Paul Craig Roberts: The Rule Of Law No Longer Exists In Western Civilization

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Authored by Paul Craig Roberts,

My work documenting how the law was lost began about a quarter of a century ago. A close friend and distinguished attorney, Dean Booth, first brought to my attention the erosion of the legal principles on which rests the rule of law in the United States. My columns on the subject got the attention of an educational institution that invited me to give a lecture on the subject. Subsequently, I was invited to give a lecture on “How The Law Was Lost” at the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law in New York City.

The work coalesced into a book, The Tyranny Of Good Intentions, coauthored with my research associate, Lawrence M. Stratton, published in 2000, with an expanded edition published in 2008. We were able to demonstrate that Sir Thomas More’s warning about prosecutors and courts disregarding law in order to more easily convict undesirables and criminals has had the result of turning law away from being a shield of the people and making it into a weapon in the hands of government. That is what we witness in the saga of the Hammonds, long-time ranchers in the Harney Basin of Oregon.

With the intervention of Ammon Bundy, another rancher who suffered illegal persecution by the Bureau of Land Management but stood them off with help from armed militia, and his supporters, the BLM’s decades long persecution of the innocent Hammonds might have come to a crisis before you read this.

Bundy and militiamen, whose count varies from 15 to 150 in the presstitute media, have seized an Oregon office of the BLM as American liberty’s protest against the frame-up of the Hammonds on false charges. As I write the Oregon National Guard and FBI are on the way.

The militiamen have said that they are prepared to die for principles, and the rule of law is one of them. Of course, the presstitute media is making the militiamen into the lawbreakers—and even calling them terrorists—and not the federal government’s illegal prosecution of the Hammonds, whose crime was their refusal to sell their ranch to the government to be included in the Masher National Wildlife Refuge.

If there are only 15 militiamen, there is a good chance that they will all be killed, but if there are 150 armed militiamen prepared for a shootout, the outcome could be different.

I cannot attest to the accuracy of this report of the situation (the resources required to verify the information in this account of how the government escalated a “crisis” out of the refusal of a family to bend is beyond the resources of this website) - However, the story fits perfectly with everything Lawrence Stratton and I learned over the years that we prepared our book on how the law was lost. This account of the persecution of the Hammonds is the way government behaves when government has broken free of the rule of law.

I can attest with full confidence that the United States no longer has a rule of law. The USA is a lawless country. By that I do not mean what conservative Republicans mean, which is, if I understand them, that racial minorities violate law with something close to impunity.

What I mean is that only the mega-banks and the One Percent have legal protection, and that is because these people control the government. For everyone else law is a weapon in the hands of the government to be used against the American people.

The fact that the shield of law no longer exists for American citizens is why, according to US Department of Justice statistics, only 4 percent of federal felonies ever go to trial. Almost the entirety of federal felonies are settled by coerced plea bargains that force defendants to admit to crimes that they did not commit in order to avoid “expanded indictments” that, if presented to the typical stupid, trusting, gullible American “jury of their peers,” would lock them away for hundreds of years.

American justice is a joke. It does not exist. You can see this in the American prison population. “Freedom and Democracy” America not only has the largest percentage of its population in prison than any country on the planet, but also the largest number of prisoners.

If you consider that “authoritarian” China has four times the population of the United States but fewer prisoners, you understand that “authoritarian” China has a more protective rule of law than the United States.

Compared to “freedom and democracy America,” Russia has hardly anyone in prison. Yet, Washington and its media whores have defined the President of Russia as “the new Hitler.”

The only thing we can conclude from the facts is that the United States Government and those ignorant fools who worship it are evil incarnate.

Out of evil comes dictatorship. The White House Fool, at best a two-bit punk, has decided that he doesn’t like the Second Amendment to the US Constitution any more than he likes any of the other constitutional protections of US citizens. He is looking for dictatorial methods, that is, unlegislated executive orders, to overturn the Second Amendment. He has the corrupt US Department of Justice, a criminal organization, looking for ways for the dictator to overturn both Congressional legislation and Supreme Court rulings.

