The citizens of any free country have the right to a government that works for them. For Americans, it is our birthright. Our founding documents say so explicitly. The Declaration of Independence sets forth the principles of individual liberty and free agency that form the basis of American society. That document famously states that all humans are in possession of certain fundamental rights, including life, liberty and (an extraordinary statement in the 18th century) the pursuit of our own personal happiness. Furthermore, it says, we derive our rights not from government, but from God. The government's role is to protect...