GOVERNMENT
The Declaration of Independence gives witness to our God-given right to Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness. This is the document by which we as a nation declare we are not subject to the demands of rulers of foreign nations. It opened the door to self-rule by government of the people. The necessity of this document became evident through a number of factors. A few of which are as follows:
Citizens of various nations left their country of origin because they wished to escape injustice, poverty, subjugation to an elite ruling class and unbearable taxes levied at the whim of any number of individuals in the ruling class.
Once in America immigrants found new opportunities, but the heavy hand of the colony’s founding nation’s ruler was still felt and that feeling was all too often uncomfortable.
If we renew the old ties of bondage to other nations who haven’t improved their system of governance in the last 400 years then we will have sold our birthright as stated in the Declaration of Independence. That is the three part birthright of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. We will again become the property of, and subject to, the whims of governments and despots who will see us only as a source of labor and resources.
If we join with foreign governments and agree to allow them ( i.e. international court in The Hague) to have any jurisdiction over American citizens for what they may do in their own country, or for what its soldiers or other US Government representatives may do while in the service of their government then we have forfeited our benefits under the Declaration of Independence. Foreign powers will feel no obligation to acknowledge an individual’s rights to life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness.
The fathers of this nation recognized the importance of acknowledging these God-given rights. Therefore, they devoted themselves to the task of drafting an instrument, which would ensure these rights for all citizens. Its comprehensiveness, economy of words, and simplicity of form are nothing less than marvelous.
If we reject the wisdom of our nation’s founding fathers, what do we stand to gain from such a mindless deed? The present administration is well on its way to “remaking America”. They are drowning us in debt. They want to destroy our present healthcare system, which more than 85% of the population participates in and most of which are happy with their coverage. The desire to destroy the old system of caring for the 85% is so the government can provide care for 7-10% at the expense of the 85%.
Capitalism is no longer going to be an acceptable economic system. The government will control manufacturing, labor, healthcare, energy and environment and the financial institutions. Various media outlets have already surrendered their independence to the present political machinery.
THE CURE
We have seen the disease infecting our national structure and weakening our ability to remain an independent sovereign nation. This is the same ailment, which was found so harmful by our founding fathers. The disease leads to an unsympathetic ruling class and a working class whose symptoms are heartache and hard times.
Our founding fathers were able to bring about a cure because the colonial congress was filled with moral virtuous men and when the average colonist saw they needed to be virtuous to gain and maintain their liberty they did so and it had the desired effect.
Today we do not have a congress filled with virtuous moral men, and our czars are avowed communists, tax dodgers, admitted adulterers, bribe-takers and they employ people and organizations who use intimidation, bribery, fraud and would fit right in with dictatorial regimes anywhere in the world.
We need to send new men to Washington, D.C. Men who are moral and virtuous. Without a healthy congress, we cannot succeed at restoring the Republic. In the meantime, we must express our dissatisfaction with the status quo. Not only do we need to voice our displeasure with it, but we must increase our numbers by helping to educate those suffering from apathy.
The S.T.A.R. Forum 
I just want to understand how the freedom of Zinn to criticize our Government and US history is anti-american? Do you think it is acceptable that after the Revolution from England we continued to kill Native Americans and break them from the land that they had deeper ties too? Or is it appropriate that capitalism felt it appropriate to kill workers who went on strike to gain a decent pay or better working conditions? I guess it must be American to force mine workers to inhale deadly fumes and force them to work longer than any doctor would recommend, just so the owners could squeeze more profits while people were being killed? I guess the framing and murder of Joe Hill in Utah was justified as American, I mean it’s not like the evidence actually proved he didn’t do it. I guess revolting against religion is anti-american as well. All Zinn was doing was creating a critique of America as the status quo is to always promote America as if we never did anything wrong.
In Saugus in the late 1600 it was small commodity production for the dominant economy of agriculture. It wasn’t until Adam Smith wrote Wealth of Nations that one can originate capitalism as it still exists today. Though as I see you take more of a classical perspective on capitalism. I on the other hand take a marxist perspective and look at the mode of production, with specific owners controlling production and in turn developing social relations. Though I guess since you mark Zinn as anti-american for being marxist, then you probably determine that I am anti-american.
Yes I have the freedom to read whatever I wish, but so do people in every westernized nation, and even on non-westernized nations. I know that in Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Japan, all of Europe (even Russia), Palestine, Egypt, etc. it’s a freedom that many have. So trying to mark it as something only in the US is a bit short cited.
I recommend you read Capital Volume 1 by Karl Marx to understand how Capitalism works and how exploitative it is all in the name of making a profit. Then read Capital Moves: The RCA Story, follow that up with State of Working America, you can even add a nice religious piece by a priest, Ivan Illich called Deschooling Society. I am not saying reading will answer your perspective, I once shared a conservative view of the world. When I first studied the constitution I too felt it was a great piece of literature, but much like the bible I realized it needs to be changed more often to help people instead of blaming government. In fact as a citizen of our attempt at democracy through a democratic-republic I hope to see more changes to our constitution, like getting rid of the Electoral College.
