Rule of Man v. Rule of Law, Page 3

Rule of Man v. Rule of Law, Page 3

Ludwig von Mises wote:

"The only certain fact about Russian affairs under
the Soviet regime with regard to which all people
agree is: that the standard of living of the Russian
masses is much lower than that of the masses in
the country which is universally considered as the
paragon of capitalism, the United States of America.
If we were to regard the Soviet regime as an experiment,
we would have to say that the experiment has clearly
demonstrated the superiority of capitalism and the
inferiority of socialism."

Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis by
Ludwig von Mises.

Found at: http://www.econlib/org/library/Mises/MsSApp.html

This was originally published in German in 1922 and
through several reprints in German as well as English
the last edition appeared as late as 1951. The impetus
of the book was socialism whereas this discussion is
about the Rule of Law. There is an overlap that occurs
naturally enough where, as in socialism, social, political,
and economic power are all focussed in a relatively few
individuals or at best a small group instead of being
spread across all of society as is normal for a capitalistic
democracy.

Von Mises work approached socioeconomic-political
problems from the viewpoint of discussing socialism
opposing capitalism. For our purposes the reader can
legitimately substitute "rule of man" in place of
socialism, because in the end that's how it works out.

For our discussion we also substitute Iron County compared
to the rest of the USA (or if one prefers, Iron County
compared to nearby economically successful counties) for
those used by von Mises.

The ONLY difference between Iron County and Dickinson,
or Vilas or Onida Counties is the effective operation of the
ruling political structure. While today's population in Iron
County is very low, that was brought about by how the
oligarchy operates and is kept that way by that same
oligarchy continues to operate.

Let's take a look at two proposed projects that are
supposed to help progress in Iron County, one favored
by the oligarchy, and one opposed by them.

Several years ago I proposed a trolley project

www.angelfire.com/planet/iron-river

for Iron River that upon initial presentation was
favored by John Archocosky, City Manager, with the
following comments: 1: I like it, it will be good
for the city and the county. 2: Your timing is
perfect, streets and alleyways are going to be
redone and we'll include this project in that
planning and, 3: I'll help in any way I can.

Armed with this, I promoted the project for several
months until it became apparent that the project was
disapproved by the oligarchy because success would
mean they stood a chance of losing control of the
county, of their political power, when competitive
individuals became part of the political landscape
as a result of the money coming into the county and
an increase in the management caliber population

In the end, Archocosky used two mechanisms to defeat
that which he had initially promoted. He determined
that the trolley project would not be self-sustaining
out of generated revenue. Nothing in Iron County has
been able to achieve that status for the last 50 years.
Even such routine purchases as replacement police
cars depend on federal government grants. Armed with
that bit of information, Archocosky had the raw
information published by the local press (before this
organ was established) and he fed it through the well
established rumor mill as though a successful project
bringing prosperity into the city and county were an
unspeakable evil.

Compare this to the airport project that the population
spoke harshly against the last time the proposal was
made public. Despite the fact that the population was
generally opposed, the project has been ongoing all
the while. Even when a discussion about the new airport
ensued in a public meeting of the Iron County Board, it
was not reported in the newspaper or on the air of our
local radio station, WIKB.

Now the reason for not discussing it in the broad
distribution media was based on "not getting the
local gentry riled," but the disservice to the local
population is huge and is one aspect of "rule of
man v. rule of law."

A couple of years back I got myself in trouble with
the editor of the Iron County Reporter for calling
her function in the county that of a puppet controlled
by the puppet master. Well the best of all possible
forms of control happens when the person being
controlled has no sense of that reality. But here,
in the case of the airport project, you can see it
plainly enough. What was that about, "the wife is
always the last one to know"?

Here's the crux of the matter. It is the "rule of
men" intent on maintaining their own petty political
and economic power that holds Iron County in such a
grip of controlled poverty that also keeps our
population low and forces your children to leave the
community where they grew up in order to find work.

I keep showing you how it works. When will you, the
public, do something about it? Even those third world
Iranians aren't sitting still for precisely the same
sort of control that's being exercised over you, you
who allegedly live in a democratic society.

No, I'm not recommending insurrection in the streets,
but an active participation in government by more of
the population would easily wrest control of your
lives and economy from those who currently use it to
bolster their own egos and line their pockets at your
expense.

Drive by 766 Penetoga Trail to see how John Archocosky
lives on the income you provide him. And while you're
at it, ask him why he doesn't live in the City of Iron
River as the City Charter requires a City Manager to
do. The idea was that he should have to live under the
same ordinances and rules as the people he represents
in City Hall every day. Why have you permitted him to
skate on this?

Bill Vajk