Thursday, August 30, 2007

The Declaration of Independence

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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..."

The Declaration of Independence continues on to list the indictment against King George III, which I encourage everyone to read in full.

As you read the list of grievances the American colonists had against the British Monarchy it's nearly impossible to NOT draw parrallel indictments to our current Federal government. Now, I don't want to give the impression that I'm an advocate for anarchy or that overthrowing our goverment is even desirable, but I think that this blog is a great forum to put my ideas down in black and white, and with any luck solicite some constructive debate.

1 comment:

Cy Hugo Green said...

Don't you work for the federal government? :)