"...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...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..." - Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence
"The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them." -Patrick Henry
"The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities." [Ayn Rand]
I'd love to live under the Declaration of Independence rather than the Constitution. I suppose I'd take either, really -- maybe today's election will lead to restoring the Constitution!
ReplyDeleteI wish more people would read The Declaration and take it to heart...so few people are familiar with the document and its importance to our history. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI also think our own governement should pay attention to the bits about the people changing things when we feel it's warranted. Things have certainly been shaken up tonight.