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Show The UTAH INDEPENDENT Page 2 June 9, 1972 Readers Independent Dedicated To THAT CiOVEKMMtwT SuST LEAST.. . . WHICH Ner Free men can vote themselves into slavery, yfllook Gove AM 3 THAT IS The Constitution, Liberty, Morality, and Truth but WHICH $ BEST Fluoridation Mc LeJERM AT AH-- . J CM U p5 slaves cannot vote themselves free." - J. Reese Hunter Editors Outlook How Do You Rate As a Voter? The man or woman who normally would exercise great care in selecting and abiding by correct principles in their occupation, individual research, religion, hobbies, etc., suddenly abandons the calculated, reasoned approach to their normal way of living and in political matters seems to float on the tide of other peoples opinions. Rare, indeed, is the individual who systematically, methodically, and with real concern, inspects the voting record of those whom they have elected to run the city, county, state, and national offices. Col. LaVoi B. Davis Did you ever wonder why other people vote the way they do? On the other hand, what causes you to choose one candidate over another when you step into the voting booth? Do you vote for a candidate because he is a personal friend? Does the candidate get your support simply because you belong to the same political party? Do you support him because he is the incumbent and belongs to your political party? Do you support a particular candidate in order to keep a political job or some other type of political handout? Do you have some hold over an office-seekthat would be to your personal financial benefit should he get er into office? Do you just close your eyes when you vote and let the spirits guide you? Are you moved by the emotion of the moment into supporting someone? Do you wait until the last minute in order to see what the polls predict so that you can jump on the bandwagon to support a winner? Unfortunately, all of the above are reasons why many people vote for one candidate or another. And, all of them are wrong. Did you ever stop to think of the seriousness of what you are doing when you cast a vote? After all the whoopla of campaigning is finished the successful candidate will assume power in government. The power he will have bestowed upon him is technically limited by the Constitution. It is, nevertheless, a measure of power over your life. If he chooses to misuse that power he will be violating your personal rights in the use of your property and even in the use of your life. It is interesting to see so many people who will get upset when they see what they consider to be a business monopoly. Laws are passed to protect us against monopoly. But many times those very same people can see nothing to fear in giving more and more power to the . Independent The Utah Independent published by the Utah Independent each Friday at 1399 South 7th East, Suite 9, Salt Lake City, Utah 84105. Yearly subscription rate is $5.00 per year by surface mail in the United States. is Send change of address forms and correspondence to 2459 Major Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115 Utah's Largest and Fastest-Growin- g Subscription Weekly fttcttA government. Yet, historically, the biggest, most corrupt, most violent, most prone to do evil, most despotic organizational entity has been government. When you have government in control of everything such as production, distribution, property, etc., you have monopoly. Total government IS monopoly! Our Founding Fathers understood the evils for which government could be used. Their genius was not in giving us freedom. They felt that freedom belonged to individuals as a gift from God and existed before the foundations of governments. Their genius was in giving us a form of government that would protect the individual from government thus insuring that we would be able to maintain our freedom. The genius of the Constitution lies in its restrictions upon government which is the only way that freedom can be guaranteed. There is only one catch: this form of government will only exist as long as we support the principles of limited government. If we elect people to governmental office who will overstep their bounds and exercise their power unrighteously, our government will no longer be limited and consequently our freedom cannot last. Eventually, through a series of seemingly harmless encroachments our freedom and our childrens freedom will be lost. We cannot have big government and freedom at the same time. All encompassing government, by its very nature, is the antithesis of freedom. Our Founding Fathers understood the principle of limited government. George Washington defined government when he said: Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. There it is, GOVERNMENT IS FORCE! How much force are you willing to put into the hands of those whom you elect? Have you checked the voting record of those who have been elected in the past to see how many times they have voted more power and taxes to government at your expense? If they have voted to take your rights from you and your property in the form of increased taxes, should they not be retired from public service? An Open Letter: May I make an observation concerning forced fluoridation of our water in Salt Lake County. I am sure there are brilliant medical, dental and scientific men to be found on both sides of the issue on a medical and scientific basis. Among the unalienable rights of man is the right of free agency. Next to the gift of life itself is the right to direct that life. This is a gift of God and men who violate these gifts are sure to bring upon them His wrath. In the light of this great the principle of free agency right to choose and direct our we expect our elected lives and appointed leaders to understand and oppose any effort to deprive us of our free agency in any degree and especially in the desire to drink pure, safe water unadulterated with fluoride. The State exists for the individual and gains its authority from the individual by his not the individual consent from the State. This principle of free agency and the right of each individual to be free to act within bounds that grant to everyone else the same privilege is continually under attack by those who would put shackles on our liberty and our right to choose. A prophet of the Lord, President Joseph F. Smith, said, No man has any liberty to or impose upon his brother to injure ... or wrong his fellowman. The only real purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of our civilized community against his will is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant. He cannot rightfully be compelled to do, or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because in the opinion of others to do so would be wise or even right. These are good reasons for remonstrating or reasoning with him or persuading or entreating him, but not for compelling him. The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith, when he was in There is only one valid reason for giving a man your jail at Liberty, Missouri, financial and political support as he aspires to public .Doctrine and Covenants, Section office. He must have an understanding of limited . . .when we 121, Verse 34, undertake the to cover our sins, or rights of individuals, the rights of government, to gratify our pride, our vain personal property, and must be willing to abide within the guidelines of the Constitution. There are plenty of ambitions, or to exercise control good men in office who either have no knowledge of or dominion or compulsion those principles or are not willing to abide by them. They upon the souls of the children of men in any degree of no sooner get into office than they begin to exercise unrighteousness, behold, the unrighteous dominion. They begin to think of good heavens withdraw themselves; things to do. The only trouble is, they not only want to the spirit of the Lord is grieved; do good, THEY WANT TO MAKE IT LAW! and when it is withdrawn, Amen It should be the responsibility of every voter to be to the priesthood or authority of aware of the correct principles of government as that man. The great principle of free understood by the early leaders of our country. Then, he should be as certain as possible that the people he votes agency requires that man has a for have that same understanding. If they do not, they free choice. That choice has are not worthy of his vote since they will invariably indicated we do not want fluoridated water here. misuse or extend the power of government over him. Continued on Page 3 If you want to abandon your Continued on Page 3 |