Independence

On July 3rd, 1776, John Adams wrote to his wife: “The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” He was wrong, of course. Few, if any, celebrate July 2nd, the day that the Second Continental Congress voted in favor of independence. Rather, they celebrate July 4th, the day Congress approved the final draft of the Declaration of Indepence.

By all other accounts, though, Adams was spot on. The people of this great nation have celebrated, proudly, the birth of this country, year after year. This country lights up every year like Adams couldn’t have even dreamed of. And yet, it’s hardly our country anymore.

It’s a sad thing, but we’ve surrendered the reigns of our government to wolves. And I’m not talking about this last election. I’m talking about a decades-long process of complacence, spreading like a cancer through our society to the point where our elected officials (our servants!) serve mostly themselves, while paying lip service to our needs. Our government did away with transparency decades ago, whether thinking that we didn’t need to know, or hoping we would never know, what they did to/for us with our money. Watching with infant eyes, as I have slowly gained political awareness, and seeing the decadence that pervades every level of government, I am sickened and saddened and outraged that WE ARE LETTING THIS HAPPEN. Because, mostly, we don’t care! Life’s a gravy train, and when the government takes large portions of our paychecks, we don’t ask questions. At least we don’t until something goes wrong. Then we let smiling faces feed us non-answers and we go back to our infantile, ignorant slumber.

“Cherish, therefore, the spirit of our people, and keep alive their attention. Do not be too severe upon their errors, but reclaim them by enlightening them. If once they become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress, and Assemblies, Judges, and Governors, shall all become wolves.” – Thomas Jefferson

“Here comes the orator! With his flood of words, and his drop of reason.” –  Benjamin Franklin

Well, I hate to pull the alarm here, but I see wolves! Everywhere! Self-serving bureaucrats getting fat off of our hard work and giving little in return. And this isn’t about party lines, either. This cancer has no ideology. That’s too constructive for it. This is inertia, greed, sloth, and ignorance, and it’s all around us. It’s in us! And until we gather the courage to change ourselves, we will never be able to take our government back, and return it to the servant it once was.

“If Virtue & Knowledge are diffused among the People, they will never be enslav’d. This will be their great Security.” – Samuel Adams

The only way we can fix our government is by exposing it to the light of day. We need to spend more time deciding who we should vote into office than deciding who to vote for on American Idol. If we expect a responsible government, we first need to become a responsible people. Stop demanding entitlements when you can provide for yourself. We can’t expect responsible leaders when we pick them from stock that has proven to be irresponsible. Debt? That’s our fault – you and me. Our public debt would be very manageable (or non-existent!) if we the people stopped demanding so many entitlements. Or if we demand all of those entitlements, we have to stop complaining about the costs! Entitlements aren’t free. You have to pay for them.

“But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare in the constitution they are forming that neither the legislature, nor the nation itself can validly contract more debt, than they may pay within their own age, or within the term of 19 years.” – Thomas Jefferson

It’s ironic to celebrate independence when we live in a society of willful dependence. There’s no longer any doubt that most of our entitlement programs are unsustainable, so it’s time we stood on our own two feet. It’s time for real independence again. The United States is supposed to be a self-government, but when its people willfully fall into ignorance, it’s as if the driver of a car put on the cruise control and took a nap. What end other than disaster do we expect? I’ve heard it many times before, so I’ll repeat it here: In a Democracy, people get the government they deserve. Give that some thought while you celebrate “Independence”.

“The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People in a greater Measure, than they have it now, they may change their Rulers and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty.” – John Adams

“In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it cost nothing to be a patriot.” – Mark Twain

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