Modern Statists Exploit Threats of Violence to Compel Citizens Subjects to Do Good

Here are some excellent thoughts concerning Romans 13:1-7 by James Wanliss, who posted a wonderful blog entry entitled "Utopian Impulses" which expresses well the responsibility of those who govern. Here are a few paragraphs to tease you to read the whole of it.

But moving from using the sword to remove evildoers, left wingers invariably pitch their tents on the questionable ground. They wish to use the sword to compel good, rather than prevent evil. And these days, more than ever, the desire to compel goodness comes through cowardly evasiveness based on the deadly euphemisms of political correctness. . . . 

So-called progressives have all the self-righteous certainty that it is good to use the threat of government violence to redistribute the fruits of my hard-earned labor to help others. The great-hearted politically correct will have the State love my neighbor on my behalf. . . . . 

The argument is that if we do not use violence, or the threat of violence, then who will help those who need help? Unless Peter is robbed, Paul will die. This is a false dilemma. Instead of using his energy to rob Peter, the prospective thief could choose instead to help Paul. Instead he is consumed with hate and envy that Peter is not doing enough, in his opinion, to help Paul. If he will not do it himself, he demands that strong men rob Peter, in the name of Caesar, God on earth. . . .