Independence Day

On this day we pause to celebrate our nation’s independence from tyranny and oppression. Some 233 years ago a brave and courageous people stood up and declared they were taking back their God given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These men not only forged the greatest nation man has ever seen, but too, they believed We the People was the best course shape their world, and it still works today. Many correlations can be drawn between 1776 and 2009.

In 1776 our fore fathers stood up against Taxation Without Representation. They believed it was unfair to be taxed and over-taxed on goods and services they consumed without ample representation in England. Similar to today’s Congress, Parliament crossed the line with taxation. Today, we find an ever growing number of American’s who feel their voice is not being heard in Washington and they are not being represented fairly. Evidence of this can be found in the numerous symbolic ‘Tea Party’s’ that will take place this Fourth of July around our nation. Recently, a filibuster-proof Congress narrowly passed the single largest tax increasing bill known as Cap and Trade. This bill was passed under the guise of good intentions for our future. Make no mistake, this is nothing more than a power grab by a power hungry, out of control Government.

In 1776 our fore fathers longed for freedom and liberty from an oppressive, dictatorial regime that no longer represented their values and desires. They were smaller in number, weaker in arms and less organized as a citizenry. However, their will to be freed from bondage was only bested by their belief that God gave them their liberties and not the empirical leader. In the years to come as the war was not going well, an autonomous, sovereign nation decided to get involved. The French believed our cause was just and it was right to intervene. Today, we find a tyrannical Iranian regime oppressing its people. Some of our leaders say we shouldn’t meddle in their conflict, they feel it is not our place to relieve suffering and bondage around the world. If the French had taken the same stance, where would the United States be today? What of the millions we have liberated around the world over the past 233 years. Are we honoring those who died for their freedom?

In 1776, our fore fathers suffered under a tyrannical, oppressive leader that imposed egregious taxes, unfriendly legislation and general disregard of their people’s desires. Under the guise of caring for their needs and safety, the far away Empire fast became more and more over-bearing and pursued all angles to tax the citizenry and inflict heavy-handed decisions that were counter productive to the citizens’ freedoms and liberties. The men of the time decided enough was enough and stood up in the face of overwhelming odds and decided to be free men and rid themselves of tyranny. Today we find ourselves with leaders in a far-away Washington who, under the guise of caring, are inflicting us with legislation that is counter-productive to individual success and personal initiative. Our leaders today, like those of our fore fathers, believe they know better than the rest of us and are better suited to care for our needs than are we.

Today is Independence Day. We do not need a radical uprising, civil revolt, nor do we need a war of revolution. What we do need today is an evolution. We need the collective citizenry to stake a claim in their own independence. We need people to decide today that they are best equipped to tend to their own pursuit of happiness. We have a unique opportunity on this day to decide that yet again, we will not accept Taxation Without Representation. Our next great Independence Day will come in November, 2010 when we have a chance to say no to potential tyranny and oppressive leadership in Washington. We have a chance to be bold and elect leaders that will stand up for what is right and remember that the government that governs best, is the government that governs least.

Christopher Reed

Marion, Ia.