Re-Declaration of Independents (Independence) 2012

Perhaps because of the absence of the staff  (and their noisome behavior) some random thoughts and efforts from days past pushed their way forward. With all due respect to Thomas Jefferson, this little tidbit from days past found its way into my attention and I decided to put it forward once more.  It seems terribly appropriate.                                                       

About Congress July 4, 2012  
The Re-Declaration of Independence of the 50 Oppressed, but still United States of America

When in the course of government-controlled events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which connected them to what can no longer be considered a viable form of government, and to decry among the powers of the earth an intellectual position which has nothing to do with either The Laws of Nature or to Nature's God to which they are entitled, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that have separated them from such Tyranny and reconnected them with their own good Common Sense. 

We hold these truths to be evident to all but apparently a few misguided members of the Mainstream Media; that all men are created equal (in spite of the fact that some in their eyes appear to be more equal than others). That while they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, they are now often encouraged by Government and that same Media to show the lack of courage and good sense which allows them to relinquish those same rights: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness; while simultaneously embracing the ridiculous concepts of the right to a good paying job, full medical care, a home that they can't afford, a smoke-free environment, and full amnesty and free education for illegal immigrants. 

That to secure such relinquishment, Governments are constantly and corruptly expanded in spite of Men, deriving their increasingly overreaching powers from the belief that an elite group of elected officials and non-elected bureaucrats are far smarter than they. That whenever any form of Government becomes aggressive in securing such twisted ends, it is the further Right of the People to be ignored by such Government, and for that Government to create new laws, rules, regulations, and taxes to exert such control over every aspect of a population so as make them into little more than a flock of bleating sheep; laying its foundation on previously committed abuses of power, and altering such rules or forms as may be deemed necessary to most likely protect their petty Government positions, overreaching authority, and lavish salaries and benefits. 

Prudence indeed will dictate that Governments, changing the rules as they go along, shall not be changed back by those in power, nor be challenged in such pursuits for light, transient, or any other causes for that matter. Accordingly, all experience has shown that once such Government has been insidiously instituted, that mankind becomes gradually more disposed to suffer the most insufferable of evils rather than to right a ship of state that has listed so far from its original purpose that the deck may no longer be stood upon. 

But when a long train of abuse and usurpations pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under all but absolute Despotism, it should be their right and their duty to throw off such Government, excepting that such would require far too many of what has become little more than flock of sheeple to remove their morbidly obese, overstuffed faces from the Government trough. Such is now the patient suffering of the people of these States and is now the necessity which constrains them, as the Federal government seeks to alter the last bit of freedom and liberty left in this nation in order to fully embrace the concept that the lack of need for honest labor, for self-reliance, and for personal responsibility are no longer essential to their continued happiness. 

To prove this, let the Facts of our Government be submitted to a candid world. It has confiscated the legitimately earned money of some to in turn give it to others; outside the rule of law, the concept of a legally binding contracts, and the definition of property rights as understood in law for many centuries. 

It has favored Union workers over legitimate investors when dividing up private corporations that it had no right to divide in any way, let alone as it sees fit. It has fired the chief executives of private companies with neither the vote nor approval of that company's Board of Directors. It has forced private companies to accept government funding, and with it government control of its operation. 

It has forced both sale and merger on private companies at the point of a financial gun and the threat of never-ending government-funded investigation and a full-throated, government-backed, negative media campaign. It has appointed the equivalent of government royalty (more commonly known as Czars) to run aspects of private business without either lawful election or the legislative confirmation required of it under the document which defines it. 

It has sought to make equal not the opportunity of all, but the results of all through wealth re-distribution in the form of ill-disguised, onerous, and oppressive taxation. 

Not blameless by any means, in every stage of these Oppressions we citizens have sat idly by for the most part, ignorant by choice to the assault on liberty and freedom and numb to the abuses of power committed upon us. Those few who have humbly begged for a return to Common Sense and a Redress of such past ills as have been committed have been universally maligned and unmercifully vilified for their efforts by both those in power and by the members of the so-called fourth estate who willingly do their bidding. 