I am glad to see that your colleague had to refer to you. Hope to hear back soon.
LikeLike
People may I add that at the writing of the declaration of Independence and even the development of the US Constitution that Capitalism did not exist. Were a simple commodity producing society that depended on land rights. In fact the only people able to vote were land owners. So if you want to go back to that time period when woman and people of color had no right to vote or speak, then I am a bit lost on how we have grown as a nation. Even during Post WWII the US gov’t did not own industries or companies, just as now. Having a public option for health care is what rational countries choose to provide by their people for their people. As a people of this nation it is my right to advocate for appropriate changes and one of those changes is to have health care provided as a public option. What is wrong with the people asking for this? The declaration says “We the people” and in it they form a government with the anticipation for change, otherwise they would never have created a way to amend the constitution. Capitalist history shows it started in England, in the late 1700’s it did not form in the US until the early 1800’s and in all places, New England. History people, read a book, the Peoples History of the US is a great start.
LikeLike
THINGABOUTITFIRST, It is clear you have become mixed-up about a few things. I hope what I have to say will be of assistance to you and if not to you at least to others who are thinking about the things you said. You state, “…that at the writing of the declaration of Independence and even the development of the US Constitution that Capitalism did not exist.” Capitalism existed in the ancient world and was revitalized and further refined in the 1500s in England. The first governor of the Bay Colony (Boston, Massachusetts), John Winthrop, Sr. gave American capitalism a boost in the mid 1600s by importing about 135 skilled ironworkers to build and operate the first successful ironworks in America. The start-up capital was provided by a group of Undertakers (today we call them investors). Three of the skilled workers were James, Henry and Philip Leonard, my ancestors. A few years later Henry went to New Jersey and built some of the first ironworks there. James was approached by the town councilmen of Taunton, Mass. (Then called the Eastern extension of the Plymouth Colony) to move to Taunton and build and operate an ironworks in exchange for a share of the business and profits. He became a majority shareholder in the Taunton iron- works and became a wealthy man. He freely sold his iron to whom he pleased and for the price he determined by what the market would bear. I believe that is called capitalism. See: Ironworks of the Saugus, by E. N. Hartley.
I wrote nothing about returning to the conditions of any time period. I advocate maintaining the conditions and principles as outlined in the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States of America. Your concern about keeping alive women’s right to vote and the abolition of slavery is excellent. However, if you do away with the power of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution you will do away with the 13th and 19th Amendments to the Constitution which guarantee the rights you are concerned with.
You recommended that I read a book The Peoples History of the US, the author of which is Howard Zinn. Daniel J. Flynn, the author of Why the Left Hates America: Exposing the Lies That Have Obscured Our Nation’s Greatness, calls Zinn an anti-American Marxist. I believe this is a fair analysis of what Zinn is. Zinn’s book you recommend contains 25 chapters of anti-American diatribe. He does not once devote a chapter to the many great and often unique contributions the USA has made to mankind or the suffering we have relieved. It is not on my recommended reading list regardless of the prizes awarded to Zinn by Marxist and Socialist leaning groups.
You said, “The declaration says ‘We the people’”. In fact that phrase doesn’t occur even once in the Declaration of Independence. It is used in the Constitution of the United States of America. You said, “As a people of this nation it is my right to advocate for appropriate changes and one of those changes is to have health care provided as a public option. What is wrong with people asking for this? The declaration says ‘We the people’ and in it they form a government with the anticipation for change, otherwise they would never have created a way to amend the constitution.” I would like to correct your premise here. The Declaration of Independence formed an independent nation, the Constitution formed the government. The nasty things you attribute to the USA via Zinn, in fact are enumerated in the Declaration of Independence as the things jolly old England was perpetrating on America and we wished to escape.
Reading all types of books is a freedom we have in America, but I suggest your time would be better spent reading the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States. Where these documents mays appear to have some ambiguities a thorough reading of The 5000 Year Leap, by W. Cleon Skousen will provide ample insight as to the founding fathers intent. I suggest you think about it.
Phillip Leonard
LikeLiked by 1 person
And yet at one of Obamas recent Townhall he claimed, “No Im not trying to take over government.”
As you pointed out he has already taken over many major capitalistic areas and is still on a roll. He wont stop till he has it all and we are right where he wants us.
LikeLike
Yes, in all times, we need those who will allow themselves to become inspired leaders, men and women of virtue. This isn’t religious, but simply a basic requirement of role models and statesmen if we are to have civil society Those who ‘represent us’ must at least understand and aspire towards being virtuous, or we will be oppressed by corruption.
cure the corruption; near all the ills disappear
LikeLike
You have it right. It isn’t religious, unless you choose it to be, but virtue is something all mankind needs. You are so correct that when the corruption is gone, all ills disappear. You no longer have to focus on the issues, but can focus on the forms and principles. This is stated well in the Tytler Cycle of Democracy that is visible by clicking the link. FREEDOM CAN WIN!
LikeLike