The media whores have fallen in line with the would-be dictator. All we hear is “gun violence.” If only Karl Marx were still with us. He would ridicule those who turn inanimate objects into purposeful actors. It is extraordinary that the American left-wing thinks that guns, not people, kill people.

The position of the “progressive left-wing” in the United States is perplexing. Here are Americans, immersed into a police state, as are the Hammonds, and the progressive left-wing wants to disarm the population.

Whatever this “progressive left-wing opposition” is, it has nothing in common with revolutionaries. The American left-wing is totally irrevelant, a defeated force that sold out and no longer represents the people or the truth.

Even more astonishing, judging by comments on RT’s report on the situation and the readers comments, all RT and American blacks want to know is where is the National Guard in Oregon? Why isn’t it called out against the White militia protests as it was called out against the Black Ferguson protests?

If protesting the murder of a young black American by Ferguson police is not legitimate and the protesters are “terrorists,” why aren’t the Oregon protestors terrorists for trying to protect jailbirds from their “lawful sentence”? This is the wrong question.

It really is discouraging that the American black community is unable to understand that if any American can be dispossessed, all Americans can be dispossessed.

It is also discouraging that RT decided to play the race card instead of comprehending that law is no longer a shield of the American people but is a weapon in the hands of Washington.

Why doesn’t RT at least listen to the President of Russia, who states repeatedly that America and the West are lawless.

Putin is correct. America and its vassals are lawless. No one is safe from the government.

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Wed, 01/06/2016 - 23:34 | 7008951 blindman
blindman's picture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhpYEvZ-Oz4
John Trudell on the Christian World View

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 00:48 | 7008962 I Write Code
I Write Code's picture

Starts out well and then goes wwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayy too far, but still more right than wrong, dammit.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 00:02 | 7009031 Wow72
Wow72's picture

From Article:  "For everyone else law is a weapon in the hands of the government to be used against the American people."

Another great piece!  This is exactly it.   Its gone way beyond.   Remember which politicians said that these guys in Oregon should be shot?  Or we should "teach" them a lesson.  They are the ones.  Trying desperately to hold on to power by their finger nails.  If they confront these guys... it proves their evil and they would do it to any American for any excuse they can come up with.   They dont want to deal with issues? They dont hold American values and they do not in anyway resemble "American".

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 23:59 | 7009040 glenlloyd
glenlloyd's picture

Where there's really no legal protection there's nothing worth owning because you'll never be able to protect it.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 00:45 | 7009190 HowardBeale
HowardBeale's picture

The "elite" thieves of the oligarch "class" think they own their lives...

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 00:29 | 7009139 Omega_Man
Omega_Man's picture

Obama the two bit punk

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 00:53 | 7009211 HowardBeale
HowardBeale's picture

That grossly overestimates his value. Think pico, femta, or other appropriate quantifiers.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 00:39 | 7009176 blindman
blindman's picture

http://gunsandbutter.org/
Oil & 9/11: Crossroads of Corruption & Criminality
Guest: James Corbett

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 01:46 | 7009335 DavidPierre
DavidPierre's picture

^^^^^^^

A must listen!

Thanx bm.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 00:49 | 7009203 22winmag
22winmag's picture

I agree.

 

Hardly anything that should go to trial goes to trial anymore.

 

It's all just plea bargains in the criminal courts and payola in the civil courts.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 00:54 | 7009207 I-am-not-one-of-them
I-am-not-one-of-them's picture

WACO 2.0 just around the corner

what a whitewash it was/will be

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 10:20 | 7010833 Baa baa
Baa baa's picture

Without the lopsided federal execution. If it happens again, everyone will bleed.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 01:10 | 7009261 Fuku Ben
Fuku Ben's picture

Western? How about the whole world? With some parts marginally better than others but all with a lot of room for improvement.

