This year, I have devoted much of my time to investigating and writing stories about abuses perpetrated by state and local governments. My objective is to show people how important it is to focus on what is happening with the governments closest to the people. The reason is that while federal politics is important, state and local politics tend to have the most immediate and dire impact on the citizenry.
In the stories I’ve covered and those I’ve heard about, I have noticed firsthand why government officials often get away with overstepping their boundaries. The reason is because people rarely fight back when they are being victimized by the state. It’s really that simple. Corrupt government is like a bully. They seek out the weakest prey, those who either can’t or won’t push back against what they are doing.
The question is: Why don’t more people fight back when their governments are mistreating them?
I’ve written story after story after story about current and past battles between citizens and their state and local governments.
Let’s start with the Goliath effect. Most people perceive the government as an unbeatable Leviathan, one against which they would never stand a chance. Indeed, even if they were to try to fight back, the state could easily retaliate through a plethora of means. Fear of retribution is a powerful weapon, and unfortunately, it works all too well.
Even local and state governments possess resources, legal expertise, and a seemingly unlimited supply of weapons to use against those who dare to try to hold them accountable. Unfortunately, history is rife with situations in which government officials have employed law enforcement, financial audits, public smear campaigns, and other tactics intended to keep people silent and docile.
The second reason is a lack of knowledge – especially pertaining to the rights we have as American citizens. While most of us learn about the Constitution and Bill of Rights as children, it seems very few actually understand what rights are supposed to be protected. This lack of knowledge turns people into easier targets for corrupt governments seeking to violate their rights. If one is unaware of the rights they possess, how can they effectively fight to protect them?
Perhaps this is the reason why civics education has taken a serious downturn in American education. Yes, it might sound like I’m wearing a tinfoil hat as I write this (and maybe I am), but if most people don’t understand the protections the Constitution affords them, then they will be less likely to mount any real challenge against the government. Therefore, it would be in the government’s interest to ensure people remain ignorant.
The third reason why most people don’t fight back isn’t because they don’t want to. It is not because they are unwilling. It is not even because they are unaware of their rights. The problem is that they lack the resources to challenge the government.
As stated previously local and state governments have tons of resources they can bring to bear against us. Fighting back can be costly in terms of time and finances. What is truly unfortunate is that the government knows this. In many cases, they can simply wait for their targets to run out of money for legal battles. Moreover, many victims also lack the emotional and public backing required to sustain a prolonged fight against the state.
This is why grassroots movements and nonprofit organizations are so important. These groups can play an instrumental role in helping citizens overcome corrupt government officials.
The only way we will move toward a freer society is for more decent people to fight back when the government is wronging someone. Addressing these issues and the fears they bring is the only way we can have a chance of exposing the government for the bully it often is. This requires increasing awareness of our rights, fostering community support systems, and coming together to oppose government overreach.
