O beautiful, for heroes proved In liberating strife

Please consider what our Independence means:

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 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.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Any of that seem familiar, or rather, relevant? First, I agree with the sentiments of the last paragraph and do not support an overthrow of the government. I had thought of writing a spiteful diatribe about the current state of the U.S. Government and American politics, but I figured it best to pose a few questions instead (as some of you know, I can sometimes get emotional about politics). I believe it's better to have a dialogue than to throw around accusations.

My questions are posed around the current state of liberty in this country. How are the unalienable rights to which tyranny was abolished so cavalierly cast aside by so many? There are plenty of examples of institutional tyranny under the federal, state and municipal governments.

What has happened to the belief of rights of man? Why did common law and property rights become virtually non-existent? What about our right to self-defense? These are elemental to our rights, so why have the courts (namely SCOTUS) sided with the government's assertions of more control rather than individual liberty? I thought the courts were intended to be disassociated arbiters of the law, and not agents of the government instructing juries how to rule. What happened to the presumption of innocence? How has the burden of proof shifted from the accuser to the accused, and juries are convicting (very possibly innocent) people with only a preponderance of the evidence?

The Bill of Rights was to guarantee that which is ours, but the government (admittedly, by nature) has done everything it can to whittle it down to nothing. Most grievances are directly associated to the executive branch, so why did the balance of power shift to one person? The Constitution never intended for this scenario. Isn't that how tyrants are created - whether or not they are well-intentioned?

Is this a matter of ignorance or complacency? When does it become too much as a society, and when does it become too much for you? Do you believe this will be a free country for future generations? What's your price for only the appearance of security? Do you really have that much faith in a centralized government, or even in a single person? That was the point of our independence.

Consider these scenarios. The government can kick you out of your home and sell it to another private party, and you have no recourse (other than the compensation they deem reasonable). The government can break into your home and destroy it, kill your dog, maybe kill you, and they have no culpability in a mistaken identity. The government can tell you what you can or not do with your body. These are all happening right now.

What rights? It's unfortunate that George Carlin may have been correct that we only have privileges, not rights. So, is that why we cast off despotism (for our privileges)? That doesn't seem like a very noble reason, but human nature is also selfish.

I leave you with this question: is the U.S. Constitution in force any more, or are we only subject to the laws passed by the executive/legislative branches and asserted by the judicial branch?

Is that okay with you? Please discuss.