Attorney's are members of a corporation. They are licensed and operate inside another corporation. That corporation operates and provides their licensees the ability to work within another corporation called a "Federal Corporation" also known as the "United States". Do not confuse the United States the Country with United States the Federal Corporation. The former does not exist as everyone is fraudulently trained and constantly fraudulently misled to believe.

Have these entities all been fraudulently misrepresenting themselves to its alleged Citizens and clients pretending to be part of a Country? Citizens and clients who are actually employees and property of the Federal Corporation once they voluntarily, unknowingly, under threat or through fraudulent misrepresentation surrender jurisdiction to the Corporation they think is a country?

Nobody with skin in the game is going to tell you the legal game is a fraud, rigged and operates based on layers of lies and deception even if they knew that it was. Because if they admit this then they are knowing participants conspiring in the fraud and guilty under the actual law as well as their own existing legal code and statutes. In a way it operates like Enron before its collapse.

So just like the Wall Street ponzi fraud the entire judicial system inside the fictitious Country of the United States, and likely everywhere else, is also a ponzi fraud. Some inside the system don't know what's going on. Many do. And just like on Wall Street many use it to steal as much from as many people of as fast as they can.

If you want some basic insight into some of how the whole criminal scam works watch - "What The FUQ?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umVj5XQYAi8

Cheers to everyone in the current United Kingdom and all the alleged former colonies. You, like the rest of us in most if not all parts of the world, aren't as free as we think, yet.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 07:09 | 7009836 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

"Western? How about the whole world?"

and why don't you challenge that "western", first? the author cites high prison population as the main characteristic of loss of Rule of Law

he compares the numbers for the US, then China, then Russia... and forgets to mention numbers for the european countries, which are nevertheless bundled into "western"

how many often do we see articles that use the terms "US", "western" and "the world" completely interchangebly?

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 09:00 | 7010297 Archduke
Archduke's picture

Imho PCR is a hack and is being sloppy.
this isn't blog: one has to present the facts.

one needs to quote sources.
one needs to follow the story.

the litany of persecutions and expropriations
is all over conservative media, the national
review for one, and the following link.

can a real investigative journalist follow up
and corroborate this sequence of events?

http://theconservativetreehouse.com/2016/01/03/full-story-on-whats-going...

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 01:36 | 7009312 trader1
trader1's picture

Are we supposed to hate lawyers today?

What about them poor muslim schumcks?

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 02:18 | 7009409 BapZander
BapZander's picture

No, you always hate lawyers. Their only job is to take from those that have (if any) and give to those that have more.

Those poor muslim schumcks would be riding camels if not for lawyers (bankers)

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 01:48 | 7009340 Golden Phoenix
Golden Phoenix's picture

A while back I asked some older people how the world has changed since they were young. The general reply was 'Everything is illegal now'. Not sure what more need be said except to point out none of it is illegal if one has power.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 02:02 | 7009371 Global Observer
Global Observer's picture

The problem was there at the beginning, insisting on 'Rule of Law' than 'Rule of Justice'. While everyone can understand and debate and attempt to convince or be convinced whether an action was just or not, only a few can understand and discuss whether it was legal or not. In a society obsessed with the rule of law, anything can be legal or illegal, it only requires a law to be made or interpreted by those charged with it. However, in a society that strives for the rule of justice, law becomes a tool to serve justice and not an end in itself and hence violations of law, when in defence of justice, can be forgiven and unjust actions even if legal cannot be ignored just because they are not illegal and there will be demands to change the laws to make such actions illegal. Of course, justice requires to be coded into law to be enforceable, but the purpose of law itself would be rendering justice.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 10:16 | 7010807 Baa baa
Baa baa's picture

Well, intent does carry a little weight in the court system.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 02:17 | 7009407 bid the soldier...
bid the soldiers shoot's picture

affluenza anyone?

