When a system of government oversteps it’s legitimate authority, and then, either by coercion, or force, imposes its will upon the people, tyranny exists . History records numerous occasions when people, who have risen up and shook off the shackles which bound them, and declared that they are free men. Most of the time these uprisings have come at great cost in terms of both lives and fortunes lost.

In 1776 such an event occurred took place upon the American continent. Fifty-six representatives to the people of America affixed their names to a Declaration of Independence, stating, “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.”

In so doing, these men were committing nothing other than treason, and they knew it. In a letter to John Adams, Dr. Benjamin Rush recalls that solemn moment, “Do you recollect the pensive and awful silence which pervaded the house when we were called up, on after another, to the table of the President of the Congress to subscribe what was believed by many at that time to be our own death warrants?”

What set this particular instance apart from all others was that in this instance our nation had the unique opportunity to create its own system of government, with its foundation being the unalienable rights and liberty of men.

Divine providence alone must have gathered such men together, men who were well versed in history, government, and philosophy. Yet the people who occupy this nation today, in their infinite wisdom, choose to ignore their words, their admonitions, and allow their government to expand its power and strip them of their rights.

Over the course of our nation’s war for independence, 25,000 died, and another 25,000 were injured, all because they believed that they were fighting to preserve those rights for posterity.

In a warning to that posterity, Samuel Adams declared, “It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men.”

Repeatedly our founders had petitioned the King of England, describing in great detail their grievances…only to fall upon deaf ears. The continual ignoring of their petitions led the founders to come to the conclusion that “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”

History, my friends, appears to be repeating itself before our very eyes. I have written extensively about the usurpations of power by those who we have entrusted to ‘support and defend the Constitution‘, and ‘bear true faith and allegiance to the same.‘ Yet, for the most part, my voice falls upon deaf ears.

I find that, to some my words have absolutely no meaning whatsoever. My articles are ignored, or if they are read, they are read, and quickly forgotten. Others ridicule and scorn me for being unpatriotic, solely because I choose to question the legitimacy of my governments actions. Little do people realize that it is because I love my country that I cry out against those who would see it brought down to ruin.

Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels – men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion.” All I am asking is that people think. It seems I am asking too much!

I have mentioned to some, that I despise the term politician, as it implies a willingness to sacrifice one’s principles to come to an agreement. I prefer those who represent us by their rightful job titles, public servants. Yet now, our government is filled with self-righteous megalomaniacs whose only goal is to continue to expand their power, and control, over their employers, the people.

Without our consent, our government could not have become this overbearing beast that it has. “Qui tacet consentit”, or silence implies consent. I find that too many people just don’t care to take the time to learn what is going on, or that they just don’t seem to care. People would appear to spend their time following the lives of celebrities than learn of how their government has betrayed their trust.

Do not assume that I place the blame wholly upon those who live in this country today, as that is not true. The problem traces its roots way back, at least to the early 1900’s, possibly even further. Yet, due to our continued ignorance, apathy, and silence, our government‘s usurpation of power, and violations of our rights is expanding at an exponential rate.

Our executive officer, the President, now rules by decree, or Executive Orders as they are called today. Our Congress legislates upon things they have absolutely no authority to legislate upon, while at the same time, they ignore their Constitutionally mandated powers. Our Supreme Court rules not on the letter of the law, but the spirit, thereby, as Thomas Jefferson said, making our Constitution into “a mere thing of wax…which they may twist and shape into any form they please.”

Our government either legislates based upon polls and popular sentiments, or it manipulates the people, by fear and dire warnings of impending crises, to push forth a desired agenda.

The two political parties in this country have their own distinct special interests who shape, and dictate party policy. Any candidate who wishes to run for office as a Republican, or Democrat, must toe the ‘party line’ or face the consequences. One look at what happened to Ron Paul in the last Republican primary and you will see that I speak the truth. The GOP denied its support, and its media lapdogs at FOX denigrated him to their viewers. The same goes for the Democrats. One look at the way they treated Dennis Kucinich is all it takes to justify that claim.

Our government ignores the Constitution, because to abide by it would limit their power. We support candidates who campaign upon issues that are unconstitutional because we the people are grossly ignorant as to the intent of that document, and the limitations it imposes upon our government.

With the election of each new President, and each new Congress, they seek to legislate. Do you think that they are simply re-hashing old issues? No, they are enacting new laws, new restrictions upon us, their rightful masters. Doesn’t this bother you, even a little bit?

There has been a steady increase in the people’s anger over the state of affairs in this country. Polls show that a majority of the people are not happy with the direction this country is taking. Yet these same people look to those at fault for all our nations problems for the solutions. The greater the number of government programs that are instituted, the more difficult it will become to save our nation, if that is even possible.

I fear that people have become too dependent upon government for answers. It is only when people severe the umbilical that binds them to government, and seek to rekindle the principles upon which our founders established our republic that our nation will continue to spiral into oblivion.

If that be the case, I have but one thing to say. If there be any justice at all, those, who sacrificed their very lives so that we might enjoy liberty, will line up and deny entrance to Heaven itself, anyone who has dishonored their sacrifices, and stood silently by while their government stripped them of their rights, and their freedom.

~ The Author ~
Neal Ross can be reached for comments at bonsai@syix.com. Visit Neal’s Blog at http://www.zombie-slayer.com/neal