American Independence

Next Thursday is Independence Day, the holiday that we celebrate our independence from an oppressive government. 237 years ago, very backward men looked at their plight as citizens of the British Crown and understood that their King, George III, and Parliament were treating them as serfs, rather than as British free men.

The colonists recognized that something needed to be done to improve their lot. After all, colonists and regular British soldiers fought side by side as comrades in the French and Indian War to help the Crown maintain and expand its presence in North America. And in 1775, the Crown was penalizing the colonists with regressive taxes and penalties for their labors and products.

As time wore on, more colonists began to believe that something dramatic was necessary to send a message to the king. Those who spoke of revolution were in the minority. But, the members of the Continental Congress, in order to quell an open revolt at their chambers, enlisted John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, along with several other members, to draft and ultimately present for review a "list of grievances" to be sent to Parliament and the king for consideration and action.

Thomas Jefferson was charged with the responsibility to write the draft and was given until the first of July, 1776 to complete this task. Jefferson researched many documents, including the works of John Locke, whose works are revealed throughout the Declaration of Independence. Locke spoke of three important values to humankind, life liberty and property, which Jefferson plagiarized as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Locke also spoke of governing with the consent of the governed, classical republicanism and liberal theory which Jefferson spread all through the Declaration. He submitted it for review on July 2 and after some serious and emotional debate, several minor changes were made. On July 4, the document was published to the world.

There was no going back.

Fast forward two centuries to January 20, 1981. President Ronald Reagan, in his Inaugural Address, said, "In this present crisis, government is not the solution to the problem; government is the problem." Reagan, like Kennedy, had great speechwriters, and like Kennedy, Reagan had an unflappable delivery. Perhaps, it was because as an actor, he had a knack for timing. He had a gift as a Great Communicator, and believed what he said.

I bring these two stories to make this point:

The intent of our founders was not to replace one unbearable, overwhelming, repressive government with one equal or worse than what they revolted against. The goal, ultimately, was to bestow a government that was "of the people, for the people, and by the people."  Reagan understood this as much as Lincoln, or Kennedy, did.

It doesn't matter whether it's President Obama, President Bush, President Clinton, or some past/future President that heads the government. The government itself has become too big, too oppressive. This was not the intention of the founders to have this uncontrollable monster mutate from the simple plan laid out by our Forefathers.

So, as we approach this Fourth of July, ask yourself, "Is this government gone wild? Is this what soldiers died for?" A reasonable person will say no.

Give this some thought this holiday. Cherish your liberty and freedom given to you by others' sacrifices, not by the government.