“But when a
long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object
evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their (citizens of USA) right, it is their
duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future
security.” - The Declaration of
Independence (italics added)
The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independent determined
that in order for a free people to obtain and keep freedom and liberty, drastic
measures were needed. Then, it was Boston Tea Party and a military revolution. Now, after decades with similar feelings of “long
train of abuses and usurpations” we feel the beating back of modern citizens’
liberties and a small government that focuses on the original tenants our
founders established. We find ourselves at a similar crossroads of an intrusive
and overbearing “king”.
The Declarations goes on to say, “The history of the present
King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all
having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these
States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.” Read and see
if some of these “facts” seem to be repeated today?”
"He has
refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good."
"He has erected a multitude of New
Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out
their substance."
"He has combined with others to
subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by
our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation."
"For imposing Taxes on us without
our Consent."
"For taking away our Charters,
abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our
Governments."
I believe we are at the same defining moment but with a
greater advantage. There are those that might shout, “BEAR OUR ARMS” but we
have a greater weapon, supplied by our founding fathers and those who fought to
obtain and keep them. All we need is for “the people” to educate themselves and
others on the mechanism of our American Republic and then vote for those who
understand them and support the intent of liberties it is all found on. I’m
encouraged that some movement has be made in this direction the last few years
but there is much, much more work to be done.
It is the duty of every American citizen to learn and
understand what our founding fathers envisioned, entertain cultural and philosophical
ideas (which are more than less) that fit the republic framework as founded by
the framers and vote to encourage those that support these percepts. Complaining is useless without vision that repairs
it
You may have read some of my blog and notice I refer to the
American Republic often as opposed to a democracy. Americans need to understand
this difference. I leave you with several quotes the founding father said about
a democracy and hope you are intrigued enough to find out why.
Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence - “a
simple democracy ... is one of the greatest of evils."
James Madison, U.S. President "Democracies, in general,
have been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their
deaths."
John Adams, signer and U.S. President- "Remember,
democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There
never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide."
John Quincy Adams, U.S. President "The experience of
all former ages had shown that of all human governments, democracy was the most
unstable, fluctuating and short-lived."
