A Historical Argument

I believe a major failing of our national education system is the general lack of teaching the historical foundations of our Nation and its governmental system. Even though it is not close to the Fourth of July, I believe it is time to look at the Declaration of Independence that was passed by the fledgling American Congress on July 4, 1776. Let's examine just a few parts of this document and see how they apply to the state of the Union today.

The second paragraph makes a concise and logical statement about the source of our rights and what those rights are: "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." These rights do not come from government, even though our current national and many state governing bodies would like you to believe otherwise. Since they come from our Creator, humans should keep their dirty hands off.

The next sentence is of utmost importance for us to remember today. It states, "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." In part it goes on to state "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."

The above is the real reason why we have our system of elections. From the local level to the national level we, the people, have the God given legal right to select those who govern our towns, cities, states and nation. It is a "God given right," not a man given permission. Regardless of political party, religious belief system, etc., our rights are given to us by God and therefore, faulty mentally frail humans do not have permission from any source to take those rights away. Period.

This statement is followed by one that some today would rather ignore and wish it was never made. The Declaration goes on to state: "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."

I am NOT espousing a forceable over throw of our national government. I AM exhorting every citizen of legal voting age to keep a close watch on those we have elected. We need to keep them on a short leash and under OUR control. Since they are our elected servants they must serve us, else we have the right to vote them out of office, at the least. If their conduct is too egregiously serving someone other than We The People, then we have the right to remove them from office. If the conduct is extremely bad, we have legal means of removing said individuals from office that does not have to wait for election time and subjecting them to legal processes that could end by placing the offender behind bars.

If you do not have a copy of the Declaration of Independence I strongly suggest you get one. It can still be found online. Read it. Have your children read it. You'll be surprised at how many of the charges against the British King and government have raised their nasty heads in today's America. From the state level to the national level you and I can make many of the same complaints.

P.S. I wonder if the FBI will be showing up at my house for writing this article.