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. ?Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain [George III] is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
—Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, emphasis mine.
I don’t know how much closer to despotism you can get. This fact alone should lead anyone who has ever believed that American is fundamentally about responsible self-governance to the booth.
Never mind that this hypocritical, cynical, irresponsible, pandering, pointlessly deceitful, painfully ignorant, out of touch
stooge will perhaps have full support from a man with this record as your representative in the Senate if you do nothing to act.
Did I mention Bush was out-of-touch?
Have to admit, I wasn’t all that interested in voting until reading your post and reading a couple of the things you linked to (then doing a little research on things from the other side of the fence so I’d be semi-informed, heh). But regardless, your post actually inspired me to vote anyhow. Thought I’d let ya know.
(Yeah yeah, maybe I’m crazy for still thinking my vote matters, so what Jeremy
)
bq. If
If by “throwing off such government” you are calling for active resistance, by all means, sign me up. If “throwing off such government” means participating in the moderated, institutionalized continuation of same government under leaders with different names, well, forgive my lack of enthusiasm.
One day in the future I believe we will look back and see that Bush was not the problem with this country. Rather, the fact that this country actually took orders from him will be identified as the problem. Of course, I’m also implying that taking orders from ANYBODY is a problem.