Posted on 06/05/2005 6:44:41 AM PDT by Bear_Slayer
it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation. 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 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 . . .
They have . . . .
"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."
Dangerous words.
"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"
The founding statement of our nation, and a true truth.
Example..........
Pending legislation in Connecticut banning the use of cellphones while driving.
A state senator, who has used a headset for many years, disaproves of the headset ban.
He says fairness should include a ban on smoking, putting on makeup, shaving and eating while driving.
Hey kook!
How about banning conversation with a passenger next?
Accidents will happen.
How about banning driving in bad weather or during rush hour?
These do-gooders are dangerous.
Tell them we don't need saving from ourselves!
"Dangerous words."
That is why they don't teach them in school anymore.
When I was in school, our class had to memorize that and each of us had to get up in front of the class and say it without notes....we're talking 5th or 6th graders...
Thanks. I was hoping others my post there frustrations with government.
That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed,
That to SECURE these rights ... not to create them.
Governments are instituted among men ... Men create governments; governments don't create rights.
DERIVING their JUST powers ... Unjust powers are the product of small bureaucratic minds and the tools of tyrants. Our government's powers derive from the collective rights of the individuals that comprise our society; they are not inherent in governments themselves.
From the consent of the governed ... The imperial courts of today should take note that without the consent of the governed, their power to legislate from the bench is mere illusion. In fact, ALL government offices need to heed that important lesson. You can't rule a people who choose not to be ruled.
There aren't any "accidents" anymore. They're all "crashes". Use of the word "accident" implies an element of unavoidability, while "crashes" all have a cause.
"Accidents" leave no room for legislation against a cause. For "crashes", however, the door is wide open for criminalization of the cause.
"... deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed ..." Sadly, the governed are the sovereigns now slumbering while their consent is taken for barter. It didn't take American politicians long to realize that the sovereigns could be herded and manipulated with the 'free press'. The Republic of We The People is but an illusion now.
What we have is Taxation with Incompetent Representation and it's getting worse by the day. Time for another revolution? What teas can we cast into what harbors?
We are so far from those simple principals that Ben Franklin would wipe his brow and say "Oh my God!"
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.