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Happy Independence Day

— And that’s what it is, Independence Day — the day we declared our unwillingness to answer to the arbitrary whims of a centralized authority, the day we demanded our unalienable rights be recognized.

“Distributional justice” is just another way of declaring that what’s yours isn’t truly yours — that man, in the form of government or a (“democratic”) mob, has decided that he owns the fruits of your labor provided he has the power to take it, be that through the simple theft of a street mugging or the organized, rationalized theft of a government set up as a quasi-mafia whereby power is seized and solidified by distributing to others what was yours (after the government first whets its own beak ), thereby winning the dependence and gratitude of those they ply with the theft of your economic freedom.

The loss of a controlling idea about how interpretation works — how it comes to count as interpretation in the first place — has led us down the path where meaning is determined not by a true appeal to the foundational documents intended to constrain the power of a centralized authority, but rather by a judicial oligarchy, where one vote, determined by nothing more than partisan ideology, a felicity with signifiers, and a supposed unshakable fidelity to prior rulings, takes the place of our Constitution and Declaration as the law of the land for 300 million + people.

We have pissed away the greatest experiment ever conceived in self-government. And watching helplessly as the left moves us ever closer to the rule of man — where government is all powerful and can determine our rights for us, granting them or removing them at a whim based on a clearly farcical “reading” of, eg., the Commerce Clause — should remind us just how precious liberty is.

We shan’t go down without a fight. Once this country is unrecognizable as this country, the time will come once again to declare our independence.

We are a people who were born in freedom. Let the rest of the world suffer in servitude to the state. That ain’t us. And it won’t be — at least, not so long as we still have a voice and a will and the desire to be free. And those who wish to do us harm had better stop underestimating our resolve.

Outlaw.

27 Replies to “Happy Independence Day”

sdferr says:

July 4, 2011 at 9:56 am

Thomas Jefferson’s reply letter

Monticello June 24. 26

Respected Sir

The kind invitation I receive from you on the part of the citizens of the city of Washington, to be present with them at their celebration of the 50th. anniversary of American independance; as one of the surviving signers of an instrument pregnant with our own, and the fate of the world, is most flattering to myself, and heightened by the honorable accompaniment proposed for the comfort of such a journey. It adds sensibly to the sufferings of sickness, to be deprived by it of a personal participation in the rejoicings of that day. But acquiescence is a duty, under circumstances not placed among those we are permitted to controul. I should, indeed, with peculiar delight, have met and exchanged there congratulations personally with the small band, the remnant of that host of worthies, who joined with us on that day, in the bold and doubtful election we were to make for our country, between submission or the sword; and to have enjoyed with them the consolatory fact, that our fellow citizens, after half a century of experience and prosperity, continue to approve the choice we made. May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the Signal of arousing men to burst the chains, under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings & security of self-government. That form which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view. the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of god. These are grounds of hope for others. For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.

I will ask permission here to express the pleasure with which I should have met my ancient neighbors of the City of Washington and of it’s vicinities, with whom I passed so many years of a pleasing social intercourse; an intercourse which so much relieved the anxieties of the public cares, and left impressions so deeply engraved in my affections, as never to be forgotten. With my regret that ill health forbids me the gratification of an acceptance, be pleased to receive for yourself, and those for whom you write, the assurance of my highest respect and friendly attachments.

Th. Jefferson

h/t Bill Kristol
Pablo says:

July 4, 2011 at 11:01 am

If you like distributional justice, you’ll love environmental racism. It’s “internationally recognized” and everything.

And those who wish to do us harm had better stop underestimating our resolve.

They won’t. When the bottom falls out, it’s going to get messy. And then we can fix things. Sadly, only then and not before.
Darleen says:

July 4, 2011 at 11:20 am

Oh lord, Pablo, there’s that hoary chestnut “disproportionate effect” again.
JHoward says:

July 4, 2011 at 11:24 am

With the left’s propensity to invent what it surely sees as nifty, progressive ways to redefine reality, I await its urgent correction its former stance on a government program that’s now shown to have directly burdened us all under the false moniker of ‘stimulus’.

The hell it was.

Like we predicted. Like was never authorized properly. Like rankled a clear majority. Like was unconstitutional — on its face and on its entirely predictable effects — from the instant some jackass tabled the son of a bitch.

In otherwise, I want the word ‘welfare’ the hell back and I want it back now. This isn’t seeing to the nebulous ‘public welfare’ and it’s not enumerated in the Constitution so it’s dead wrong on both pragmatic and legal counts.

Claiming effects by co-opting simple words and selling the public a literal bill of goods before those effects are subsequently shown to be ruinous constitutes a bald-faced lie. Such a principle is utterly NOT enumerated and is thus illegal.