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 02:23 | 7009422 o r c k
o r c k's picture

How a true patriot sounds when enough is enough. He represents the spirit of millions of real Americans, some who cannot even put into words the dark cloud that hangs over their lives. It's fear. But not the fear of Muslim terrorism. It's the fear of a Government gone mad with power and the lust for more and more and more. These kinds of emotional essays should be taken as a sign that the end is near. Not the end of hardship and horror but the end of an evil political system that could not control its appetite for more money, more control, more lies and more blood. The next drama begins.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 02:40 | 7009452 wildbad
wildbad's picture

PCR has been on the right side of things for a long time.  He has brass balls and a heart of gold.  as one with much to lose he fearlessly pursues ideals long given up on by many of his generation.

We are fortunate to have him, even if it is too late to avoid a 2nd french revolution.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 03:55 | 7009551 Backin2006
Backin2006's picture

Governments are like little children, viz:

Sometimes they're good.

Sometimes they're bad, unwittingly.

Sometimes they're bad, and they know they're being bad.

Sometimes they're bad, and they know they're being bad, and they like it. 

Sometimes they're bad, and they know they're being bad, and they like it, and they just don't care, because they've come to love transgressing and don't care who it hurts or affects, and what do parents know anyway: they're so stupid and powerless. 

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 10:13 | 7010786 Baa baa
Baa baa's picture

Gotta be a parent to know that stuff and I detect a shortage of family men among ZHers.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 05:54 | 7009686 Global Observer
Global Observer's picture

as one with much to lose he fearlessly pursues ideals

What is even more impressive about him is how humble he is about his own fearlessness. I saw an interview where the interviewer pointed out exactly what I quoted above and Dr. Roberts quitely brushed it away saying he was unlikely to be a target since all he had were theories and no evidence to back them, but those with real evidence to expose, like Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, were the truly fearless people making exemplary sacrifices.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 03:03 | 7009476 Debugas
Debugas's picture

Bush senior quote: "Might is Right"

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 05:54 | 7009542 Early Retirement
Early Retirement's picture

Seeing a very healthy recognition by white populists as to the despicable treatment of blacks by white police officers. The populist movement needs to break free of "Tea Party" racism to rise, and it may finally be doing so.

ETA: Disappointed by a downrate. My statement is self-evident, "Moran."

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 10:11 | 7010773 Baa baa
Baa baa's picture

Damn trolls are worse than cockroaches.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 03:48 | 7009543 learning2
learning2's picture

This article is right on. So true. Just got my Per Curium on my Appeal on December 23rd! Wells is a real friend of the community, eh?

Years of stress all because I was trying to get payments credited. They told me to stop paying to qualify for some of that bailout money. I never been treated so shitty in my life. I paid up after 6 weeks. THEN they can't get their shit together cause the payments weren't sent via auto-pay. My bank electric payments were cashed but, you know, you're just you...we're not going to talk to anymore because...Got that in writing (well, that's not the quote.). And, there lots more than that.

No original mortgages and no original notes ever made it into the court room! My attorney did NOT present any evidence on my behalf...he had all the proof since the start!! I wanted the docs inspected for wet signatures and the like...That other name and signature was never on the papers that I signed. Anyway, lots more facts and events of bankster ville.

So, now, I'd like to ask my fellow ZeroHedge readers to help me find someone willing to take this system on. I need help to find a qualified, all-knowing attorney and/or firm, I'm thinking malpractice. I had a case in Florida and its crazy what's happened to me,just like what's happened to so many others!
 
I need a firm/attorney to represent me in one or more of the following: 1) Legal Malpractice or Personal Injury, 2) Title Insurance claim, 3) Wrongful Foreclosure, and most likely 5) enforcement of a Void Mortgage and 6) Breach of Contract. This is what I think. I need an experienced, professional to represent my best interests and provide their recommendations.
 
I have a full overview along with some links to documents, filings, transcripts, my deposition, briefs and much more, if I can find anyone interested in looking at my case.

3 arms of what?

