Robin Hood must die

The Robin Hood story is well known. He was the handsome, valiant and selfless defender of the weak; benefactor of the poor and terror of the greedy rich. He was the original wealth equalizer. But the Robin Hood myth is a Trojan horse for the Collectivist doctrine.

When Robin’s tale is taken at face value it provides emotional validation of theft. The pompous and spoiled scoundrels he robs; and the wholesome peasants to whom he gives – both seem deserving of Robin’s justice. By casting themselves as modern “Robin Hoods,” Collectivists try to pose in the glow of Robin’s legacy. But assuming the appearance of virtue is where their devotion to his creed ends.

The fictional Robin lived a simple life with his band of Merry Men in the heart of Sherwood Forest. His devotion to his quest was as pure as his pursuit of it was ruthless. Real-life “Robin Hoods” are almost all wealthy; living in extravagant luxury; aloof to the economic realities faced by most Americans. The “forest” these later-day Robins inhabit, while as impenetrable and mysterious as was Sherwood, bears no resemblance to the sylvan refuge our hero once occupied.

Today’s “Robin Hoods” walk gleaming marble hallways, meet in richly paneled rooms and enjoy the immunity, exclusivity, pomp and ceremony of Princes and Kings. Their original quest; to act as the devoted guardians of American liberty, justice and prosperity; has been reduced to a reckless accumulation of personal power – and the ruthless uses to which such power can be put.

The fictional Robin Hood lived in a feudal society, where all wealth was amassed through the coercion of a powerless, illiterate, peasant class by a callous oligarchy. The rich, from whom Robin stole, were thieves themselves. Robin was merely recovering stolen property. In this context, he was the righteous guardian of property rights.

America’s “Robin Hoods” exercise power granted by the Constitution and public consent to secure Robin Hood’s ideal by protecting individual rights. But they have exceeded their lawful powers and routinely disregard the public will, treating their constituents like the lowly serfs who populated Robin’s land.

America’s rich are mostly those who have produced great value and received voluntary compensation in return. They are wealthy because they have created opportunities where there were none; increasing the living standards, convenience, well-being, health and prosperity of those who freely trade with them. In a Capitalistic, Constitutional Republic, one honorable wealthy person contributes more to overall social progress, prosperity and human dignity than a multitude of modern “Robin Hoods.”

The original Robin Hood was an expert marksman and strategist; pulling off daring raids with a handful of men, relying on his wits, his bow and his sword. Today’s “Robin Hoods” miss the mark repeatedly; due not only to poor execution, but to flawed strategies as well. When the original Robin Hood erred, he and his men paid the price. When modern “Robin Hoods” fail, the cost of their errors are born by their victims.

The fictional Robin Hood was a true man of the people. American “Robin Hoods” ride in limousines and rub elbows with the types of characters the original Robin would have robbed on sight.
However, there is one thing that today’s would-be Robin Hoods have in common with the original: They practice impersonal wealth redistribution. When the fictional Robin Hood gives to the poor the story does not distinguish whether he is returning stolen property to its original owners or merely giving out money indiscriminately.

While the original Robin Hood may inspire the emotional satisfaction of righting wrongs and protecting the undefended; his methods are unfit for a just and egalitarian society. Under American law; rooted in the sanctity of individual liberties and equal justice, his goals are achieved by general respect for others; the balanced enforcement of objective law; and the impartial resolution of disputes in court.

Today, the Robin Hood myth serves the powerful at the expense of the weak (the powerful being the state and the weak being everyone else). This modern distortion of the Robin Hood lexicon is the exact opposite of our hero’s purpose. As long as the Robin Hood myth survives; as long as it’s true lessons are mystified by opportunists; and its premise of “robbing the rich and giving to the poor” forms the rationale for unlawful wealth redistribution; his legacy will only serve the degradation of our people.

The death of Robin Hood; the condemnation of his creed; and the castigation of his followers is necessary to restore our inalienable rights to the exclusive control of our property. Considering that he is fictitious, that his modern devotees are con artists and thieves; that his legacy has been hijacked by the very types against whom he fought; Robin’s death is a small price to pay for ending the crime of robbing real producers of wealth for the sake of the undeserving.

When our leaders honor their oaths of office and execute their duties with the passion of patriots and the decorum of statesmen, Robin Hood can go softly into that good night.

Read more.
http://www.examiner.com/x-29000-Habersham-County-Conservative-Examiner~y2009m12d19-Robin-Hood-must-die