I’d also like the words ‘social’, ‘security’, ‘medic’ and ‘aid’ and ‘medic’ and ‘care’, ‘free education’, ‘complete bullshit’ and ‘criminal’ back, and for good measure, ‘prosecution’, ‘impeachment’, and ‘criminal penalties’.

I’m sorry; was that too harsh? The left is absolutely free to defend just one of these gross victimizations of the American population and the words they rode them in on on their points and principles. ‘Public welfare’ became ‘inescapable tyranny’ or simply ‘THEFT’ a long time ago.

Those who wish to do us additional harms had better stop underestimating our resolve.
Drumwaster says:

July 4, 2011 at 11:35 am

I’ve been saying it for years…

There will be blood in the streets by 2025. No nukes, though, because the military leadership is neither suicidal nor stupid.

I expect a Balkanization of the (former) US, as the States group together by culture and economic influence, a la Heinlein’s “Friday”.
Bob Reed says:

July 4, 2011 at 11:49 am

Happy 4th to PW’s host and commentariat all.

I hope you all enjoy a fine day with friends and family celebrating the liberties we have. Tomorrow we can all begin anew trying to get us back to where we ought to be; figting the statists across the political spectrum, and striving the make words, well, mean something again.

And I’m not talking about what the consensus says they mean either :)

My best to everyone.
Carin says:

July 4, 2011 at 11:49 am

the thing I like about the environmental racism stuff, is that if you go into the ghetto, you’ve never seen people LESS environmentally concerned. Garbage? Throw it in the street. Tires? Throw that shit in the river. AT my house, in Detroit, someone dumped an old yucky bed in my backyard.

. In this instance, minority communities are left in the inner cities, segregated along racial lines and in proximity to polluted industrial zones. I

There is far more squalor, in poor neighborhoods created by THOSE WHO LIVE THERE. Not the man leaving being polluted industrial zones.

ugh.
happyfeet says:

July 4, 2011 at 12:21 pm

it looks a lot like we’re going down without a fight really

Team R has a frontrunner his name is Mitt Romney he’s an obamacare-lurving dildo

it really does look a lot like we’re going down without a fight
Darleen says:

July 4, 2011 at 12:29 pm

hf

the election is more than a year away … what Romney has going for him is name recognition. I don’t believe he’ll be the nominee, no matter how much the Establishment Squishes are manipulating the polls.
dicentra says:

July 4, 2011 at 12:41 pm

Romney’s not my fave, but he’d still be better than Obama.

He’ll look better going down with the ship, and he won’t whine about inheriting a leaky boat.
happyfeet says:

July 4, 2011 at 12:46 pm

darleen I can’t be as optimistical as you cause of we’re dealing with the same people what disastrously nominated Meghan’s coward daddy

they’re stupid
Wm T Sherman says:

July 4, 2011 at 12:55 pm

I believe that the Tea Party type insurgency will be back next electon even stronger than it was in 2010. Because, our would-be aristocratic class has continued to inflict the same level of damage as before, with the same condescending arrogance. And people have had it with the GOP leadership. Those entitled fossils were given their chance to come to Jesus fair and square, but were obviously just not interested.
sdferr says:

July 4, 2011 at 1:09 pm

Optimism seems to entail the old controversy over how and why — after if — God makes errors. If not, then we must (or may as well) be optimistic that even this is the best of all possible worlds. If otherwise, then we must have reason for concern. Or that’s sort of how it goes.

Kant looked to put an end to all that, ruling it out-of-bounds, so to speak. So today, it just doesn’t seem to be our deal anymore.

Instead, we’ve got worse — more rotten — fish to fry.
Wm T Sherman says:

July 4, 2011 at 1:29 pm

“There is no Devil. It’s just God when He’s drunk.”
Hvy Mtl Hntr says:

July 4, 2011 at 1:39 pm

Happy Independence Day to all-God Bless America!
Joe says:

July 4, 2011 at 2:59 pm

Happy 4th. I still have faith we can turn this around. Happy 4th to you all.
sdferr says:

July 4, 2011 at 3:32 pm

What Mr Mason wrote, adopted on June 12, 1776 by the Virginia Assembly:

The Virginia Declaration of Rights

A DECLARATION OF RIGHTS made by the representatives of the good people of Virginia, assembled in full and free convention which rights do pertain to them and their posterity, as the basis and foundation of government .

Section 1. That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

Section 2. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants and at all times amenable to them.

Section 3. That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation, or community; of all the various modes and forms of government, that is best which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety and is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration. And that, when any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community has an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.