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 06:14 | 7009708 Pelosis Usless Brain
Pelosis Usless Brain's picture

Check here. They might be able to help.

http://4closurefraud.org/

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 03:52 | 7009546 Early Retirement
Early Retirement's picture

There is a law recognizing the "Do Not Call" list. In my home, despite being on every version of this list, I receive 30+ sales calls each day. There is a law, but corporations don't like it so Obama collects his bribe money and doesn't enforce  it. I'm surprised none of the Republican Presidential candidates has brought this up, since it affects millions of Americans and speaks to Obama's true corruption (being a corporate sellout, not a "Communist" or other such Tea Party/trailer-park nonsense).

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 07:50 | 7009998 GhostOfDiogenes
GhostOfDiogenes's picture

" I receive 30+ sales calls each day."

Uh, no you don't.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 04:49 | 7009606 JamaicaJim
JamaicaJim's picture

As a person that has seen - first hand - how LE and the federal "justice system" works, I want to amend the phrase "The Rule of Law"

The system follows it's OWN set of "laws", and when the "laws" they previously set do not fit the particular "crime", they alter them TO fit.

"Winning", enslaving, punishing, submission are their only objectives.

Therefore, the phrase SHOULD be;

"The CURRENT Rules of the Rulers"

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 05:24 | 7009650 spacecadet12
spacecadet12's picture

Your point is well worth the analysis.  The drug trafficing laws that limit the amount of cash that you can withdraw were instituted in the 80's. Remember when you could go in and buy a car with cash, do that now and the FBI will come knocking/kicking down you door!  This has evolved into any offense that the FEDS want to get you on they seize all your assets.  This in my opinion should be struck down by the Supreme Court along with Kilo(sp?) emminent domain, and the unlimited cash for campaigns.  The rule of law could be enforced again. 

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 05:32 | 7009662 beaglebog
beaglebog's picture

 

 

 

Politicians don't make LAW.

 

They make EXCEPTIONS to law.

 

Thus, stealing is a crime ... except when we call it taxation.

Murder is a crime ... except when we call it "bringing Democracy".

Extortion is a crime ... except when we call it "a seatbelt violation".

 

There are no new LAWS to be discovered. Only new exceptions.

 

Well, you get the idea.

 

 

 

 

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 06:18 | 7009717 Feel it Reel it
Feel it Reel it's picture

Remember The Lawyers protect the Bankers.... The Banker donate/fund the Lawyers...The Politicians are the Lawyers....Look at how many Politicians are Lawyers...Where's John Corzine?? Yep, he's a Lawyer too....

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 07:13 | 7009728 Wow72
Wow72's picture

The FAT Fucking Glutton Christie thinks we should use force in Oregon?  On a group that is not threatening anyone?  Maybe if he could get his FAT ASS that far away from his desk they could use his Whale Blubber to Heat the camp and keep the torches burning! 

Go Trump!  Christie is an ignorant MORON.  He is a Big Mouth USELESS FAT ASS.  Get on the fucking Tread mill you fucking useless HUNK of PORK!  The Fat bastard also thinks he should be able to decide whether or not you can smoke weed? Because he is smarter than YOU!  2nd year and a row WEED was on 0 Death certificates on top of DECADES of having never killed anyone!... UNLIKE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.. Go dip one of your fat rolls in flour and FUCK THE WET SPOT... you useless P.O.S. Christie !

Alls we need is another FAT, IGNORANT, GLUTTON in the White House!  Just say no to more PORK!  What other Republicans support using Force on Americans in Oregon and hate Weed? I know Rubio thinks he is smart enough to "Know" whether you should smoke weed or not?  Enquiring minds want to know, so I make sure I dont Fucking Vote for you Assholes!  Squeaaaaaal  Chris!  Squeaaaaal like the PIG YOU ARE!

Christie as president would be like having JABBA the HUT ruling us.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 07:39 | 7009941 NuYawkFrankie
NuYawkFrankie's picture

Regretfully I have but 1 UP-Vote to give for that most excellent rant on that Fat Fcuk from NJ

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 07:45 | 7009961 Wow72
Wow72's picture

Thanks! Do you think the powers that be will think its politically correct?  Now ask me if I give a SHIT?

