To the Journal editor:

The irony of the Baraga County board to use their vow to the Constitution to justify the refusal to follow the rule of law. The Constitution was written because of the failed, bottom up power approach through The Articles of Confederation. Men like Franklin, Washington, Madison, and Hamilton, formed an effort to replace that document. The document they came up with is the Constitution. They were known as Federalists, and represented primarily urbane industrial areas. The opposition, antifederalists, base was rural in nature and still advocated for more local power. Their concerns were addressed by the Bill of Rights to get them on board with the strong central government concept. The Constitution created a top down power structure. Remaining authority was given to the states. The original trickle down. Central authority was tested at the federal level first with the Whisky Rebellion. Throughout Western Pennsylvania counties protesters used violence and intimidation to oppose what they called “tyranny” as a federal tax was enforced. In other words the county refused to enforce federal law. Washington’s response was to send in the well-regulated militia, to challenge the local unregulated rebellious militias and the insurrection was put down. All action within the framework of the intent of our founding fathers and their expression of that in the Constitution itself. Central authority was challenged again as the antifederalists found another evil tyrant, Abraham Lincoln. The serious seditionists took a “combat” solution and over 600,000 Americans died in battle to settle that question. Thus the proclaimed tyrants to deserve such violent uprisings were Washington and Lincoln.

I see many similarities between the environment now and what happened in the past, with pretty much the same opponents. It is not coincident that one side carry guns, fly confederate flags and occasional swastikas. It makes me question their current proclaimed tyrants, our elected governor and the Health Department. Historically the seditionists put them the same company as Washington and Lincoln. So far the Constitution has survived, and those who misguidedly and violently opposed vanquished. I do not see any different end to this insurrection. Only question is how many lives it will cost either through a combat solution or neglected virus precautions and how much damage they will do to our democracy?

ROBERT DARLING

Chassell