pasted from this site: https://thepriceofliberty.org/by-what-legitimate-authority/

By what legitimate authority?

Posted on February 17, 2013 by MamaLiberty

In the course of conversations about many of the high profile incidents being used to further the efforts of politicians and socialists of all stripes, especially the gun grabbers, the thing that came to my mind over and over was the question: by what authority? Why do so many people assume, or even enthusiastically agree with the idea that politicians, bureaucrats and “law enforcement” entities and personalities have some absolute and undeniable authority to do whatever it is they do, and to force that on all the rest of us who do not agree with their plans.
We went on to discuss the idea of these incidents being instigated, planned and carried out by government agents to further this “authority.” And then, of course, we came to “conspiracy” theories and whether or not these events really happened or were merely used to further the goals of the “authorities.”
And it seems fairly obvious to me that there is not a cut and dried answer. I’m sure there are elements of “conspiracy” in many of them. Opportunistic use of events and personalities involved, manipulation of the facts and all the government/media spin and speculation, as well as the gullible nature of those absorbing the information, confuses that issue badly.
There definitely seems to be a plan, and a goal
Not a “conspiracy.” A pogrom.
Only instead of “Jews,” this time it is independent thinkers, productive people who would rather not be robbed, those who can and will defend themselves and their communities. Free people of all kinds. And if we are too afraid of being seen as “conspiracy nuts,” I guess the pogrom, once again, will be a success.  But I don’t really think that challenging the “official story” of these atrocities is the central need. “Conspiracy” is too pat. There’s just so much more to it than that.
The question not being asked by most of us is: By what legitimate authority? How does anyone legitimately gain authority to control the lives and choices of other people against their will?
Did you ever ask a politician, a gun grabber, a public school teacher, a bureaucrat… “By what legitimate authority do you demand, order, enforce, do these things?”
I have. Most, of course, cite the “constitution” and/or “the rule of law.” I then ask them how those things can confer LEGITIMATE authority. Where does legitimate authority over people’s lives and property originate?
So far, NONE of them can answer that, and most become extremely angry when questioned at all. Yet I would think that is the most important question we can ask.
And it’s the most important question we can ask ourselves. Do we own our lives, or have we given our sovereign and natural authority over ourselves to the rulers and politicians?
Those who have freely consented to be controlled by the constitution and the layers of ruling class and bureaucracy it created do not need my permission or my blessing. They are free to do so. The problem is that they feel equally or even especially free to impose that on me, even though I have NOT consented to be so ruled. By their own words, they must have the “consent of the governed,” but not one of them is willing to entertain the fact that not consenting -simply opting out – is possible.
Ask the question. Ask yourself first. Act accordingly.
The Most Dangerous Superstition
By Larken Rose
“The root cause of most of society’s ills–the main source of man’s inhumanity to man–is neither malice nor negligence, but a mere superstition–an unquestioned assumption which has been accepted on faith by nearly everyone, of all ages, races, religions, education and income levels. If people were to recognize that one belief for what it is–an utterly irrational, self-contradictory, and horribly destructive myth–most of the violence, oppression and injustice in the world would cease. But that will happen only when people dare to honestly and objectively re-examine their belief systems.”
By what legitimate authority do these people control YOUR life and property, and why would you want them to control mine as well as yours?
Get the book. Read it. Think about it, then share it with everyone possible. Until that evil superstition is eliminated, or at least challenged sufficiently, the power addicts will continue to dominate our society.

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

C. S. Lewis