In 1791, the United States imposed its first tax on a domestic product since the founding of this nation.
Known as the whiskey tax, it was applied to all distilled spirits, of which whiskey was the most popular.
In the Western frontier of the United States, farmers and local distillers resisted this tax to the point that they roughed up tax collectors and even attacked a U.S. marshal sent to enforce the law.
Many of those in the Western frontier were veterans of the American Revolution, and they felt this tax to be out of step with its principles.
In response, President Washington, who knew a thing or two about fighting for liberty, jumped on a horse at the head of 13,000 men and marched to get his whiskey money.
Armed Militiamen in Oregon
If you follow the trending news at all, you know that approximately 100+ armed militiamen, along with several of the sons of famous Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, took over a federal facility at an Oregon wildlife refuge.
This move originated out of a continued struggle with the federal Bureau of land management and Western ranchers.
Utilizing social media, one of the Bundy kids called for armed militia groups to join them and be prepared for anything.
Many claimed this is merely a peaceful protest where citizens happen to be holding their constitutionally guaranteed weapons.
If so, that’s great, for it seems that the Bureau of Land Management is in fact something that needs national attention and oversight.
So surely it shouldn’t be a problem when law enforcement officials get the order to clear the facility.
I mean, not even George Washington sent in the Army at the first sign of trouble during the whiskey rebellion.
He sent federal officials and federal law enforcement, who were subsequently roughed up and attacked by the protesters.
But since this is just a peaceful protest, surely nothing will happen here… but what if it did?
A Dangerous Game of Chicken
I would think that there’s pretty wide support within the United States for the premise that government often overreaches its authority.
I would even go so far as to say that many Americans would question the actions of the Bureau of Land Management and perhaps even believe they are treating landowners poorly.
But when it comes time to letting the bullets fly at federal law enforcement officials, much as would have been the case during the whiskey rebellion, most Americans say whoa, I mean, whoa.
There are a handful of individuals who actually support letting the bullets fly, and unfortunately, I fear that many of them are hanging out in that Oregon facility tonight.
I realize they view themselves, much as those in the whiskey rebellion did, as fighting for the principles of American liberty. But what happens when George Washington comes to town?
Clearly, Barack Obama is not going to hop on a horse and march to battle.
Perhaps he might peddle in on a bicycle while wearing his helmet, but a warrior general he is not.
But make no mistake; at some point, someone is going to have to blink.
Either the armed protesters in Oregon are going to go home, or the federal government is coming.
The repercussions could be astounding for America.
There are mechanisms and safety valves put into place by the founders to ensure government gets more responsive once the threshold for rebellion nears.
But much as was the case with the whiskey tax, and as is the case today, anything short is simply an insurrection.
Let us hope what is taking place in Oregon is just a peaceful protest with guns.
For if it is not, George is coming, and this nation hardly needs another crisis at this particular junction in history.
