Imagine the following scenario: A prominent Ames resident states that to reduce crime in Ames, the police department could murder all of the students – you, me, all of us. How degrading would that be? A similar thing recently happened at the national level.

Bill Bennett, host of Salem Radio Network’s “Bill Bennett’s Morning in America,” recently stated on air that “you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down.” How would you feel to be on the receiving end of that attack? His commentary was immediately criticized for being racist, in part for equating blackness with crime.

There is an overlooked element in the controversy, though: The misconception that crime is only committed by citizens, and not the government. Let’s use Bennett’s example of quasi-genocide. Bennett noted it would be “impossible” to conduct a nation-wide forced-abortion campaign, and doing so would be “ridiculous and morally reprehensible.” He reiterated, though, “but your crime rate would go down.”

This is not so. Conducting a form of genocide would be a monumental crime, too large to quantify. It would be an enormous task, possible only for a totalitarian government. The state would need to identify all black pregnancies and schedule each one for forced abortion. Choice would be taken from the mother by the state, and her body compromised. The scale of injustice of this identification and termination system would be unparalleled. But Bennett said crime would decrease? Such a government would have a monopoly on crime. His statement captures a subtle, but dangerous idea that government is naturally just and not subject to its own laws.

Government is an artificial device, whose power to govern rests in the cooperation and acceptance of citizens. Government does not have mystical qualities and there is nothing intrinsically righteous about it. The history of government – including our own – is one of violence, deceit and injustice. It is not to be worshipped or trusted, but to be scrutinized and questioned.

All too often, though, government is given free reign to do as it pleases. Thanks to this, the U.S. government now has the highest imprisonment rate in the world. This is not in Saudi Arabia or Canada, but in the good old “land of the free and home of the brave.”

Part of the problem has a historical explanation. Back in the day when kings ruled with absolute power, people tended to believe the throne was anointed by God.

They thought whatever dictator ruled them was acting by some divine plan. It was good to be king, having a population so willing to believe that any injustice was just God’s mysterious way. Through time this sentiment has diminished, but the unhealthy submission persists today.

Another part of the problem is that people today tend to view the government and the people as having the same interests. This is not the case. The government seeks power over individuals, while people seek love, friendship and peace. And considering the financial condition of the nation’s politicians, it would be clear that ordinary people have nothing in common with them regardless of party.

By holding the government to the same expectations it has of us, we can build a more rational and humane place to live. Ask yourself this question of every political action: “Would the same be legal for me?” If not, why is this so? There are reasonable cases where this is true, but a great many more in which the government has power it shouldn’t have.

– Nicolai Brown is a senior in linguistics from Okoboji.