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.- from The Declaration of Independence
Congress is no longer deriving its powers from the consent of the governed. From Rasmussen:
Just 8% Approve of Job Congress Is DoingVoters are evenly divided this month when asked if most members of Congress are corrupt: 39% say yes; 38% say no, while 23% are undecided. The view that most congressmen are corrupt has ranged from 36% to 45% since January of last year.
We The People are supposed to represented in a limited government working under our consent. That is no longer the case. We are ow being ruled over by political elitists -
without our consent. The ruling class is passing bills that are not debated or even read. Provisions are secretly inserted that have nothing to do with the bills themselves. The bills are signed into law even though they are patently unconstitutional. In addition, laws are being passed so vague that unelected bureaucrats in federal agencies like the EPA have unprecedented power over us sans any accountability. It is a feature, not a bug! As Thomas Sowell enumerates very well, We The People, and the US Constitution, are an obstacle to liberalism and are treated as such by the executive branch, the Congress, and by activist judges that are the envy of the best pretzel makers to ever walk the earth. It is an utter corruption of what used to American values. There is no provision in the US Constitution that one person gets to live off of another, yet that is the value of the ruling class today. It is enumerated quite well in this video that I have posted many times:
We no longer live under the rule of law, but under the whims of liberal feelings.
Related:
Glenn Reynolds: Consent of the governed - and the lack thereofUPDATE: Via
Instapundit:
INDEPENDENCE DAY THOUGHTS from Jeff Jacoby.
If Nature and Nature’s God intended human beings to be free and equal, then the only legitimate government must be self-government. For if none of us is naturally subordinate or superior to anyone else, no one has the right to rule us without first obtaining our approval. Political power, Locke had written, stems “only from compact and agreement, and the mutual consent of those who make up the community.’’
The Declaration of Independence emphasized the point. Not only are all persons endowed by nature with the unalienable rights of equality and freedom, it avowed, but “to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.’’
No lawful government without consent and self-rule: It was an extraordinary doctrine for its time. . . . July 4 marks more than American independence. It commemorates the great political ideals, rooted in faith and philosophy, that vindicated that independence – and that thereby transformed the world.
Read the whole thing.
UPDATE #2: Via an email from Terry G, this isn't quite so funny:
NOAH TODAYIn the year 2011, the Lord came unto Noah, Who was now living in Buffalo and said: "Once again, the earth has become wicked and over -populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me." "Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing Along with a few good humans." He gave Noah the blueprints, saying:
"You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will Start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights."
Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah Weeping in his yard - but no Ark. "Noah!," He roared, "I'm about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?" "Forgive me, Lord," begged Noah, "but things have changed."
"I needed a Building Permit."
"I've been arguing with the Boat Inspector About the need for a sprinkler system."
"My neighbors claim that I've violated the Neighborhood By-Laws by building the Ark in my Back garden and exceeding the height limitations. We had to Go to the Local Planning Committee for a variance."
"Then the Local Council and the Electricity Company demanded a shed load of money for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the Passage for the Ark's move to the sea. I told them That the sea would be coming to us, but they would Hear nothing of it."
"Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban On cutting local trees in order to save the Greater Spotted Barn Owl." "I tried to convince the environmentalists that I Needed the wood to save the owls - but no go!"
"When I started gathering the animals the RSPCA took me to court. They insisted that I was Confining wild animals against their will. They Argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and It was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in A confined space."
"Then the Environmental Agency ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study On your proposed flood."
"I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm Supposed to hire for my building crew."
"Immigration are checking the Visa status of most of the people who want to work."
"The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They Insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience."
"To make matters worse, the Inland Revenue seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally With endangered species."
"So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 Years for me to finish this Ark."
"Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, And a rainbow stretched across the sky."
Noah looked up in wonder and asked, "You mean you're not going to destroy the world?"
"No," said the Lord." The Government beat me to it."
