Friday, June 29, 2012

A Different Kind of Tea Party


 “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."


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