As we celebrate July 4th and the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we must ask ourselves, does the Year 2015 offer an opportunity to issue a new declaration?
The public’s view of American government registers poorly in polls. Both Congress and the Executive Branch have scored poorly for several years. If we, like our Forefathers, were to issue a declaration of independence from an increasingly larger government, what grievances would we spotlight?
Consider:
Refusing assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good:. Government’s refusal to obey court-ordered holds on immigration and EPA regulations.
Forbidden governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till (federal) assent should be obtained; and, when so suspended, has utterly neglected to attend to them: Encroached on state laws and in some cases, public referendums on issues such as immigration, voter registration and marriage.
Calling together legislative bodies at places unusual uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with (their) measures: Clandestine meetings at Starbucks or other locations away from the White House guestbook, golf courses and the location of file servers at the home of the Secretary of State.
Has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing, with manly firmness, creating invasions on the rights of the people: Congress handing over power of the purse and treaties to the Executive Branch, changing rules in the Senate and ultimately destroying the people’s representative power.
Refusal for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining, in the meantime, exposed to all the dangers of invasions from without and convulsions within: Decisions rendered by the Supreme Court; some of them due to political and media pressures. These decisions ultimately encroach on states’ rights and the 10th Amendment as well as overturning the will of the people through local elections.
Endeavoring to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands: The whole immigration situation, including the failure to execute laws currently on our books, obey rulings from courts and failure to secure the border.
Obstructing the administration of justice, by refusing assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers Benghazi, Fast and Furious, IRS, etc. You name the scandal, the only person who has paid a price so far has been Senator Bob Menendez and that’s because he challenged Amnesty and Cuba. Former IRS head Lois Lerner is on PAID leave.
Appointed judges dependent on (federal) will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries: Think a judge appointed by an administration is going to bite the hand that feeds it?
Erecting a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance: Massive regulation and overreach on the bureaucratic level, not to mention hiring more IRS agents, more Health and Human Services Employees and implementing an immigration approval system before anything was actually finalized into law.
Rendering the military independent of, and superior to, the civil power. The purging of generals who oppose the administration’s policy. The showcase of military power during the forthcoming “Jade Helm” exercise in the American southwest.
Combining with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation: The Trans-Pacific Partnership will ultimately cede America’s sovereignty under the guise of “free trade”. The secrecy behind the bill barks in the face of President Obama’s claim to be “the most transparent administration ever”.
For imposing taxes on us without our consent: Obamacare deemed a “tax” by the Supreme Court, which does not have the jurisdiction or “power of the purse”.
For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments: Nationalizing marriage, forcing Obamacare down the states’ throats, changing immigration laws, treaties, etc. The list goes on.
Exciting domestic insurrection among us: Ferguson, MO; Baltimore, MD; Charleston, SC. The Confederate Flag debate from a incident that had nothing to do with the Confederate flag.
In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms; our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Sounds like a long list of modern grievances doesn’t it?
These are, in the fact, the words (removing the word “He” from the original text as well as grievances currently not fitting today’s politics) from the original Declaration of Independence.
These and other issues — such as the occupation by British troops and the ability of the crown to confiscate private property at a whim — drove our Founders to revolt against the most powerful government of its age.
Modern American society seems willing to trade liberties in exchange for government handouts; something King George III should’ve considered in the 18th century.
Cartoon: What really threatens our liberty? http://t.co/a5etgLS49O pic.twitter.com/939yaB2lD5
— Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) July 2, 2015
