Some parts of that long ago 1776 Declaration that the Republicans either forget, or reject outright

[DFW]

"That to secure these rights*, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

* refers to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"

"That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it...."

"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."

It is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide for their future security--I interpret this to mean, among other things, that when the Supreme Court of the United States has been taken over by a majority of radical ideologists whose intentions are both contrary and detrimental to the will of a majority of the population, that population has a right and a duty to alter or reverse that usurpation.

The grievances listed by Jefferson were then against King George III of England. Today, many of them can be aptly applied to the Republican Party, and their allied Russian financiers:

He has (today: the Republicans have) refused his (their) assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has (Today: Republican state legislatures with gerrymandered majorities have) forbidden his (Today: elected Democratic, e.g. NC, WI) governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his (their) assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has (they have) utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has (Today: the Republicans have) 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. (i.e. gerrymandering)

He has (Today: the Republicans have) endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has (Today: Republicans have) obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his (their) assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has (Today: the Republicans have) made judges dependent on his (their) will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has (Today: the Republicans have) erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance. (e.g. trigger-happy cops who only seldom are called to account for unjust executions or confiscations)

He has (Today: the Republicans have) kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature. (i.e. no move has been made to disarm and disband marauding right wing "militias" that, quite the opposite of being well-regulated, are answerable to no one, and present a clear and present danger to those areas in which they operate).
---------------------------------------------------

Republicans may set off fireworks, but they have no business celebrating the Fourth of July. It certainly commemorates nothing they would celebrate.

[alwaysinasnit]

1. May I posit that there may be another option; Republicans may actually see themselves as the

oppressed and therefore, they have a right to overthrow Biden's administration because they have bought into the "Big Lie."

[DFW]

2. I have always taken their "victim" routine to be poorly acted out theater

I think the ones who truly believe the Big Lie are in fact relatively few, just like their "Christian Right" does not harbor a majority of people who really and truly believe that Jesus was the son of God. If they did, they wouldn't employ such unbelievable cruelty in implementing the directives of a supreme being who professed to be so benevolent.

[alwaysinasnit]

3. I agree. In buying into the big lie, I believe it validates and provides cover for some of

their most aggressive (violent), racist, and selfish tendencies. I've also heard that, if you tell a lie over and over again, some people will convince themselves that it might be true. And the bigger the lie.....

[DFW]

4. Lenin's observation. Ruthless as he was, he was also a very clever and observant man

"A lie, when told often enough, and shouted loud enough, becomes the truth." Göbbels was quick to make the same observation, as befits the head of a country's "Propagandaministerium."

[alwaysinasnit]

5. Thanks for supplying the reference!

[DFW]

6. Hey, I don't just play the balalaika (and I do!)......

You can bet I got into more of their culture and history than just bublichki!

[alwaysinasnit]

7. Thank you. I truly enjoy your sense of humor.

[DFW]

8. Thanks!

There are those who claim I don’t have one

[dalton99a]

9. Kick

[wendyb-NC]

10. Excellent

Perfect comparison and analysis, based on history and the present. Thank you, DFW, for posting.

[pansypoo53219]

11. when NPR read the constitution a few years ago, i guess some karen called authorities cause

REVOLUTIONARY.

[Kid Berwyn]

12. Very Important Post

Every word. Thank you, DFW!

They understand what they do is treason.

[DFW]

13. You raise an important observation that they prefer not be mentioned too often

Most of their higher-ups DO understand that their acts are treasonous. This is not some misplaced "patriotism." This is a power grab by control freaks who will gladly toss out any slogan as long as their blind followers will eat it up and do their bidding. They know perfectly well that what they are up to is blatant treason. It seems that their logic is that if it leads to them successfully seizing power permanently, then any and all means justify that end. Make sure your Swedish is at near fluency, because we're in danger of becoming San Marcos:

[Kid Berwyn]

14. Underwear on the outside, so we can check.

Dimdonnie the Demented Moron and Fidel the Supreme Leader and Expert on All Knowledge aren’t all that different: they consider themselves all-powerful, infallible and the most interesting person they know. The reality for them and all despots is they are (or were) but marks and stooges for the real players, the bum poets.

Your excellent OP makes our Situation crystal clear. Were I DNC Treasurer or Chairman issuing “Executive Orders,” I’d prioritize messaging to show how the Democrats of today are the Party that upholds the principles of the Declaration of Independence— and the Constitution of the United States— means We the People ARE the Government and all are equal and under law. The trick comes in actually doing all that is necessary — legislation made near impossible to pass due to filibusters, lobbyists, dark money, false advertising, corruption, Black Swan events, etc.

Bananas is a great film, one for the ages. As a Puerto Rican cross-country skiing science-fiction cartoonist of little note, I’d love to learn Swedish. Reading your post though, makes me proud to be a J-school graduate of Wayne State University, alma mater of our late Helen Thomas.

[DFW]

16. With you on several points

When I started college (in Pennsylvania, not Michigan), I started studying Swedish intensively, since I had friends there, and was surprised to learn how very easy it was for an English language native to learn. Probably the easiest grammar of any language I ever tried to learn, and a third of the vocabulary is already practically English, anyway.

Helen Thomas was a personal friend for decades. My father was a prominent DC print journalist for fifty years, and, like Helen, a past president of the Gridiron Club. In July, 2010, I even had the honor of introducing two friends whose paths had never before crossed. Helen was one, and you might recognize the other. Helen's beat was the White House, and America never got lucky enough to have my other friend residing there.

[Kid Berwyn]

18. Thank you for introducing them and all the good that has resulted.

Last edited Mon Jul 4, 2022, 01:36 PM - Edit history (1)

Howard Dean would have flattened the warmongerer. And a Dean administration would have set the nation on a new course. He is still young. Perhaps…

As you know, Democracy depends on truth. Thus, the nation’s founders mentioned but one business by name in the Constitution — the Press.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Your father and Ms. Thomas witnessed history from the front row and shared it with readers, listeners and viewers. They — and all who understand the power of an idea — have served to keep us free for 246 years today.

The Republicans who’ve testified recently about the various treasons of Trump and associates are shocking to too many in their Party and hidden in their counting houses and various redoubts. Like Lincoln at Gettysburg, the witnesses serve to uphold and defend its revolutionary idea of government of the people, by the people and for the people.

[DFW]

19. Howard will be 74 in November.

He's no longer interested in elective office, and besides, Judy would chain him to the house if he tried. His voice will still be heard, though.

[Hugin]

15. I agree.

A very thoughtful OP.

[DFW]

17. Thanks. The timing seemed right for a reflection or two.

As a Jefferson fan, the Fourth of July always meant more to me than fireworks.