We the few who remain standing in righteous indignation therefore, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for rectitude of our intentions, do in the Name, and by the Authority granted us under the original Declaration of Independence, and by the Constitution which it, and by which our Government was designed (and most especially limited), solemnly publish and declare ourselves in opposition to the destruction of freedoms and liberties being perpetrated on us at an ever increasing pace in this country. 

We further declare that we will Peacefully resist further oppression of its people and perversion of its laws to the best of our abilities, and if need be to our final breath. We undertake this endeavor humbly, but firm in our resolve, firm in the belief of our principles, and firm with the knowledge of the rightness of our cause as God has given us the light to see it.

Re-Declaration of Independence

I found this in the 'Just Blowing Smoke' archives while digging around for something else, and decided to shine it up a bit for re-publishing on a day that usually tries to find me keeping it in a bit of a lighter mood. I hope you enjoy it ...

About Congress July 4, 2011 The Re-Declaration of Independence of the 50 Oppressed, but still United States of America

When in the course of government-controlled events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which connected them to what can no longer be considered a viable form of government, and to decry among the powers of the earth an intellectual position which has nothing to do with either The Laws of Nature or to Nature's God to which they are entitled, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that have separated them from such Tyranny and reconnected them with their own good Common Sense. 

We hold these truths to be evident to all apparently but a few misguided members of the Mainstream Media; that all men are created equal, some of course being more equal than others. That while they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, they are now encouraged by Government and the Mainstream Media to show the lack of courage and good sense which thereby allows them to relinquish those same rights: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness; while simultaneously embracing the ridiculous concepts of the right to a good paying job, full medical care, a home that they can't make the payments on, a smoke-free environment, and full amnesty and free education for illegal immigrants. That to secure such relinquishment, Governments are corruptly expanded in spite of Men, deriving their increasingly overbearing powers from the belief that elected officials and non-elected bureaucrats are far smarter than they. That whenever any form of Government becomes aggressive in securing such twisted ends, it is the further Right of the People to be ignored by such Government, and for that Government to create new laws, rules, regulations, and taxes to exert further control over a population that has become little more than a flock of bleating sheep; laying its foundation on previously committed abuses of power, and altering such rules or forms as may be deemed necessary to most likely protect their petty Government positions, authority, and lavish salaries and benefits. Prudence indeed will dictate that Governments, changing the rules as they go along, shall not be changed back, nor be challenged in such pursuits for light, transient, or any other causes for that matter. Accordingly, all experience has shown that once such Government has been instituted, that mankind becomes more disposed to suffer the most insufferable of evils rather than to right a ship of state that has listed so far from its original purpose that the deck may no longer be stood upon. But when a long train of abuse and usurpations pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under all but absolute Despotism, it should be their right and their duty to throw off such Government, excepting that such would require far too many of what has become little more than sheeple to remove their morbidly obese, overstuffed faces from the Government trough. Such is now the patient suffering of the people of these States and is now the necessity which constrains them, as the Federal government seeks to alter the last bit of freedom and liberty left in this nation in order to fully embrace the concept that the lack of need for honest labor, for self-reliance, and for personal responsibility are essential to their continued happiness. 

To prove this, let the Facts of our Government be submitted to a candid world. It has confiscated the legitimately earned money of some to in turn give it to others; outside the rule of law, the concept of a legally binding contracts, and the definition of property rights as understood in law for many centuries. 

It has favored Union workers over legitimate investors when dividing up private corporations that it had no right to divide in any way, let alone as it sees fit. It has fired the chief executives of private companies with neither the vote nor approval of that company's Board of Directors. It has forced private companies to accept government funding, and with it government control. 

