I have two favorite holidays: Thanksgiving, and July 4th. Both celebrate our nation, which I love. Thanksgiving celebrates the pilgrim’s landing on our shores to get rid of Mother England and her taxes. July 4th celebrates our freedom as a nation from Mother England and her taxes, regimentation, and harassment. Both celebrate freedom. Freedom on Thanksgiving for a small boatload, and on July 4th, freedom of a small nation. The size of the new nation on July 4th, 1776, was microscopic compared to the size of America today. Then, the ruling elite severed ties to England. Today, the ’ruling elite,’ which is the Congress, could, if they were so inclined, save America, just like those patriots did in 1776 by writing the Declaration of Independence. How? By writing another Declaration of Independence, 2009 style.
What might it say? It might say that the federal government is out of control, the currency is rapidly depreciating, and we are continually interfering in other’s business by invading and fighting on foreign soils. It might say that we are being taxed to death, regulated to death, and are supporting those who should support themselves. It might point out that we have a Constitution, which says in the Tenth Amendment, that the individual states have governing power over themselves, and not a federal government. I am no Thomas Jefferson, but such a declaration should be written and voted upon.
Those who voted for the first Declaration, paid dearly for their actions. Five were captured by the Brits, and tortured as traitors. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost sons in the war, and nine of the 56 signers fought and died from wounds and hardships of the Revolutionary war. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter, had to sell his home and properties just to pay his debts after the Brits sunk his ships, and he died in rags and total poverty. Thomas McKean served in Congress without pay, had his possessions taken from him, and poverty was his reward. The properties of nine signers were looted by British soldiers and vandals. Francis Lewis, a signer, had his home and properties destroyed, his wife jailed by the Brits, which killed her within a few months. John Hart was driven from his dying wife’s bedside, and his 13 children fled for their lives. Think of the risks they took, signing the declaration of Independence. They were signing their names to a document, which basically said to the Brits who were the technical governors of the new nation, “Get out, we’re in charge now. We’ve had a belly full of your laws, rules, and taxes.”
Our nation now has close to 400 million people in it, and probably not more than a small percentage realize what’s happening to us. Just imagine what 435 members of Congress could do to restore freedom in America. They could vote to get rid of each of the 1300 federal agencies, one by one. They could vote to eliminate the Federal Reserve. They could pass a balanced budget amendment. They could declare America to be absolutely neutral, and bring all troops home. After all, it is the same 435 who could free us, which have enslaved us. Why is it that they are so thick headed, that they don’t understand what they have done to us, and continue to do to us with each law they pass without reading, or even giving a second thought to its contents. Why don’t they vote “No” on every bill, other than one which would disband a bureaucracy? Why can’t us millions make them realize the damage they are doing to their nation with each vote they cast for another law, another bureaucracy, another regulation, another war, or another handout? Why, when someone gets elected to Congress, does their mind undergo a radical change? Is there something in the D.C. air other than power and glory, which makes Congress mere puppets and thoughtless occupiers of those fancy offices?
As individuals, we are powerless to do anything but vote, and that hasn’t worked very well. All our letters and calls to Congress don’t work, and lots of tea parties didn’t phase them, because their minds have been clouded. Now, in Albany New York, the Democrat Senators won’t even stand for a flag salute. What has become of our once grand nation, which threw off the hackles of the Brits? Why can’t we throw off the D.C. chains that are binding us? All it would take is a majority of that 435, and America could renew itself. Isn’t there some way to do this? I am at a loss. Happy Fourth anyway. Fly your flag, and hope for a real change, not the one Obama has wrought. Closed Friday. (If you celebrate the Fourth with a fifth, act sensibly).