I had a couple of comments asking me to clarify what I meant in my previous entry. Am I advocating another American Revolution? Let me try to put it in more simple terms.
First, I’d like to recommend that you read the whole text of the Declaration of Independence. You can find it at http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/
That is an amazing document. Not only is it the Founding Fathers declaring the independence of this nation – but an enumeration of the REASONS WHY, and an explanation of their rationale. Let me focus on a few of the points they made…
“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.”
They were pointing out that they did NOT take their actions lightly. In fact, there was a great deal of debate among them over if they even SHOULD. But when they took the next line into account, the debate quickly became WHEN they should.
“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 right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
A long train of abuses… Many in America see the way that the Federal Government has – over the last many years – ignored WE THE PEOPLE, has infringed on the Second Amendment which explicitly states that it SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED, and has taken upon itself powers and authority that it does not have under the Constitution – and they feel that this (which has happened over many years) is a long train of abuses.
The Founding Fathers then enumerated the many issues that forced them to take the actions which they did. I will make a few notes about some of these. There are some parallels with our day…
“He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.”
Many of the several States are enacting laws that attempt to take back powers that are not enumerated for the Federal Government. The Federal Government refuses to assent to these.
“He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.”
In the present administration in particular – we have seen the appointment of CZARS. These are not elected positions, and yet have the power and authority in this administration to create policy. It can be said that much of what they do does indeed harass our people, and the new taxes and “fees” do indeed eat our our substance.
“For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:”
Many of the elected representatives in the Congress – over the strongly vocal objections of their constituents – voted for a new bill mandating that all Americans (which the exceptions of some few to gain the votes of their elected representatives) purchase health insurance (for which we are taxed) or pay fines (enforced by the Government under penalty of imprisonment). With the strong objections of a majority of Americans, they went ahead and did this. We did not consent to it.
“For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.”
Many feel that the Federal Government has reached far beyond the Constitution in order to control more of our finances, commerce, and lives in general. They declared this authority for themselves without the backing of the Constitution and without the consent of WE THE PEOPLE.
From what I have observed, this is what many of the “Tea Party” protest folks are saying. And I agree with it.
Think about this – in all of our history, only twice have the “conservatives” had such demonstrations. The last time, they were forced to pick up guns and replace their government with one that was designed to be limited – that would only have certain enumerated powers, and the rest belonged to the several States or to WE THE PEOPLE.
Yet, the Founding Fathers made it clear that people are more disposed to suffer than to take up arms to replace their government. And we see people protesting and WORKING WITHIN THE SYSTEM to bring our elected representatives to a remembrance of the Constitution. The way I see it, the message is …
“You are on a self-destructive course, that can be legitimately compared with previous oppressive governments. You are not representing our interests. You are making a larger government that is taking upon itself powers that it does not have legitimately. You are going far beyond the mark. WE THE PEOPLE ARE FED UP. WE ASK YOU TO TURN AWAY FROM THIS COURSE BEFORE YOU FORCE US TO TAKE THE OTHER RECOURSE WHICH THE FOUNDING FATHERS LEFT TO US. ”
Thomas Jefferson left us some wisdom here …
“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” I completely agree – LET US TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES.
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
They were smart enough to know that someday it might have to happen again. I personally hope that our elected representatives will see this, and turn away from the course they are before we are forced to do it. I do not want to see it happen, yet I love the ideals upon which this nation was founded to see that it could happen, and to say that if it must happen, let it happen in my day that my nieces and nephews may not have to see it in theirs.