March 29, 2006   

Politics Immoral

Dear Ms. Kroes,

I wish to take this opportunity to tell you what I, as a European citizen and thus one of the people you would say legitimize your power as European Commissioner, think of the work you are doing. This is not one of the supposedly many e-mails you might receive from angry people; contrarily, I wish to inform you of my view of the European Union state of affairs and offer reasons for my perspective.
      Firstly, let me state that I see politics and social organization in a moral light: political rulings and dealings need to be morally justified to be legitimate. Another way to say this is that politics is not moral if illegitimate, and not legitimate if immoral. If it cannot be justified, it should not be.
      There is, to me, a very clear difference between moral and legitimate means on the one side, and immoral and illegitimate on the other. The latter include all such means including force, and force cannot ever be a just means. A society based on fundamental respect for each other and voluntary agreements is legitimate and moral, a society based on the opposite is not.
      Secondly, I believe people are equal by nature. Each individual has an equal right to his self and that which he has brought about; this means I have as much a right to myself as you do to yourself, and the same goes for everyone. This is in effect the reason for respect and the need for legitimate and moral interactions/means to be voluntary.
      This is a very simple philosophy which I hope you can share. (I cannot think of any reason for you not to share it.) Politics has to be morally justifiable and legitimate in the sense that it does not involuntarily cause imbalances between individuals and between their ways of life.
      What this means is simply that force, aggression, violence, and coercion are illegitimate and immoral. Any interaction where any of such is present is involuntary and therefore breaks the equality standard of morals. We cannot allow for someone to aggress on others just as we cannot accept the use of coercive means by some people to make others comply with their made-up rules.
      This morality of mine, as my guiding principle in philosophy and politics, is a morality of peace and respect. As you can see, I do not accept the use of force, fraud, coercion, violence, or aggression in any way. Such means are involuntary and thus in effect means one proclaims to be master while others will be servants. This is inequality and oppression, and I cannot justify it.
      It is against any reasonable logic or morality that some people should have a “right” to boss others around without first asking for and getting their acceptance. We call such people tyrants and mobsters, their actions immoral and illegitimate. It is not acceptable in a civilized society--not in schools, not in public places, not anywhere. When our children are bullied, we seek an end to it because it is a terrible injustice and uncivilized behavior on the bullyer's part.
      When some people threaten to burn down your house unless you pay them your money and allegiance, you call the police. If someone would cross that line of mutual respect in any way we consider that person's actions illegitimate, unjustified, and immoral. He is a tyrant.
      This is a common fundamental conviction that I share: that involuntary actions directed at me or my belongings are illegitimate and unlawful. I have a right to self defense against any tyrant who tries to impose his will on my. This right is fundamental: I have the right to my life and to do whatever I wish with it, and I also acknowledge and support your equal right.
      I believe you understand this morality, and that you do support it deep down inside of your heart. This is the radical and untainted sense of justice all of us feel inside, even if some of us sometimes try to hide it. We wish and try to treat others as we would like them to treat us. We are peaceful, respectful, and cherish other people's rights to voluntarily interact with us or stay out of our way.
      You, dear madame, are the enemy of peace, respect, rights, and equality. In using the power of being commissioner, you forcefully break this fundamental and moral principle with every breath you take. Your actions reveal your enmity to humankind, your disrespect for your fellow men, and your total lack of morality.
      Political power is only this: power. Power is by definition incompatible with the morality I have described: power is involuntary, it is forceful, fraudulent, coercive, violent, aggressive. You elevate yourself above me and hundreds of millions of equally human beings. In seeking and acting as holder of political power, you force your personal will on us and accept us to silently accept your decree. If we don't, you and your system will see to it that we are sorry.
      But I don't think you are a hopelessly immoral person, that you have lost your human sense of justice. I think you do realize deep down what is right and what is wrong. But you have created an illusion of working for us rather than against us, through which you seek legitimacy for your actions.
      Let me tell you clearly, there is no such legitimacy. I have never accepted your authority and never will. I have never stated my intention to comply with your rules. I have never asked for your advice. Yet you cling to political power and let it intoxicate you--and convince yourself what you are doing is for the “comon” or other good. It is not.
      Your rules and decrees make thousands of armed goons act without question to break up ties and agreements, to mercilessly crush the dreams and hopes of peaceful people. Your actions forcefully removes peaceful and beneficial alternatives when people make their voluntary and moral choices. You make the choices I should make, and say it is for my good. But you do not take responsibility; you do not even ask my permission.
      If I were to act the way you are, you would call the police and have me arrested. You hide behind your fancy title, Commissioner, that you claim reward your actions with divine legitimacy. I tell you, it does not. I do not accept your authority, and I do not welcome your break entry into my personal and private realm. I despise you.
      I leave you alone just as you should leave me alone. If you have read this far, please see that you are the perpetrator. I am not. I am simply writing to ask you to get off your high horses and let me reclaim my natural right to the life I'm leading.
      Let me make the choices and let me take responsibility for my actions. It should not matter to you with whom I wish to interact or on what terms, it should not matter to you how I do it or what reasons I have. Just pay me the respect I deserve, and I will respect your equal right.
      You may not think I am fit for making such choices, but who are you to say I do not know how to run my life? I am, after all, the one understanding this fundamental morality of life: I let you live in peace. You are not.
      Please do not ask for my allegiance, and do not expect me to recognize your authority. I will not comply, I will not be subjected, and I will not surrender my natural right. Please do acknowledge my whole-hearted resistance to your fictitious prominence and immoral dominion.
      I do not ask much. I ask you only to honor my inviolate right to lead my life as I see fit, in the same way I honor your equal right.

Yours faithfully,


Per Bylund
Citizen