James Madison warned us about “the old trick of turning every contingency into a resource for accumulating force in the government”. [Apologies to BTM member Robert, who brought this great quote to my attention].

By now, most of us are aware of the ways in which our government is seizing the opportunity to increase its power over us, but this evil opportunism is also playing out on a scale much grander than Madison had envisioned. Listen to what Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations has to say about the US financial crisis:

[From the Press Trust of India]
Dharam Shourie
United Nations, Sep 23 (PTI) Warning nations against looking inwards rather than towards a shared future, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today said the emergence of new centres of power in the developing world demand increasing collaboration instead of confrontation.

Opening the high level segment of the United Nations General Assembly, he said it would be tragic if the nations start looking inwards as it would mean retreating from the progress made, particularly in the realm of development, and more equitably sharing the fruit of growth.

The world, he said, needs a strong leadership to ensure that billions are lifted out of poverty and international law and justice prevail, human rights are not violated and everyone lives in peace and security.

The recent global financial crisis, he said, also calls for collective action and a global leadership.

Stating that the crisis threatens financing for development and social spending in both rich and poor nations as also achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), he asked nations to engage at the highest level to resolve it.

"We need to restore order to international financial markets," Ban said. PTI

If Americans value freedom at all, we must not give up what little sovereignty we have left as a nation. We should demand that our leaders tell Ban Ki-moon to get lost and mind his own business.