It has forced both sale and merger on private companies at the point of a financial gun and the threat of a full-throated, government backed, negative media campaign. It has appointed the equivalent of government royalty (more commonly known as Czars) without either lawful election or legislative branch confirmation required of it under the document which defines it. 

It has sought to make equal not the opportunity of all, but the results of all through wealth distribution in the form of ill-disguised, onerous, and oppressive taxation. 

In every stage of these Oppressions, we citizens have sat idly by for the most part, ignorant by choice to the assault on liberty and freedom, and numb to the abuses of power committed upon us. Those few who have humbly begged for a return to Common Sense and a Redress of such past ills as have been committed have been universally maligned and unmercifully vilified for their efforts by both those in power and by the members of the so-called fourth estate. 

We the few remaining therefore, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for rectitude of our intentions, do in the Name, and by the Authority granted us under the original Declaration of Independence, and by the Constitution on which our Government was designed (and limited), solemnly publish and declare ourselves in opposition to the destruction of freedoms and liberties being perpetrated on us at an ever increasing pace in this country. 

We further declare that we will Peacefully resist further oppression of its people and perversion of its laws to the best of our abilities, and if need be to our final breath. We undertake this endeavor humbly, but firm in our resolve, firm in the belief of our principles, and firm with the knowledge of the rightness of our cause as God has given us the light to see it.

Respect

"I find it interesting in listening to the demands for respect of many young men today to discover that in fact they have little for themselves, less for the women that they consider important in their lives, and almost none for the rules under which we live." 
- me 


The observation that such is the case for the generation that will be responsible for our future was rather disturbing to me, though I suppose that many would say that every generation of my has felt the same way about the ones that followed. On this Fourth of July, such concepts seem incredibly important to me. 


After all, this is the day when we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence (in spite of the fact that many of those who signed this document apparently did so some time after the date credited for the document). Those signers were in fact not only dissenting, but breaking with a king and government in England that many held in high esteem in spite their differences. They took the time however, to create a document (which remains in some significance) setting forth the purpose of their action and carefully outlining the justification for those which would follow. 


In making this attempt they were fact showing polite regard for the very people to which they assigned their currently untenable situation to. What greater compliment can be paid to a group of political representatives (especially in light of some of the recent history of the calling) than that they felt the need to do this for their enemies ... and in such a fashion!

This of course, is not to say that one is not allowed to disagree with one's opposition (even violently so). In fact this Declaration could be no clearer a statement of opposition and the firm resolve to stand by that opposition if it were made as a declaration of war. Further however, if it has taught us anything, it is that even when doing so (and perhaps especially so) that there is a certain respect of the rules to be considered.

 Now since I have not put keyboard to paper recently (a situation for which some are no doubt more than grateful), I will try and keep this brief today. I would like to say however that as we all enjoy time with family and friends, enjoy good food and good company, and remember the day that once and for all set this country apart from any other in the history; perhaps we might also remember the example of respect illustrated in the Declaration of Independence by our Founding Fathers. 


Strident rhetoric is all well and good when trying to attract media attention (or when political figures or media pundits are bloviating at annoying volume and length), but respect is owed even to those with which we violently disagree. It is not necessary to demonize the people who make up the opposing point of view in order to make our own. In fact we may even demean our own cause by doing so. Enough already!

May each of you enjoy the sentiments of the day, remember the constant sacrifices involved both those maintaining it around the world, and renew our own respectful declaration to continue the struggle to maintain the freedoms that define the United States of America.

Declaration of Independence: 2009

This is what can happen when you take one of the most important documents in this country's history and likewise one of it's greatest holidays, and let them get tangled up with sarcasm, irony, and the twisted mind of someone like ... me. I hope you enjoy it.

 
About Congress July 4, 2009  

The Re-Declaration of Independence of the 50 Oppressed United States of America

When in the course of government controlled events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which connected them to a viable form of government, and to assume among the powers of the earth an intellectual position which has nothing to do with either The Laws of Nature or to Nature's God to which they are entitled, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that have separated them from their own good Common Sense.  

