Lysander Spooner and his Elegant Critique of the Constitution
One of my favorite philosophers is Lysander Spooner. He lived in 1800’s United States. Way before his time, he was opposed to slavery, the Civil War, and the Constitution. Taking Natural Law to its logical conclusion, he argued that government is nothing more than a gang of thefts enslaving the masses (with laws and taxes). When you read his works, you will appreciate how solid his case is. You will either agree with him or will be tormented attempting to find flaws.
He wrote several import works that have influenced many libertarian thinkers, including me. I quote one of his works in my book, Concordia, The must be a better way. Paul Walters, the main character of the book, makes a case for creating a government. However, instead of basing upon a constitution, it is based upon contracts.
Paul summarizes Spooner when he argues that the US Constitution has “either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it. In either case it is unfit to exist.” Continuing, Paul argues that the Constitution is the founding myth of America. Its main purposes is to subjugate and placate the masses. Spooner covers similar logic and more in his masterful work: No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority. If you enjoyed my book, then I highly recommend reading Spooner.
Natural Law
Another work from Spooner is Natural Law, or the Science of Justice. I didn’t quote this work, but it is equally influential and worth reading. In it, he builds the case for why all governments are unjust, and that there can only be varying degrees of injustice (with government). I will summary it for you, but trust me, you should read it for yourself, since he does such a brilliant job of making the case. He makes two case: 1) Natural Law exist, therefore government is unjust, and 2) Natural Law does NOT exist, therefore government is unjust.
In the case where Natural Law Exists, the government usurps the role of Natural Law and replaces it with government law. Since law exists by the nature of human existence, in the best case government interferes with the natural order, and in the worse case, actively distorts it to enslave the masses. On the other hand, if Natural Law does not exist, then government is nothing more than a gang exerting force over its subjects. Government laws are a façade designed to hide the true gangster nature of the State.
In my book, it should be clear which side of the argument I come down on. Paul even makes the case that Rights don’t exist. They are nothing more than illusions and part of the carefully constructed mythology of government. Therefore, the best we can do is minimize our subjugation by creating a neutered state that must comply with the same contract laws that citizens adhere to. To find out how it works out for Paul, download and read the book now. If you find it entertaining or provocative, please leave a positive review on Amazon.
