The secret ballot makes a secret government; and a secret government is a secret band of robbers and murderers

The secret ballot makes a secret government; and a secret government is a secret band of robbers and murderers

Lysander Spooner, a 19th-century American political philosopher and abolitionist, was a staunch advocate for individual liberty and limited government. He believed that the secret ballot was a tool used by the government to maintain its power and control over the people. In his essay "No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority," Spooner argued that the secret ballot allowed for a secret government to operate behind closed doors, making decisions that were not in the best interest of the people.

Spooner believed that the secret ballot was a way for the government to deceive the people into thinking they had a say in the political process, when in reality, the government was controlled by a small group of individuals who were only interested in furthering their own interests. He saw the secret ballot as a way for the government to maintain its power and control over the people, without them even realizing it.

According to Spooner, a secret government was essentially a band of robbers and murderers, who used their power to exploit and oppress the people. He believed that the government's actions were no different from those of a criminal gang, as they used force and coercion to achieve their goals. By operating in secret, the government was able to avoid accountability and scrutiny, allowing them to continue their oppressive practices without fear of reprisal.

Spooner's views on the secret ballot and secret government are still relevant today, as governments around the world continue to operate in secrecy and make decisions that are not in the best interest of the people. The lack of transparency and accountability in government has led to widespread corruption and abuse of power, furthering Spooner's argument that a secret government is nothing more than a band of robbers and murderers.