Monday, May 05, 2014

Reflections on Independence and the Declaration Thereof

By Don Jans

From the Declaration of Independence:

“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 affect their Safety and Happiness.”
We were, according to the Declaration of Independence granted certain rights by the creator that are unalienable rights. Amongst these unalienable rights are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. It is important to note that these unalienable rights are not restricted to these three, but these three are included in the total. Unalienable rights are rights not given by the government or men but are from the creator. Therefore these rights are not be taken from us or restricted by the government or men in any way. Included in the total of the unalienable rights would be many of the rights reserved for the people in the Bill of Rights. These are rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion not freedom from religion, freedom to bear arms, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and so forth. These rights are essential in a free society. In every totalitarian state, it is these rights that are restricted and limited first.

Our founding fathers told us, when any government becomes destructive of these rights, we are to alter or abolish that government and form a new one. This is a very serious charge we were given. As we look at the happenings and events in recent history, the question we must ask is have we reached such a time? Doing a quick exam, I would suggest we are coming closer and closer to that time if it has in fact not been reached. At the very least we must have an open and honest discussion that transcends spin and political correctness.

A quick examination shows us freedom of religion has been trampled. People are told they must violate a very basic religious belief which is the right to life. These “religious fanatics” are told they must adhere to the secular dictates and financially support the termination of the life of an unborn child through a concept called medical insurance with the terms of such being dictated by the government. Freedom to bear arms is being restricted more and more every day. Freedom of the press is being threatened by a bill in the Senate that would require a definition as to who is the press with restrictions on any reporter who does not meet such definition. Freedom of speech is being threatened by the IRS with the assistance of members of congress including but not limited to Schumer and Cummings. This is a small example of such restrictions, limitations or alterations of our unalienable rights.

Freedom is defined as the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint and the power of self-determination attributed to the will.

We are a less free society then we were in the immediate years before we declared and won our independence and we are becoming less free every day. Continuing down this same path will lead us to that inevitable time when we must do as we were instructed to do by the founding fathers; alter or abolish this government and institute a new one. The alternative is to become a totalitarian state with all that implies. Karl Marx explained it will take despotic means and the establishment of a totalitarian state to complete the fundamental transformation he outlined and Obama promised. Will we allow it to happen? A conscious choice will have to be made or it will happen.

My Grandchildren’s America will it still be the land of the free and the home of the brave?

This question should not even have to be pondered. Unfortunately, the correct answer is; America is no longer the land of the free. The Marxist/Progressives, in their quest to fundamentally transform the United States from a free capitalist society to a Marxist society ruled by the dictatorship of the proletariat as outlined by Marx and promised by Obama, have degree by degree wrested from us the freedoms some of us still remember and cherish.

I remember when freedom of speech meant the right to speak openly and honestly about politics, politicians and those people who held office. It was a time when vulgar and crude language was considered inappropriate language and was not a part of movie scripts, especially those movies that allowed children. Today the vulgar and crude language is considered sacred by the Marxist/Progressive while political speech is being limited by Marxist/Progressives mostly by using the intimidating hammer of the IRS. The IRS has been directed and aided by Marxist/Progressives in congress to curtail the free speech of people who disagree with their agenda. Schumer in the Senate, with his instructions to the IRS, and Cummings in the House of Representatives, with his direction of a governmental attack on an individual citizen, have been instrumental in this effort to curtail and prevent the speech of conservatives who do not agree with the Marxist/Progressive agenda. We just learned that a conservative group’s tax exempt status has been revoked because they made negative comments about Hilary Clinton. If the conservative group had used vulgar and crude language rather than exercise their constitutionally protected right of political speech, they would have been applauded and still have their tax exempt status.

I remember when having title to a piece of property meant it was your property and you could build on the property as long as you conformed to the zoning. The EPA is telling landowners they the EPA are prosecutor, defender, jury and judge where property is concerned. If you for instance have an indentation in the land and water would accumulate while it was raining, the EPA has and will exercise complete jurisdiction of that property. The EPA has taken the position they are ultimate owner of all property and the title holders rights are subject to the wishes of the EPA.

The Bureau of Land Management is now declaring land to which an individual has a legal title, is nevertheless not the title holder’s land. The BLM is saying, we want that land and therefore it is our land. Other government agencies are using the concept of eminent domain to cease land just because they believe private property would be best suited as open land or transferred to another private entity for a different purpose even though the legal title holder does not want to sell. The government uses the courts and forces the current legal landowner to use his money for attorney’s fees and court costs, thus forcing capitulation by the private citizen.

I remember when an individual could decide, based on what they determined as their needs, what provisions they would have in their health insurance policy or even if they wanted health insurance. It was the determination of the individual if he did or did not have a substandard policy. It was up to the individual if he did or did not want a high deductible and a low premium based on the needs of the individual or the family. I remember when it was the choice of the individual if he wanted to have a policy that paid for the birth control of others. The government has now decided they are best suited to make these decisions for the individual.

I remember when we in America believed self-reliance and hard work were admirable. I remember when we in America admired the entrepreneur of a small enterprise and a large enterprise. I remember when we in America understood the virtue of profit because profit meant innovation and expansion. I remember when we in America believed and understood he who gives the handouts also restricts freedom. I remember when we in America understood that an all-powerful government was a restrictive and enslaving government. I remember when we in America understood why our founders abhorred big government. We are now living the experience the founders feared most; the evils of a big central government ruled by the dictatorship of the proletariat as outlined by Marx and promised by Obama.

Is this the time to which the founders were referring when they said whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, meaning the destruction of the unalienable rights, it is the right of the people to abolish government and institute a new one that will respect the unalienable rights given by the creator to the people?

Don Jans, Author and Speaker
www.mygrandchildrensamerica.com

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

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