mr peters asks the question: what did you consent to;

A reader – a “conservative” one – says the following regarding the “contract” I supposedly agreed to that binds me to obeisance as regards the authority of the federal government:

“You assented to one by living in the U.S. You pledged allegiance to the US in school. You accepted the preamble to the Constitution. You accepted the Declaration of Independence that gave rise to the United States. Everyday, you (hopefully) follow the laws of the US. You choose to vote for the changes you want and agree to accept the results of that vote.

The contract is not one of something of a paper you signed, but rather a choice you and your family made by choosing the US as the place to live.”

Oy vey!

This merited not just a response in the comments section of this site but a wider discussion, because it embodies the reverential-coercive mindset that many “conservatives” (loosely synonymous with Republicans) have toward government that – as I see it – accounts for why they have been so ineffective at making the case for less (let alone no) government.

Herewith my reply, with some additions:.......more.........