We hold these truths to be evident to all apparently but right wing talk radio hosts, that all men are created equal, some of course being more equal than others. That while they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, they are encouraged by Government and the Mainstream Media to a lack of courage and good sense which thereby allows them to relinquish those same rights: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness; while simultaneously embracing the the ridiculous concepts of the right to a good paying job, to full medical care, to a home that they can't make the payments on, to a smoke-free environment, and to full amnesty for illegal immigration.  

That to secure such relinquishment, Governments are corruptly expanded in spite of Men, deriving their overbearing powers from the belief that elected officials and bureaucrats are far smarter than the rest of us. That whenever any form of Government becomes aggressive in securing such twisted ends, it is the further Right of the People to be ignored by such Government, and for that Government to create new laws, rules, and regulations to exert further control over a population that has become little more the bleating sheep; laying its foundation on previously committed abuses of power, and altering such rules or forms as may be deemed necessary to most likely protect their petty Government positions, salaries, and benefits.  

Prudence indeed will dictate that Governments, changing the rules as they go along, shall not be changed back, nor challenged for light, transient, or any other causes. Accordingly all experience has shown that once such Government has been instituted, that mankind becomes more disposed to suffer the most insufferable of evils rather than to right a ship of state that has listed so far to the left that the deck may no longer be stood upon. 

But when a long train of abuse and usurpation pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under all but absolute Despotism, it should be their right and their duty to throw off such Government, excepting that such would mean that doing so would require far too many of what has become little more than sheeple to remove their overstuffed faces from the Government trough.  

Such is now the patient suffering of the people of these states and is now the necessity which constrains them, as the Federal government seeks to alter the last bit of freedom and liberty left in this nation in order to fully embrace the concept that a lack of need for honest labor, for self-reliance, and for personal responsibility are essential to their continued happiness. 

To prove this, let the Facts of our Government be submitted to a candid world. It has confiscated the legitimate property of some to in turn give it to others; outside the rule of law, the concept of a legally binding contracts, and the definition of property It has favored Union workers over legitimate investors when dividing up private corporations that it has no right to divide in any way, let alone as it sees fit. It has fired the chief executives of private companies with neither the vote nor approval of that company's Board of Directors. It has forced private companies to accept government funding, and with it government control. It has forced both sale and merger on private companies at the point of a financial gun and the threat of a full forced, government backed negative media campaign. It has appointed the equivalent of government royalty (more commonly known as czars) without either lawful election or legislative branch confirmation. It has sought to make equal not opportunity of all, but the results of all through wealth distribution in the form of ill-disguised onerous and oppressive taxation. 

In every stage of these Oppressions, we citizens have sat idly by for the most part, ignorant by choice to the assault on liberty, and freedom and numb to the abuses of power committed upon them. Those few who have humbly begged for a return to common sense and a redress of such past ills as have been committed have been universally maligned and unmercifully vilified for their efforts by both those in power and by the members of the so-called fourth estate.  

We the few remaining therefore, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for rectitude of our intentions, do in the Name, and by the Authority granted us under the original Declaration of Independence, and by the Constitution on which our Government was designed (and limited), solemnly publish and declare ourselves in opposition to the destruction of freedoms and liberties being perpetrated on us at an ever increasing pace in this country. We further declare that we will peacefully resist further oppression of its people and perversion of its laws to the best of our abilities, and if need be to our final breath. We undertake this endeavor humbly, but firm in our resolve, firm in the belief of our principles, and with the knowledge of the rightness of our cause as God has given us the light to see it.  

I believe that most of you reading this see its point, and for those of you who do not, there is probably little further that I can do to open your eyes. I will at least wish you happy grazing in the years ahead. As for me, I have now taken my stand and issued my own Declaration of Independence. Let the fireworks begin!

Happy 4th of July