Independence Day July 4th, 2010

..."We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness"...

As it was written 234 years ago, and is still the foundation of our Nation. We are a Nation, not of Men or Corporations, but of Law. Justice requires that assurance of equality be found in our dealings with others. That we not sacrifice the unpopular for the popular. That we not render the fruits of prosperity as a crime to be apologized for, nor taken for benefit of those who will not earn it.

The American Dream is that each of us, citizens of the greatest experiment in self-governance, be free to achieve to the level of our industry, innovation, or effort. That each of us has the freedom to pursue our livelihood, without fear of confiscation by arbitrary men with the trappings of power yet no moral basis to exercise it.

We were founded on the principles of Liberty. We broke free of one tyrant three thousand miles away. Did we trade him for three thousand tyrants, one mile away?

On this Independence Day, 2010, take the time between grilling your burgers and dogs and pouring another cold beer to reflect upon the founding idea enshrined in our Declaration of Independence. Take the time to understand that Freedom and Liberty are messy, and yet being Free is the only just way to live one's life.

To all of the Patriots who have sacrificed for my Freedom, all the way back to April 19, 1775 and up through to today: I salute you.

Pax,

Newbius