"The people = government doctrine is equivalent
to political infantilism -- an agreement to pretend
that the citizen's wishes animate each restriction
or exaction inflicted upon him."
by:
James Bovard
(1956- ) American author, lecturer
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In a de jure representative republic, with a constitution limiting the representatives scope of action (not limiting or addressing an individual of We The People in any way), the comment is totally INaccurate. In a practical application, as now exists world wide, the statement's fallacy focus is dead-on accurate. In a people = government, with representatives or otherwise, no person (individually or in concert - government) can lawfully compel the compliance of another, license, create or enforce victimless crimes, commit larceny against another's labor or property, or in anyway infringe on another's right(s).
 -- mike, Norwalk     
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    Remember, it is the government that keeps equating itself with 'the people' even though they are but a tiny minority and almost always representing their own interests rather than of those they supposedly represent. There is a significant difference between a representative government and a 'ruling' government.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Wow! That says it very succinctly. And Waffler's "The government is the people", theory is described perfectly as..."infantile"
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    Isn't it the citizens=government doctrine? Are not the restrictions and exactions put in place so the political infants are controlled by the more experienced political juveniles?
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    NO ! ! ! Sillik, your attempt at thought provoking wisdom has to date, uniquely been wrong, a serious fail and an exercise in stupid childish thought. Government (an inorganic phantasm) doctrine (despots collective enslaving dogma) is NOT political juveniles enforcing tyranny on political infants; it is degenerates usurping truth, love, individual sovereignty, inalienable rights and liberty at nature's law.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Fred demonstrates perfectly the cognitive dissonance of a collectivist mind that cannot conceive of an independent, self-determining individual in fellowship with other self-respecting people who value their freedom more than their security in a school of fish.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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