OK! It's been awhile. But, let's continue where we were.

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth..."

"When in the course of human events..." this is a statement in and of itself that says, "We've had it up to here." It also says that there were a lot of things going on that people were fed up with. The government that they were being ruled by were imposing a laws and rules on people that they didn't agree with. Does this sound familiar? The founding fathers were standing up and making a statement. There have been some town hall meetings recently that people have stood up and made a stand of their own.

Let's stop a second and think about this. We need to learn from this example. They were not shouting and making a scene. They made a declaration that they did not like what the crown if Great Britain were imposing on them. The Constitutional Congress formed and decided that they were going to speak as one voice. They got together and discussed what they were thinking. They got their thoughts together. and they put their collective thoughts together and proclaimed them publicly.

"It becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands..." This is the first mention of the purpose of this document. They were making a break from England. Did you notice the word "necessary?" There wasn't any wavering or questioning about what they were doing. They also didn't leave any room for anyone to read between the lines.

The authors also called themselves "one people." This is another statement telling the reader that they all agreed on this. They were of one mind. Did this mean that they agreed on everything? No, of course not. But, once again, they has discussed, debated and considered what they wanted to write down in an open letter to the crown.

"Dissolve the political bands..." Our founding fathers were refering to the political bands with England.

I would suggest that we need to bring this thought to todays world. There are two major political parties in our country today. Do you agree with either one of them? Do you think that both of them are VERY flawed? What should we do? I think that there is a major shift away from the polital bands in todays world.

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

Let's look at the introduction first. Isn't that a novel idea? It starts out "In Congress." Congress met on June 7, 1776. A man named Richard Henry Lee of Virginia stood and stated, "that the united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states." John Adams seconded the statement. That got things going to draft a Declaration of Independence. So this movement was started and adopted "In Congress"

The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. Right here we need to pause and see what the founders did for four days before they adopted it. Between July 1-4 the congress met, read, debated, and and revised the document. They understood that they were going to be voting on something that was going to radically impact the lives of every person in the new country.

Today we have our elected officials stating they they are too busy to read everything that they are voting on. What are they busy with that is more important than the bills that they are voting on our behalf? I don't know about you, but I want them to concentrate on me and my concerns. Not where their next fundraiser is going to be. Not deciding about which jet they need to buy themselves. I want them to be seeking the will of their constituents.

"The unanimous Declaration"..."the unanimous," sounds a little like they ALL agreed on what they were declaring. How could they become unanimous in this? Because they spent 4 days debating and editing the document that they agreed on. That means that none of them were grand standing, trying to appease lobbyist, or making sure that they fulfilled some far-fetched promise that they made on the campaign trail.

Side bar...Do you think that they spent the kind of money on campaigns back then that is spent today? Even if you adjust for employment it wouldn't even come close. Let's look just 96 years ago...$10,000,000 today is the equivalent of $218,000 in 1913. I think that the founders would be disgusted by the numbers that are spent on campaigns today.

Let's wrap up the introduction. It says, "the thirteen united States of America." Look real close. Did you see it? Look at the "U." It's not capitalized! What does that mean? It means that it is an adjective, not a proper noun. That mean's it's not a title, it's a description. WOW! Let's say that word again... "united!"

Did that mean that all of those men in that room agreed on everything that they belived? NO! It means that the new union that was being formed was together in it's conviction of spliting from the rule of the British rule. We should be as resolute in standing up for what we believe. Don't stop to think, "How does my party (Rep. or Dem.) stand on this?" Just think, "What do I think is the right thing to do here?"

"United We Stand, Divided We Fall" isn't just a passing thought. It is something that our founders knew was the right thing to do.

OK, everyone! I want a suggestions. Who do you want to learn about? Do you want to get into the Declaration of Independence?

Yeah, he does look a little like Benjamin Franklin. He's not. He did sign the Declaration of Independence.

His name is Lewis Morris. He was born in present day Bronx County, NY in 1726. He inherited great wealth, most of which was lost during the war. He graduated at Yale College in 1746 after studying farming, and returned to the farm of his father, in Lower West Chester, near Harlem. When his father passed on he became engaged in politics.

He served in the Provincial legislature shortly before the troubles with Great Britain began and before it was dissolved by the royal governor. Morris joined with the patriots when conflict began, siding , in many cases, against his wealthy neighbors. He convinced local politicians to send representatives to the re-formed Legislature in April of 1775. That congress appointed delegates to the second Continental Congress, and Morris was one. He served on committees for the defense of New York, one for provisioning colonial forces, and another for Indian affairs. These tasks carried him throughout New England in the first few years of the war. He also served as a brigadier-general in the New York militia and so was often torn between his duties in congress and those to the defense of his own colony.

In 1777, he was succeeded in congress by his brother, Gouverneur Morris. He returned to his local duties, later served as a judge in Worcester, and served intermittently as a member of the upper house of the new legislature until 1790. All of the Morris property and nearly all of his wealth had been destroyed in the revolution. Lewis spend several years working to rebuild his farm. He also served on the first Board of Regents for the University of New York. He died in January 1798 at the age of 72.

A common man who knew most likely knew that if he financially supported the colonialist, that he would lose a lot of money. Did that matter to him? No, it didn't. He went into the revolution with a belief of what was right and wrong. He apparently stood behind those beliefs until the day he died.

Do we carry our beliefs as strongly today as Lewis Morris did. I don't think so. Our first thought is most likely, "How much does it cost?" Don't you think that we should ask, "How is this going to align with what I believe in?"

