4 Freedoms to Be Thankful for This 4th of July

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) ^ | June 30, 2017 | The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)

[mdittmar]

IMPORTANT: This information should not be downloaded using government equipment, read during duty time or sent to others using government equipment, because it suggests action to be taken in support of or against legislation. Do not use your government email address or government phone in contacting your Member of Congress.

Fourth of July is the most important day in American history. Not only did the Declaration of Independence legally create the United States as an independent nation, the Declaration embodied our noblest ideals and highest aspirations – our beliefs in liberty, equality, opportunity, rights, and democracy. These ideals serve as our guiding light as we strive to form a more perfect union. 

And we as a nation have come a long way. Many rights and freedoms we enjoy today were obtained because generations before us had the foresight to fight and preserve them for future generations. Our government has also played a major role in protecting many of these freedoms as it works to “establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare.” 

This Fourth of July, here are four freedoms we are thankful for: 

1. Freedom to form and join a union. 
    
   We are thankful for our freedom to join together with our coworkers to form a union to improve our lives. Unions touch everyone in this country whether you are a union member or not. Unions, for example, led the fight to establish the eight-hour work day, end child labor, and legislate workplace safety requirements. Unions have been instrumental in securing major labor and benefits laws such as Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, and minimum wages. Unions also provide checks and balances against tyranny in the workplace.
    
   If you haven’t joined a union, join us today and help protect our freedom to assemble for petition of grievances.
   
   
2. Freedom to breathe clean air and enjoy nature. 
    
   We are able to breathe the fresh, clean air of liberty – literally, thanks to the Environmental Protection Agency. As our country has evolved and our population has grown, the job of the EPA is even more important. The EPA makes sure that the air we breathe, the rivers we swim in, and the land we build our houses on are safe and free from pollution. And thanks to the National Park Service which protects and maintains our national parks and monuments, we’ll be able to enjoy Yellowstone, Shenandoah, Great Smoky Mountains, and other national parks for generations to come.
   
   
3. Freedom to live and prosper in safety. 
    
   Safe communities don’t just happen; we create and maintain them. Air travelers are safer today than before, thanks to TSA. Because of the Bureau of Prisons, the most dangerous criminals are kept behind bars and off the streets. Thanks to the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, drug and human traffickers are stopped at our borders and shores. The Defense Department protects all of us against aggressive forces outside our borders. America prospers when we can raise families, go to work, and build a life for ourselves knowing that those who protect and serve are on watch.
   
   
4. Freedom to lead a healthy life. 
    
   If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything. Thanks to the Department of Health and Human Services which funds all kinds of research to find cures to diseases, Americans now live longer – 25 years to be exact – and enjoy a healthier life. One of the most important public health achievements of the 20th century was a decline in death rates from heart disease and stroke, which account for 40% of all deaths, due to development of prevention interventions and improvements in therapy. HHS is not the only government agency that helps improve public health. The Department of Veterans Affairs has also played a major role, not only for veterans but for everyone in the country and around the globe. The VA, for example, successfully implanted the first cardiac pacemaker developed by a VA team. A VA doctor performed the first long-term successful kidney transplant and conducted the first human liver transplant. Even more, Defense Health Agency employees tend to our active duty servicemembers are the world each and every day. 
    

What freedoms are you thankful for?  

If you cherish these four freedoms like we do, let’s join together and protect them. Call your members of Congress and ask them to protect our public health, safety, and security by fully funding our government. 

[mdittmar]

Well,that's the American Federation of Government Employees take on the 4th of July.

What's yours?

Here's an old song I like.

Merle Haggard -- Me and Crippled Soldiers

[BuffaloJack]

the 4 so-called freedoms are hogwash.
free speech and the right to back it up with bullets are true freedoms.

[Texan5]

Talk about scratching for reasons to beg the public to lobby for saving worthless gravy train agencies...

[NorthMountain]

Well, there’s crock of big-government bullshit.

[YogicCowboy]

Government unions are communism in action.

[jmacusa]

Unionism is socialism.

[YogicCowboy]

None of the four are freedoms. They are eulogies to the Federal usurpation of State’s Righted.

[Fiddlstix]

[BatGuano]

Unions have no place in the government. If they do, why not Unionize the Military?

[Chode]

a Klinton FREE White House

[C210N]

...Be Thankful for This 4th of July

What's a "4th of July"? I have no idea...

Perhaps they mean "Independence Day"?

Or, to Adam's reference to the independency declaration on July 2 as “the most memorable epocha in the history of America"? Or, perhaps to when signatures were completed on August 9?

[combat_boots]

We still have a country.

[mdittmar]

Gonna be the best 4th of July ever.

[Pollster1]

—> Freedom to form and join a union. <—

I believe this moron means or should mean our God-given and constitutionally-protected individual rights listed in the First Amendment:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

This includes the right to peaceably assemble or to not assemble (i.e., “right to work” - without joining a socialist collective or being threatened with bodily harm for failing to join, as happened to me with AFL/CIO goons). I value the entire First Amendment, and not just a twisted portion that can be used as a cudgel.

—> Freedom to breathe clean air and enjoy nature. <—

I believe this moron means or should mean our God-given and constitutionally-protected 9th and 10th Amendment limitations on government’s power over us:

“The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”

and

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

There is no air cleaner than a breath of fresh air inhaled by a free American. When big government liberals use “Waters of the United States” rule-making to punish farmers and ranchers, the air acquires a bad taste as experienced by all decent people. I spend far more time in nature than the vast majority of liberals (either urban yuppies or pale sissies in Mommy’s basement), and I don’t need government ordering me to appreciate nature. I clean up after myself because that’s what decent people (non-liberals) do.

—> Freedom to live and prosper in safety. <—

I am proud of this moron - he mentioned the big one! He means or should mean our God-given and constitutionally-protected individual rights listed in the Second Amendment:

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

There is no better guarantee of individual safety (against malignant citizens, malignant illegals, rogue animals, and even malignant and unconstitutional big government) than a well regulated militia, consisting of the whole population of adult citizens, who are all armed without restriction.

—> Freedom to lead a healthy life. <—

Back to the First Amendment - nice circular writing. The key to a healthy life is the free exercise of religion, for those who have found God’s truth. I am glad that this union buffoon at least pretends to value that spiritual health as much as I actually do.

[Right Wing Assault]

Freedom to form and join a union. Ha, ha!

Freedom to breathe clean air and enjoy nature. Unless you live in LA, leftist paradise. Or try to enjoy nature in all the land obama locked down.

Freedom to live and prosper in safety. Unless you live in any of the major democrat run cities. Let's start with Chicago.

Freedom to lead a healthy life. Thanks to obamacare, right? And laws against large against large sugary drinks? And have your kid fed Michelle-food at school?

[Right Wing Assault]

Oh, and I forgot the freedom of having your stuff stolen by the HSA deadwood.