Reply #7: "National Security", rather than "patriotism" has become the last refuge of scoundrels. [View All]

[nealmhughes]

Democracy is anathema to secrecy and vice versa.

How can the people elect representatives and an executive if the people and their representatives have no idea what is going on within the executive's employees' agencies?

The state as status quo is not nearly so important as the people who form the state.

Jefferson opined in the first basic document of the founding of the United States of America 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. — 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."

Have we not suffered long enough? Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; to secure these rights, governments are insituted among men; just powers from the consent of the governed; disposed to suffer -- lofty ideals, great prose. Why do we negate it with a Congress that had bowed to the pressure of a small cadre of warmongers? Why did the Executive negate it with lies and jingos?

Perhaps the nation is awakening, and holding all accountable to the laws which we in Congress have established. Let us therefore go forth with hope that the truth be revealed, and if embarassment, harassment or even loss of position and honor result from the cadre that has led us into a most unsafe, unhappy and not free state, so be it.

The Republic must be restored.