The Fourth of July is like a number of other holidays where people are admonished to “remember the reason for the season.”
On the Fourth of July we should cherish the tremendous gift of freedom and liberty passed on to us by our Founding Fathers. An increasing number of people in this country are complacent – not seeing America as exceptional in current context nor in a historical context. Many see our imperfections as a reason for drastic change.
The Founding Fathers established a government of “We The People” – it was a new and untried idea. The Declaration of Independence, adopted on the Fourth of July, began the united colonies’ efforts in the War of Independence. The Declaration of Independence was ground-breaking in its assertion that:
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,
Prepared to sacrifice all.
Such a “Declaration of Independence” was treason and heresy against the King of England (also the leader of the Church of England). The 56 signers were risking their lives, essentially signing their death warrants. They were for the most part affluent with everything to lose.
What happened to those men? Many lost their lives, families, and fortunes, but NOT their sacred honor. Radio legend Paul Harvey details it in his talk Our Lives Our Fortunes Our Sacred Honor . Rush Limbaugh’s father gave an excellent speech entitled The Americans Who Risked Everything (text) which was read by Senator Ted Cruz as he filibustered Obamacare.
After a long war, and the successful separation from England, what did the Founding Fathers do?
The Founding Fathers could have easily created their own nobility, but, for the first time in the history of the world, they turned over the task of governing to “We The People.” Our government was designed to be as inconsequential as possible, to be simple, with power vested in the people and at lowest levels of government closest to the issues to be addressed.
Socialism in vogue?
Today, in listening to polls, you hear that half the women, half the millennials, and apparently most of the Democrat candidates are in favor of Socialism. Most of those who support it think it is primarily “free stuff” for and taking care of people, more government services (see Most Socialists Can’t Even Define Their Own Ideology). The reality is very different. Just look at Venezuela. The government runs amok, and the economy and society are collapsing. John Stossel notes Venezuela IS Socialism – riches to rags.
The solution – REDEDICATING ourselves to The Declaration of Independence
Read the Declaration of Independence or you can listen to a dramatic reading by a number of actors for the Bicentennial. It sets forth the principles of self governance, individual liberty and freedom from tyranny later enshrined in United States Constitution. The majority of The Declaration of Independence is a listing of grievances against the King and British rule – and the tyrannies of too much government intrusion and the running of the lives of (what should be) free men.
Many of those tyrannies and grievances are similar to what we are experiencing NOW. The solution for too much government is NOT more oppressive government. The solution is a return to the limited government which our Founding Fathers established and set forth for us.
Patrick Humphries
Greater Boston Tea Party
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