Editor, Times-Union:

“Good fences make good neighbors.” Robert Frost introduced this phrase in a poem back in 1914. It was actually derived from literature back in the 1600s meaning in the mending of fences. The metaphoric use of the word fences is often applied to invisible barriers, a separation between cultures, classes and people, unseen but understood.

Our government is a classic example of those who create barriers to control the masses. We somehow are convinced to elect them, only because of the fences they have already built. They’ve been working on these barriers for a long time. They use agencies like EPS, HHS, NIH to create regulations or rules to force us to abide by their dictates. However, none of these governmental bodies has authority to impose these regulations on the public. Their only authority comes from other acronyms like the FBI, CIA, ATF, DEA and a multitude of other departments whoare quite adapt at the construction of fences, a separation of government from the people they are supposed to represent.

A society built and based on self-government, an idea that civilized people could establish a governing authority made up of the people themselves. However, any such society must have civic rules that all must adhere to. Laws, regulations at federal, state and local levels have insulated the government from its citizens creating a barrier between the governed and government. An obvious but ironic example of this was the symbolic fencing off of the Capitol building commonly referred to as the “People’s House” after Jan. 6, 2021.

We are not unlike apes in a zoo. Their empty distant look in their eyes gazing out from their caged existence, wondering how they were dupes into their present situation. The trail of promised treats if we sacrifice just a few freedoms and offer our loyal compliance as the government erects yet another fence. As the apes eyes wonder around their restrictive environment and their thoughts flash back to a time they were unburdened by suffocating laws, rules and regulations. They think of how many fences must be climbed to once again be free, and what it will be take to enjoy the freedom they once had and they suddenly the realize ... true freedom is just on the other side of the last fence.

Gerald Roach

Warsaw