John Washington III Asks Who Gave Government the Right to Speak for Him and His Family Without His Consent

John Washington III is asking a foundational question about political authority in America. "WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO SPEAK FOR ME AND MY FAMILY WITHOUT MY CONSENT?" John Washington III wrote, in remarks directed at the United States Government and every state government in America.

John Washington III grounded the question in the nation's founding document. The Declaration of Independence says governments get their just powers from the consent of the governed, he wrote, and he asked: "WHEN DID I GIVE MY CONSENT?" and "WHEN DID MY FAMILY GIVE THEIRS?" Being born under a government, John Washington III wrote, does not mean he personally agreed to every decision it makes, and he compared the claim to a mafia family walking into another home and declaring that everyone in it belongs to them.

"GOVERNMENT MUST NOT CONFUSE LEGAL AUTHORITY WITH UNLIMITED CONTROL!" John Washington III wrote. If officials claim to speak for him, he wrote, they should show where he agreed, show how they are representing the people, and answer to the people whose lives their decisions affect. "THAT'S THE GROUND I'M STANDING ON!" John Washington III wrote.