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The Founding Fathers on Dissent

6. July 2004 • Ari Paul
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This is a little belated, but let’s see our nation’s Founding Fathers felt about citizens working to change their government and why. From the Declaration of Independence:

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.

And what would our government (or head of government) have to do to provoke this?

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

The Department of Homeland Security.

“For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury.”

Until recently, the captives at Camp X-Ray.

“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.”

For those that saw Moore’s latest film, this was how the U.S. PATRIOT Act was passed.

“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.”

Like the unconstitutional measures within the PATRIOT Act.

My fellow Americans, we have a duty to ensure the welfare of our nation, and it begins with organizing the unseating of our current President.



  1. Ari –
    I sometimes wonder how you graduated.

    The passages you quote (with one exception) were predicated on the fact that the collonists didn’t have the right to vote, ergo they didn’t have a say in how Parliment ran. Moore’s film – while it points out how Patriot was passed – neglects to point out that Congressional rules of procedure were followed – what happend there is unfortunatly what OFTEN happens.

    Similarly, the multitude of new offices – well; first of all – if that is a reason to get rid of Bush – then FDR (that socialist paragon of yours) should have been removed at the end of the first term. Moreover, if you have a problem with this – under the philosophy of both Jefferson and Madison (primary drafters) the key is voting out Congress, not the president.

    As for Camp X-Ray – ahm…first of all Ari the recent S. Ct. decision says NOTHING of Jury trials. It says they have a right to habeas relief – which is judicialy enforced – i.e. they get to go to a judge (and even then, not necessarily a civil judge, i.e. military tribunals – just fine). Secondly, they aren’t citizens – ergo – under the views of Jefferson/Madison – not entitled to judicial redress.

    Ari – there are SOOOOO many good reasons to vote Bush out – why make up shit?

    Dave
       —David Livshiz    Jul. 6 '04 - 09:45PM    #
  2. This sort of ahistorical claptrap (the George W / George III meme) has been going around for a while but, alas, doesn’t get any more well-informed with age.

    It’s clever, I guess, but not really that relevant.
       —Brian    Jul. 6 '04 - 10:43PM    #
  3. livshiz, i’m having romantic fun with samatics…so sue me…

    “The passages you quote (with one exception) were predicated on the fact that the collonists didn’t have the right to vote.” -dl

    cough, cough, florida, cough cough…

    “Moore’s film – while it points out how Patriot was passed – neglects to point out that Congressional rules of procedure were followed – what happend there is unfortunatly what OFTEN happens.” -dl

    agreed, and that totally blows goats…the main problem with the patriot act is that it amends other laws, so that for anyone to understand it, you have to read volumes and volumes of statutes…it should never even had been voted on…

    “Similarly, the multitude of new offices – well; first of all – if that is a reason to get rid of Bush – then FDR (that socialist paragon of yours) should have been removed at the end of the first term.” -dl

    he did he send swarms of them to harass the people…well if by harass, you mean tax, and by people, you mean robberbarons…

    don’t give me that bs about how you agree that bush is bad…bush could round shoot every black man, gay person, and arab and you’d be celebrating…

    good night,
    ari p.
       —Ari P.    Jul. 7 '04 - 12:15AM    #