Belief...I think that this is where we stand or fall.

George Clymer was born March 16 1739 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was orphaned at a very young age and raised by his uncle. He was an apprentice to his uncle in the "counting room" in preparation for the mercantile profession. He led disturbances in Philadelphia after the Tea Tax and the Stamp Act in 1773. After that he held several positions in the burgeoning government. He was a member of the Philadelphia Committee of Safety, 1773; elected to the Continental Congress, 1776-1780; member of Pennsylvania Legislature, Revenue Officer, Federal Indian Agent, 1781-1796; First president of: Philadelphia Bank, Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts, vice-president of the Philadelphia Agricultural Society. This was all on a private (merchant) education.

His story should tell us that it doesn't matter what your education is, what your profession is, nor what your "social status" is. George Clymer was studying to be a glorified store clerk.

This should remind us not to stand behind false walls of "I'm just a _____." You fill in the blank. I'm sure that just like me you've filled it in before. "I'm just a truck driver." "I'm just a teacher." "I don't have the money that those big time politicians have." "I'm not smart enough to stand up and speak in public."

Have you ever stood up in public and said what was on your heart? Not many of us can say that we have done that. Guess what. Those politicians didn't work for all that money. A lot of them have it given to them. Whether by donations or just handed down through the family. The regular guy, ordinary gal should be able to run for public office and at least have a fighting chance at winning. That is how our voice is going to be heard. Let's speak up.

This is just my opinion...we should purge Washington DC of all elected officials. We vote for someone who doesn't know Washington DC. It will take either one voting cycle or up to four years for us to get some action up there that we want to see done.

I think that after one election they will see that we mean to start our own "reformation" of government. Half of them will see their buddies packing their suitcases because they didn't listen to the people. That same half will realise that their time is coming to an end.

I heard something today that I want everyone to think about. If a foreign government came on to our land and started do to it what is going on right now...would we stand for it? Or, would we take up arm and take our country back?

I'm not advocating a coup or an armed rebellion. It's not the time for that. I want us to stand up for our rights as American citizens and take back our country.

Don't you think that is what George Clymer would do?

Do you know who this is? I'll give you two hints. He is a founding father and he represented Pennsylvania at the Constitutional Congress. Send me an e-mail telling me who you think he is.

I plan on blogging a biographical sketch of his life tomorrow evening. Would you enjoy that? Let me know.

Who is this man? He does look familiar. I'll introduce him and the others you meet much like the late Paul Harvey would. My sources for all of my Declaration of Independence blogs is http://www.ushistory.org/.

He was born on April 13, 1743 in Shadwell, Virginia. He studied law at William and Mary College. He was admitted to the bar in 1767. He was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1769. that governing body became the Virginia House of Delegates in 1770. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Congress in 1775-1776. He played an important role while there.

This man spoke five languages and read two others. Over the course of his life he wrote 16,000 letters. Remember a letter in that time wasn't a note you put up on the refrigerator nor was it a text message. These were in depth letters most likely consisting of pages and pages. In his life he contributed to many facets of life. He was a lawyer, agronomist, musician, scientist, philosopher, author, architect, inventor, and statesman.

A little known fact about this man is that he was an alternate to Payton Randolph, who was recalled by the Royal Governor. While at the Constitutional Congress he was a member of the committee to draft a declaration of independence. That committee chose him to write it.

I know that you have known who this is. It is none other that Thomas Jefferson.

This was one of the most important founding fathers. I am going to take a quote from my source here:

"[He was] appointed Secretary of State under George Washington. This placed him in a very difficult position. The character of the executive was being established during the first few terms. Jefferson and many others were critical of the form it was taking under the first Federalist administration. Jefferson was sharply at odds with fellow cabinet members John Adams and Alexander Hamilton, both of whom he found to be too authoritarian and too quick to assume overwhelming power for the part of the executive."

Did you hear that? He didn't like it that the executive branch had become "authoritarian." That is why I am concerned about the power that our federal government has over everything in our lives. That means small government and big citizens. That brings us full circle to "We the people..."

Let's get our freedom and power back.

Let's study this more indepth. What do you say?

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. 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. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

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.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — 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.

Arrogance is when one thinks that they are more important than they really are. As a public official, i.e. elected official, you should check your ego at the door. You were elected by people who live in the same area that you do. That means that they are your neighbors. Neighbors are equals. My neighbors are a computer repair man on the north and a retiree on the south. We are equal. Wait a second that sounds familiar...where did I hear that?

"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." - Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence 1776

233 years ago that was written to tell the king that we were tired of the taxes that were being implemented on us, the religious freedom that we were being deprived of, and the freedom to speak our mind in public. Right that were granted to us by who? The president of the United States...NO! The Vice President of the United States...NO! A Congressman of the United States...NO! Was it the mayor of your town...NO!

"Our Creator" endowed us with these rights. That is the soverign God of the Universe.

Let look at the first words there. "We hold these truths to be self-eveident." Truth is conformity with fact or reality. What is it about this reality that is being stated? That it is self-evident. The definition of self-evident is evident in itself without proof or demonstration. That means that it is a "no-brainer." Right?

Ask your elected leaders what they think about these self-evident truths.

The definition of transparent is having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen. I remember that President Obama promised that his administration would be transparent and there would be no secrets.

He made another promise that any bill that was going to be voted on would be published for the public a week before it was to be voted on. The stimulus bill was voted on within 24 hours.

I am not just criticizing President Obama. Why aren't there any politicians standing up to this.