Today is July 4, 2007 Independence day for the United States. 231 years ago today the Declaration of Independence was unanimously approved by the continental congress. The drafting of the Declaration was assigned to a committee of people: Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston. Because of Thomas Jefferson's writing expertise the committee assigned the task to him. Thomas Jefferson's draft was mostly unaltered with the exception of a couple of passages. On July 3, 1776 John Adams wrote a letter to his wife Abigail stating...

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epocha 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 the continent to the other, from this time forward, forevermore.

You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of the toil, and blood, and treasure, that it will cost us to maintain this declaration, and support and defend those States. Yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means, and that posterity will triumph in that day's transaction, even though we should rue it, which I trust in God we shall not.

Now there are quite a few passages in the Declaration that the people of 1776 America endured that I think we as a people are enduring today...

sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their substance.

I think this is happening today, if you have been to a hospital, public school or government building you know what I'm speaking of. Because of the "swarms", health care is suffering and unaffordable for many. This is because the health care facilities are "swarmed" with people who have no means and no intention of paying for the services that they receive. This causes the facilities to raise their prices to accomodate the lost income. Not to mention the long waits (6 hours for my Wife's broken foot to be looked at). This is also evident in certain trades, where the "swarms" are working for MUCH less than skilled workers and thus those skilled workers loose their jobs and have to change careers.

Also...

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

This too is happening in our House of Representatives with back room deals on immigration and other laws. To grant amnesty to tens of millions of people who are here illegally, taking advantage or our hospitality, education and economy.

Also in this most treasured document are the means by which we the people have to stop this sort of inactive means of governing...

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to 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

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent

With the current government (no I'm not speaking of George Bush alone here) not having accomplished anything since they were elected almost a year ago, I think we need to seriously look at the general election coming up next year and make sweeping changes. The current government wants to raise our taxes by $400,000,000,000. That's twice as large as the largest tax increase in history only 8 or 9 years ago. This will severly impune the means of American's to bring home a decent pay check. The current average of taxation is 40%, 40% of our income goes to some form of taxes or another, that's right, it's not a mistype... 40%. Now if these new taxes are approved, we can expect even more of our hard earned money to go to the government and "eat out our substance".

Now while these comparisons are trival at best, they are similar and should be addressed. The examples above are also not directed at one institution of our government, but all institutions of our government. We have current senators and representatives that are acting in their best interest, not the people's by which they were elected best interests. This gives the appearance that there is vast corruption, liers and traitors within. The United States government needs to come together to address the issues of our (the people's) security, well being and economic means are maintained and/or improved where possible. Cast off the political divides and use common sense to make important decisions, not hatred, fear and bigotry. Our enemies are watching the political environment here and abroad and the strife within makes us appear weak, indecisional and ripe for attack.

So I call on the United States government to come together and keep to our original Declaration of Independence if there is sacred honor left in government...

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.