or offered through an exchange, and some bureaucratic agency has the authority to issue a ruling negating the law. Would somebody please show me where the Constitution grants the power to the Office of Personnel Management to issue rulings that supersede laws enacted by Congress and signed by the President of the United States, or some Supreme Court ruling that grants the Office of Personnel Management more authority than Congress?

The height of Roman Civilization was the Republic with the rule of law and a viable Senate. The fall came with moral decay, the rise of despotic powers, and the end of the rule of law. The fall of Roman civilization was followed by the Dark Ages. The height of western Civilization was NATO's crushing defeat of communism and the end of the cold war. I wonder what history will call the coming dark age, and who's going to write "The Rise and Fall of Western Civilization"?

Tom Rhodes is Chairman of the Platform Committee of the Libertarian Party of Florida