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 08:00 | 7010038 NuYawkFrankie
NuYawkFrankie's picture

Lol! Rock on bro! ;)

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 08:50 | 7010275 Wow72
Wow72's picture

Holy Shit I see my "Social Score" is dropping like the market? I must have been a Bad, Bad, Boy!

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 07:54 | 7010012 22winmag
22winmag's picture

Chris Christie is totally qualified to occupy the White House and run the country.

 

After all, he used to work as Bernie Madoff's lobbyist.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 06:41 | 7009757 skippy9
skippy9's picture

Well done Mr.Roberts. I have watched for almost all of my eighty one years in my birth country the erosion of constitutional rights, the corruption of those elected officials and the dismantling of the Supreme court packed now with patrons of the Executive branch. But I have done nothing to stop it. I am ashamed.But it's never too late to overturn tyrrany. So I am ready to take up arms against a repressive government. Are there any like minded readers out there?

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 08:09 | 7010081 NuYawkFrankie
NuYawkFrankie's picture

No need to feel ashamed - far from it.
You, Sir, are an inspiration ;)

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 09:32 | 7010497 Baa baa
Baa baa's picture

Just buried my 97 year old Father who served in WWII as a sub commander in the Pacific. He lost many friends but as he lay dying, he was weeping for the state America has come to today because he saw little hope in the people taking the nation back to rule of law and away from despotism or tyranny, etc.

I feel I know you sir and I apologize to you that I too have done little to force back the "Dismal Tide".

Having reached the age of perceived uselessness, I can only say that I would join you. I owe my home that much at least.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 07:29 | 7009904 Son of Captain Nemo
Son of Captain Nemo's picture

"It really is discouraging that the American black community is unable to understand that if any American can be dispossessed, all Americans can be dispossessed.

It is also discouraging that RT decided to play the race card instead of comprehending that law is no longer a shield of the American people but is a weapon in the hands of Washington.

Why doesn’t RT at least listen to the President of Russia, who states repeatedly that America and the West are lawless.

Putin is correct. America and its vassals are lawless. No one is safe from the government."...

Well said PCR.  I was actually surprised as well with the way RT spun this.

While I don't have all the fact(s) in the Bundy situation with every crisis that the American people are facing with the rule of law both domestic and foreign since Ruby, WACO and the end-run of the Pat Act(s) after 9/11 "why" RT would deviate from their positive reportage to distinguish Ferguson from Oregon is a costly mistake for them to have made.

 


Thu, 01/07/2016 - 09:24 | 7010451 Baa baa
Baa baa's picture

Just because Vlad is right on this one does not mean he is infallibly correct. The man bears watching.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 07:29 | 7009908 mog
mog's picture

I too am disgusted with the RT report.

It was biassed, one sided and lies.

They had some pro government 'analyst' on who was an embarrassment he was such a two faced distorter and liar.

RT

If you want to keep us watching - you better do better than that.

You report was a disgrace.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 07:48 | 7009983 Son of Captain Nemo
Son of Captain Nemo's picture

The only thing that did leave a bit of trace for me in the RT news stories coming out of Oregon was the fact surrounding the level of preparedness they were showing to the Press regarding "well stocked" provision(s) for the "Oath Keepers" deluxe and Ranchers at the site...

I must say that those observations were both telling and a little awkward, and to RT's credit they did raise a few eyebrows with that one, although there may in fact be some evidence or information to that part of the story purposeful or otherwise left out.

While I don't want to believe that the people invovled are attempting something staged, I have a number of colleagues in the know that have raised more than a few questions about the Oath Keepers agenda and whether or not they are genuine or simply another extension of "COINTELPRO"...

Guess time and this particular crisis will hopefully reveal all, hopefully unlike "Sandy Hook" and the Boston Marathon

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