First, Do No Harm

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Carla Howell

Carla Howell (born 1955) is an American political activist, small government advocate, songwriter, and recording artist. She is most known for organizing tax-cut initiative petitions in Massachusetts (called ballot measures in other states). She ran for office in Massachusetts for U.S. Senate (2000), Governor (2002), and State Auditor (1998) on the Libertarian Party ticket. She served on the staff of the Libertarian National Committee from December 2011 until June 2017. more »

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Primum non nocere
Primum non nocere

Doctors take a pledge called the Hippocratic Oath
Before giving care, they say, "First, do no harm"
We should pledge as well before passing legislation
Put it to this test before we go on

Is there a real problem here? 
Who says so? 
What's their motive?
If the problem's real, was it caused by other laws? 
If more law would cure the problem, where's the plan to phase it out? 
What solutions will people on their own bring about?

First do no harm (No harm) 
Let's take the oath (Let's take the oath)
Know what we're doing (Be sure) before we vote
Are we so sure? (How sure?) 
How can we know? (Can we know?)
How will it play (What will they say?) tomorrow? 

That's just the beginning
Still there's so much more to know
Enacting legislation is like pushing dominos
Social engineering leads to many consequences 
Not so clear to see, so we must turn every stone

How would people lose if politicians spend more money?
How would dollars crumble? 
Which jobs would go away?
How much more bureaucracy? 
Government dependency? 
What freedoms would be lost? 
What are ALL the ways we'd pay?

First do no harm (No harm) 
Let's take the oath (Let's take the oath)
Know what we're doing (Be sure) before we vote
Are we so sure? (How sure?) 
How can we know? (Can we know?)
How will it play (What will they say?) tomorrow? 

Now we're getting closer
Still more questions must be asked
Answering these questions truthfully's no simple task
Those who pass a law are long gone when things go wrong
And never pay a price for damage done, so ask

Who could we hold liable for the impact of this legislation?
How would we measure its outcome over time? 
If this program fails, or worse, if it does harm
Could they face malpractice? 
Be charged with a crime?
If we dismiss the warnings that we might do harm
And plow ahead with programs not fully understood
Then we are just meddlers, pretending to be healers
Unwilling to be sure our laws are really for the good
Clinical trials are a choice
They are strictly voluntary
Government programs are not so
They are always mandatory
When the fallout is disaster, no one to redeem the victims
A meek apology, if ever, comes a generation later

First do no harm (No harm) 
Let's take the oath (Let's take the oath)
Know what we're doing (Be sure) before we vote
Are we so sure? (How sure?) 
How can we know? (Can we know?)
How will it play (What will they say?) tomorrow? 

Doctors take a pledge to only do what can help 
Politicians should as well
Refrain when there's doubt
First, do no harm
That has to be our guide
So we honor human life
In that we can take pride

Primum non nocere
Primum non nocere
Primum non nocere
Primum non nocere, non nocere, non nocere

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