Elsewhere I read that the federal government now funds upwards of 40% of some state's budgets, taking more and more from the people and making the people even more dependent upon federal largess.
We are warned of economic tyranny in the Book of Mormon. Wicked King Noah expropriated 20 percent of his people's wealth each year to finance his palaces, prostitutes, and priests. U.S. federal spending is now over 40% of GDP (gross domestic product). What they couldn't raise by taxes, they have borrowed. Our people have elected leaders who have bankrupted U.S.
Ironically, the present occupant of the Cherry Blossom Throne has started another foreign war, even as our own borders (as in King Noah's day) are overrun from the south.
The Book of Mormon (see Mosiah Chapter 11) itemizes King Noah's crimes as follows:
- He changed the laws (affairs) of the kingdom.
- He put down old leaders and consecrated new ones, who supported his ideology.
- The new leaders were lazy, didn't work, and were supported by taxing productive citizens.
- These new leaders were idolatrous and spoke flattering words to the people.
- The people subsequently became idolatrous, too, following after gold and silver.
- The king initiated many expensive construction projects to engage and distract his people.
- Even as the people were attacked and looted (in small numbers) by invading Lamanites, the King insufficiently protected his people and the borders of their lands.
- The people nevertheless boasted of their military strength.
Sound familiar?
Our "king" has raised up czars, only 5% of whom have ever worked in the private sector. Our "queen" has hired dozens of courtesans to entertain her beck and call, at great expense to the taxpayer. These are but figure-heads of the treacherous cabal who now inhabit Washington, D.C. and the legion of sycophants who suck off the government teat everywhere. They dine sumptuously and vacation frequently, costing us billions. Our "king" has directed hundreds of billions of (largely borrowed) federal dollars to construction projects in every state, erecting monuments to his own magistry. Even as our southern borders are over-run from time to time (by "Lamanites" even!), our "king" does little or nothing to stem the encroachment, pillage and slaughter. Instead, we blow the hell out of those we deem "enemies" in foreign lands, relying upon our superior technology as the world's greatest "superpower". We wallow in pride and idolatry.
When King Noah turned his armies against the people of God (Chapter 19), "the lesser part began to breathe out threatenings against the king, and there began to be a great contention among them." Those who opposed the king (and government) were sentenced to death by King Noah's followers. Only a minority of the people (the righteous, productive part, no doubt) were dissatisfied with the status quo. The unrighteous majority (part of the ruling class, and beneficiaries thereof) labored to keep the king in power -- and the rest of the people in servitude.
Today the "ruling factions" are called unions and government employees. Government workers now outnumber construction, farming, fishing, forestry, manufacturing, mining and utilities workers combined. They now use the color of law to force citizens to pay their inflated salaries and benefits. I am one of those beneficiaries (though, arguably, among the lower minions). While I hardly make enough now to get by, many (in the private sector) earn significantly less than I do. My union uses dishonest and coercive tactics to retain power and maintain the gravy train for its membership -- at the public's expense.
Why didn't more people complain in King Noah's time? They were either on the government dole (and beholden to it), they were distracted by sin, or they were too busy laboring to pay their bills and taxes. With what little free time they had, they didn't follow politics or investigate federal expenditures. They wasted their energies with harlots (as did their leaders) or they focused on their families and worthy personal concerns (as did the righteous). Meanwhile, their government exploded...then imploded.
When King Noah found himself at the point of a sword, threatened with death, he turned his people's attention to an invading foe from the south. (Shemlon was south of Nephi. See proposed map of present-day central Guatemala.) Thus distracted by war, the king's people continued to support him and his policies. But only for a while. They eventually "fired" him. Literally.
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