Posted on 07/06/2004 7:30:53 AM PDT by jmc813
Freedom, self-determination, and the end of allegiance to an unaccountable government: 228 years ago this week a handful of radical American colonists set forth their demands in the Declaration of Independence. They sought independence not only from English rule, but also from the feudal notion of obedience to King and Crown. Their views were not shared even by a majority of their fellow colonists, nor could they hope to match England’s naval and military power- but their courage was undeniable.
A bloody conflict ensued, and the new Americans emerged victorious. But still we celebrate the 4th of July as the birth of our nation, rather than the date the Constitution was ratified. We celebrate the day our forefathers boldly proclaimed to the world that liberty was their goal, that the pursuit of individual freedom was paramount.
Those who signed the Declaration of Independence envisioned a nation based on the rule of law and the right of individuals to live their lives free from oppression. To a degree perhaps unimaginable to that band of radical idealists, their vision has come to pass over these two centuries.
That vision has been challenged throughout our history, however. The nineteenth century held slavery. The twentieth century saw the rise of socialism and its sister, fascism.
But rather than focus on where we have failed, we should stay focused on the ideal of freedom. The freedom we enjoy today is the direct result of the commitment of men and women who refused to compromise their ideals. Certainly they failed at times, but they understood that the goal was liberty. Today our government and society seem to have lost sight of this goal.
For more than six months of every year the average American toils not for his family, for his needs, or for his future. No, for the first six months of the year the average American works to pay the cost of federal, state, and local taxes and regulations. From New Year’s Day until about the 4th of July, you worked to pay for government. This is unconscionable.
Our Founding Fathers no doubt would be embarrassed at our squandering of their vision. After all, they revolted at a comparable tax rate in the single digits or less. And yet we willingly suffer an effective tax rate of 50%, and much more in many cases. They tyranny of the Crown has been replaced by the tyranny of the federal government in Washington.
We are not slaves, but many feel they are indentured servants to government. And by and large it has happened with our willing consent. We have knowingly compromised our sacred liberty for temporary promises of security or false prosperity.
But it does not have to be so. We can reclaim our independence not with guns, but with our voices. We can reject creeping statism and encourage the blessings of liberty for our land. It will require work, and it will require commitment, and it will require a willingness to stand firm for our beliefs. But that is a small price to pay compared to the sacrifices made by those who founded America.
Liberty, freedom, and self-determination. Those goals are as worthy of our attention today as they were 228 years ago in a hot convention hall in Philadelphia. Just as devotion to those goals brought forth this great nation then, a renewed adherence to liberty can save our nation today.
Our Founding Fathers felt freedom was worth their "lives, fortunes, and sacred honor." Do we?
Bingo.
Of course, with much of the FR community being overty hostile to libertarian ideals, the bashing of Ron Paul will soon commence.
...taxes again.
This might slow them down a bit.... Constitution Restoration Act of 2004
I track my finances carefully with quicken categories. I track taxes, savings, investments, and consumption separately. Over the past ten full years, my taxes paid are more than 120% of what my wife and I have spent for our total living expenses and all categories of consumption.
If those tax dollars had been spent for defense or for infrastructure like highways, ports, etc, I would have little to complain about. But since two out of every three tax dollars are spent by Democratic politicians to buy votes through socialism, I feel and realize that I am not as well-off as a serf or an endentured servant; I am a victim of involuntary servitude.
If you track your finances in Quicken or some other personal financial tracking program, you can set up classes or simply create a category called consumption, one for taxes, one for savings, and one for investments and move your other categories of expenses under consumption. I chose this because it allows me to track the four major areas of interest to me quickly, efficiently, and accurately. If you do track your expenses, how do your taxes compare with your total true cost of living? Are you a slave and simply haven't realized it yet?
There is a rather diabolical sleight of hand when you pay federal, state, and local property taxes. People should reflect on the taxation burdens of our a dual citizenship status - being docked for U.S. federal and state. Add property taxes and it's triple citizenship. What a farce!
Whoever invented the idea that you OWE money to the government for your own house? Lucifer, maybe?
Civilization as we know it would collapse completely and the Earth would freeze in it orbit around the sun if you didn't get raped, I mean pay tribute your share in property taxes for your local police, dog catcher, and public transportation systems. No matter how much fraud, abuse, and graft are built into the system. We'll tax you AGAIN to pay for our federally controlled public indoctrination centers schools.
Do the Republican thing and just nod your head. Keep paying those taxes as we need to promise as much as the Democrats do!
Despite the fact that without a billion and one insane laws on the books there would be less burden on the whole system. To a point where a lawful republic would still be protected from crime, and the majority of government could be paid for by excises, duties, and user fees.
Paying local taxes for schools and federal for the Department of Education... Boing! Boing! Boing!
Still not sure where in the US Constitution it gives the FedGov the power to set up a "Department of Education". Seems to me one of those things devolved to the States and the People.
Uh oh...someone criticizing the status quo of 12.5% annual increases in NON DEFENSE spending under the Republicans..
someone not cheerleading the current state of things in Washington..
Someone who believes expanding individual FREEDOM should be the main goal of politicians in Washington...
Get ready for the Libertarian bashing.
Enter John Kerry...
I own property in three different counties, two cities, and six school districts. I can only vote in one. Taxation without representation?
Each taxing authority want to issue bonds this fall. Inflation is rearing its ugly head. We can expect to see genuine rate increases and this felony will be compounded by inflation at the appraisal districts. In a country where we are theoretically equal, how is it that the "egalatarian" party orchestrates the progressive transfer of the tax burden away from we are all taxed at the same rate (equality) to the rich pay all the taxes and nobody else pays anything? How does that make us equal under the law?
How is all this going to end? Badly, I am afraid, but there is a glimmer of hope..
'Course, I graduated almost twenty years ago from a school that cared more about education than indoctrination.
Trade up that comment to "Ludacris and Britney Spears", and I'll be right there with ya'...
And the Republicans seem to have abandoned concern with reducing the size of government. It's bizarre how close we are to totalitarian Communism already. I guess they figure you can hoodwink most of the people ALL of the time.
Well, the sub-literate zombies come in many shapes and sizes. The Dems are sporting one from Yale in J.Crew wear.
Roger that...
What? Just being squeemish?
Act like a Demonrat and just register to vote in all of them......as if anyone will check.
Then on election day.......road trip! (sarcasm/off)
Admit it...you're Ron Paul.
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