mtpolitics.net

We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident

Over this past Independence Day weekend, a number of bloggers across the spectrum posted the text of the Declaration of Independence.

Like most well-written and relevant pieces, I find something new in every reading, and I had some thoughts about it.

While I tried to bring them all together in a cohesive (for me) manner, I found that lefty journalist, par excellence, George Ochenski had already covered some of the same ground. (Simultaneous H/T’s: David Crisp, “Blue Jay” Stevens.

(As a side note, I propose the following terminology for our sinestra pals’ reaction to an Ochenski column: Ochenskigasm.)

Be that as it may, Ochenski does make some good points, but he’s really cherry-picking, which should come as no surprise.

Consider this quote from Sam Adams:

if ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.

The leftist mindset of today leans greatly toward the “tranquility of servitude,” in the guise of all manner of regulatory and confiscatory programs all couched in the doublespeak of “the greater good.” (Think: Global warming, socialized medicine, ponzi retirement schemes, etc.)

OK, that one is beside the point, but I like it.

Back to the Declaration, though; let’s have a look at some of the other grievances in the Declaration; the ones the left wants to ignore:

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: Like kow-towing to the “global community?”

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: “Fair Trade” laws, anyone?

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: That’s kind of a convenient one to forget, wouldn’t you say?

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: Does anyone remember the 10th amendment? Anyone?

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. Is this ringing any bells? Bueller?

Let me say that I don’t necessarily disagree with the ones that Ochenski has chosen, and that we’re having an Ochenskigasm over. (Though the one about the judges cracks me up. Hopefully he has the same criticism of every president going back to Washington.) Most of the FISA and Patriot Act stuff is complete and utter bullshit, and should be an affront to anyone who values liberty. But, you can’t pick and choose what you want liberty to mean.

Either we’re a free country, or we’re not. I don’t believe we are now, and I don’t believe that many of the programs that the left wants to enact are going to make us any more free. Freedom is messy. It’s unsafe and it has no safety nets. The right of liberty burdens you with the responsibility of having to make your own way; not figure out a way to take money from your neighbor to satisfy your “needs,” or newly-invented “rights.”

In for a penny, you’re in for a pound. What’s it going to be, boys?

Ochenski and his fellow travelers would do well to remember one thing about revolutions.

They nearly always run Red.