Section 4. That no man, or set of men, is entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in consideration of public services; which, nor being descendible, neither ought the offices of magistrate, legislator, or judge to be hereditary.

Section 5. That the legislative and executive powers of the state should be separate and distinct from the judiciary; and that the members of the two first may be restrained from oppression, by feeling and participating the burdens of the people, they should, at fixed periods, be reduced to a private station, return into that body from which they were originally taken, and the vacancies be supplied by frequent, certain, and regular elections, in which all, or any part, of the former members, to be again eligible, or ineligible, as the laws shall direct.

Section 6. That elections of members to serve as representatives of the people, in assembly ought to be free; and that all men, having sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the community, have the right of suffrage and cannot be taxed or deprived of their property for public uses without their own consent or that of their representatives so elected, nor bound by any law to which they have not, in like manner, assembled for the public good.

Section 7. That all power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by any authority, without consent of the representatives of the people, is injurious to their rights and ought not to be exercised.

Section 8. That in all capital or criminal prosecutions a man has a right to demand the cause and nature of his accusation, to be confronted with the accusers and witnesses, to call for evidence in his favor, and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of twelve men of his vicinage, without whose unanimous consent he cannot be found guilty; nor can he be compelled to give evidence against himself; that no man be deprived of his liberty except by the law of the land or the judgment of his peers.

Section 9. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Section 10. That general warrants, whereby an officer or messenger may be commanded to search suspected places without evidence of a fact committed, or to seize any person or persons not named, or whose offense is not particularly described and supported by evidence, are grievous and oppressive and ought not to be granted.

Section 11. That in controversies respecting property, and in suits between man and man, the ancient trial by jury is preferable to any other and ought to be held sacred.

Section 12. That the freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.

Section 13. That a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.

Section 14. That the people have a right to uniform government; and, therefore, that no government separate from or independent of the government of Virginia ought to be erected or established within the limits thereof.

Section 15. That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.

Section 16. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practise Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.
dicentra says:

July 4, 2011 at 3:49 pm

The Civil-War-specific verse of the National Anthem:

When our land is illumined with liberty’s smile,
If a foe from within strikes a blow at her glory,
Down, down with the traitor that tries to defile
The flag of the stars, and the page of her story!
By the millions unchained,
Who their birthright have gained
We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained;
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave,
While the land of the free is the home of the brave.

And don’t forget versus 2, 3, and 4, which are more powerful for their unfamiliarity

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
’Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust;”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
dicentra says:

July 4, 2011 at 3:50 pm

Happy 4th. I still have faith we can turn this around.

I don’t. But I think we can rebuild after the fall.
guinsPen says:

July 4, 2011 at 8:04 pm

Bully Fourth !!!!
sdferr says:

July 4, 2011 at 8:21 pm

Jefferson/Thompson: Testament of Freedom

I
II

IV
Pablo says:

July 4, 2011 at 8:32 pm

I don’t. But I think we can rebuild after the fall.

Yeah. That’s when we turn it around. You ready? :)
guinsPen says:

July 4, 2011 at 9:00 pm

They’ve got good beats and you can dance to them.

I give them a cumulative 1776.
dicentra says:

July 4, 2011 at 9:17 pm

You ready? :)

No. I still need me some quicklime.

Don’t ask why.
Swen says:

July 4, 2011 at 9:19 pm

Hmm..

Romney is only the “frontrunner” by consensus of the lamestream media, not one single vote has been cast for him. Hopefully the Stupid Party won’t let the media choose their candidate again — even they can’t be that stupid. Can they?

I don’t think so. I concur with Wm T Sherman, the TEA Party will be back next election and will be seriously energized by the shenanigans with the debt ceiling, Big Spending Cuts that are mostly smoke and mirrors, the spiraling debt and looming fiscal crisis, the total fecklessness of the Republican “leadership”, and a thousand other outrages. The Republican primaries should be telling. If a goodly portion of the Republican establishment are kicked to the curb and we have a slate of new, TEA Party-approved candidates there will be reason for hope. If the same old idiots are on the slate we’d as well start sharpening the pitchforks.
Swen says:

July 4, 2011 at 9:36 pm

Because let’s face it. If we don’t seriously turn this country around in 2012 there may be no USA as we know it by 2014. It’s that important.
When Mark Steyn Starts To Talk About The Break-Up Of The United States… « The Camp Of The Saints says:

July 5, 2011 at 12:14 pm

[…] what Mr. Steyn has written, but I do know that he understands how serious the situation is. And he’s determined to fight [tip of the fedora to Paco]: We have pissed away the greatest experiment ever conceived in […]

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Happy Independence Day

27 Replies to “Happy Independence Day”