IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
An excerpt from The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. 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. 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.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. 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.
Although not without imperfection, there’s a lot of timeless wisdom in the writings and testaments of our founding fathers. The Declaration is particularly important because it serves as a historical record of the reasoning behind the formation of our Republic. If you can’t recall from your schooldays all that’s written in the Declaration, you need to read it. The significance is in the striking similarities between the governmental abominations our founders experienced long ago and those that now pose a clear and present danger to us and our posterity. The course our representatives in government have charted for our nation can be construed as nothing less than reckless endangerment.
Take, for example, the perverse amount of national debt we have allowed future generations to incur through the passage of massive pork-filled pieces of legislation by those who are supposed to represent us. These atrocities have been growing our national debt for decades—debt that has now eclipsed the $12,000,000,000,000 (trillion) mark. Servicing the interest payments alone on such an enormous amount of debt is rapidly becoming unsustainable. Although common sense is blind to political party affiliation, our political parties are seemingly blind to common sense. It has been our silence that has allowed the unrepentant and irresponsible behavior of our elected officials to flourish. There are dire consequences of our silence. National financial insolvency is a very real threat to our nation, and ultimately to the liberty and freedoms we have been blessed with for so many years. It’s also important to remember that those same liberties and freedoms weren’t free. They were paid for with the sacrifices and loss of life of those who came before us and those who are now in service to our country. For this, we all owe a great debt. Therefore, we, as citizens of The United States of America, are duty bound to share in the responsibility of maintaining our Republic. Lincoln said in his Gettysburg Address “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” That form of truly representative government to which President Lincoln referred is nearly extinct. To remain silent while our legislators undermine the true will of the people is no longer an option if we have the earnest desire to better the course of America for ourselves and future generations. To allow our service men and women to sacrifice in defense of our freedoms abroad while we remain complacent in our duty to do the same at home is no less than shameful.
You may ask “well, what can I do?” There are several ways to become proactive—because casting a vote is not enough! Do your own homework to separate fact from fiction about the legislation being proposed in the halls of Congress. Don’t form an opinion that’s based solely on information provided to you by mainstream media; they fail miserably on most counts. Some of the best non-partisan tools to use are the congressional websites where you can access legislation and the voting records of your representatives in the House and Senate—you may be surprised to find out how your elected officials are representing you. And although it’s unfair to categorize all politicians as liars, the fact remains that many are. You are entitled to be suspicious of any legislation purported to be “good for America.” Once you’ve discovered the truth, you may not agree. There are several local, non-partisan Tea Party Movement organizations that are excellent resources for education and serve as a conduit to network with others who share the same concern for our country’s future as you do—you’re not alone. One of the most important things any of us can do to influence legislation is to write, email, fax, and phone our elected officials and make our voices heard. Remember—we pay their salaries, we bankroll the “best of the best” in healthcare insurance plans for them and their families, and we provide for them a better retirement plan than most of us could ever hope to have. They are supposed to work for us, not the other way around. The issues are gravely serious and the hour is late, but average Americans like us can make a difference…if we choose to. United We Stand, Divided We Fall.
Good Comments. I agree with your point.