A few years ago the “far right” was considered a group that believed that they did not have to obey US law. I had a friend who did not file income tax returns because he said the US did not have the right to an income tax. We heard of the militant groups that lived by themselves in the wilderness of the Northwest, and there were a few confrontations with the FBI and other authorities. Today we think of these groups as neo-Nazis who spread hate and societal disruption. The anarchists have disappeared it seems…or have they?
Driving today is an experience of wonder. I wonder if I have the chance to complete the trip without an accident. There are cars running red lights at every intersection. The “turn on red after a stop” has become turn before the next car with the right of way gets in the way. Many just turn without stopping or looking, and it is up to all of us to be aware as we enter the intersection. The Interstate is another thing. Growing up I was used to adding about ten percent to the speed limit, so 55 became 60. Today you start at 10 over and find that you are the slow one. You are passed by many driving 20 and 30 mph over the limit, and must beware of those with the quick lane changes sometimes when you are beside them. It is anarchy on the road, and no one seems to care.
With the accidents caused by not stopping for stop signs and red lights increasing, it is interesting that there are never any arrests for the infractions. In fact I have been behind police officers who followed cars through red lights without any action. In many states there is almost no police monitoring of the major roads for traffic infractions. Anarchy on the highways has won, and traffic laws do not have to be obeyed anymore it seems.
The leader of the anarchy movement is Congress. We have the majority of the House of Representatives ignoring US law governing the immigration system. They have refused to follow the law as written and further have refused to change the law to make it more compatible with present-day activities as in work permits and protecting the border. It seems that if a law is not in vogue you just ignore it. When members of Congress ignore their own laws we have complete anarchy, and government is no longer needed. We as a people react to those who are supposed to lead us just as children follow their parents’ habits. Our leaders in government are leading us into an abyss of lawlessness and have taught us to only follow the laws that we like. Political power has surpassed the need to govern, and attaining and keeping that power causes our leaders to resort to almost anything including removing a president that they do not like.
After all of the above, though, the most egregious anarchy is the disregard for the laws of morality and ethics. We have become the feel-good generation that will let our religious beliefs last until the end of the Sabbath day. Many of the things that we used to call evil or sinful are now the way of life. In recent years a congresswoman and a former vice president have been refused Communion in the Roman Catholic church because of their pro-choice views. A Catholic on Sunday but just a politician without their religious beliefs on Monday. It is the same for many today, and trying to live the religious life is not in vogue. Those who are not religious still have a moral code to live by but have decided to ignore it when it is not the way to become the popular person in the group. Throwing away one’s ethics for popularity or political power is the way of the present and it doesn’t seem that it will change soon.
The only way that I can see a chance to change this is through the votes that we cast. Voting for a return to an ethical and moral society might start the change that we need. Perhaps a little prayer will help. In fact, it may take a lot of prayer.
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