I would like to start this blog by initially telling you that I am in no way a scholar nor do I have a degree in politics or American history. This blog simply contains my thoughts and beliefs. I am a common American citizen like most who will read this blog and I approach this with a belief that “for the common good” is as sinful a phrase within American Politics as “I’m a Terrorist” is to the American people. Perhaps, after writing this blog, I too will be considered a “Terrorist” by the standing government of this country. Do I expect to be put on a terrorist watch list, probably not as I am only invoking my First Amendment Right as an American citizen. I am merely voicing my opinion on the issue that nearly every American thinks about, but only a few have the courage to stand up and say it

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”


For those who are unfamiliar with this statement, and I fear that most probably are, I would like to direct you to the opening paragraph of Declaration of Independence for the United States of America. A document that was created on July 4th 1776 by the founding fathers of this nation, otherwise known to the British Crown as "Incendiaries" or “Radicals”; later to be deemed as “Tyrants”. If we were to look just below the surface we would see that the Founding Fathers of our nation; Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Hancock and all the others were nothing short of “Terrorists” in the eyes of the British Crown. And I would venture to believe that had this word been in existence in 1776, these men would have been branded with its label. Appalling don’t you think; the very men who created our nation were “Terrorists” in the eyes of another. Of course, we as American’s will never consider these men to be “terrorists” because, to us, they are heroes. They are, after all, the men who stood tall in the face of an oppressive government. Now I want to make one point clear before I move forward in this blog. Just because I have associated the Founding Fathers with “Terrorism”, I am not implying that they can be tethered to the modern version of “Terrorism”. These men started a just war bent of the principles of freedom, not on the killing of innocent people and destruction of non-military property. To me, there is no correlation between the “Terrorists” of 1776 and the “Terrorists” of today. I only mention the association between “Terrorism” and our Founding Fathers for one reason. To bring to light the fact that when good men and woman stand against an oppressive entity, they will be branded as a “Terrorist”.

With that in mind, I would like to forge ahead a few hundred years. Lets focus on the modern day United States. As I look at how are country is run today, I am troubled, as most American’s probably are, at what I see. What I see today is not all too different from what was seen by our Founding Fathers in 1776. Many would disagree but I would beg that you hear me out before you conjure your opinion.

In the late 1700’s, the Colonies of the United States felt that there were three major injustices that were imposed on them by the British Crown. These were 1) Taxation without representation 2) Quartered English soldiers during times of piece and 3) Colonies were unable to trade with other parts of the world. If we were to look at these injustices within a modern text, we would see that the injustices the common citizens have to endure are not all that different then those faced by the settles of the 1700’s. Though the wording may be different, they still revolve around similar principles.

It would be hard to find a person living in middle or lower class America that would argue the fact that the rich keep getting richer while the poor get poorer. Why is that? We all think it and we all have our beliefs as to why. I have my beliefs as well and I would be willing to bet that I share the opinion that most who are reading this do. The rich get richer simply because this country is run by the rich. If you believe for one minute that these folks don’t mingle around the same watering hole then you are sorely misinformed. Lets look at the commons sense reality of it. If I am living a life a wealth (which I certainly am not) and I am in a position of power within our government, then why would I ever impose or support a tax that would negatively affect my wallet. Simple, I wouldn’t. So guess what, in the interest of saving myself and my friends some money, I am going to impose the tax on those people who I don’t have to look straight in the eye and explain my actions too. See, when you break it down, “taxation without representation”, still rings true today because last time I checked, there hasn’t been a President or a Senator or Congressman in my lifetime who lives a life supporting two kids and a wife on a thirty-thousand dollar a year salary without benefits. Lets play devils advocate for a moment. Some are probably reading this and saying “well, its our own faults because we elect these people into office.” To those people I would make one statement. The way the campaign trail runs today, if your poor, you cant keep up. I make thirty-five thousand dollars a year and I could never dream of running a successful campaign because I don’t have the money to support it. But that is another topic for another day. To get back to my original thought, we are taxed without representation because the rich live in a different world then the working class. The rich are the “royalty” while the middle class are the “settlers”. Sound familiar?

Now when I consider the latter two of the three reasons for the Revolutionary War, I admit that it is a bit more of a stretch to make the connection with modern day America. We don’t have American soldiers quartered in our homes in times of piece or any other time for that matter. And, if we follow the laws and regulations and have the proper paperwork in order then we can freely trade with most of the free world. However, I choose to look at these as symbolic and as a matter of fact. For instance, we as a country will not condone the government quartering American soldiers within our homes, but yet we allow them to be quartered in other countries. Lets look at this a little closer.

According to the Defense Department's annual "Base Structure Report" for fiscal year 2003 the Pentagon currently owns or rents 702 overseas bases in approximately 130 countries. Simple question. . . . . Why? Why is it that we have to spend our hard-earned money to have so many troops living on foreign soil? The answer is because the government of this country has, for whatever reason, deemed it necessary. Did they ask the American people if we had a problem with this? No! Did they ask for the permission of the standing government within the nation that they choose to build their bases if it was okay? Probably not! In fact, I would be willing to bet that most of the people who read that fact, would be amazed at the high number of bases we have around the world. One last question I would like to pose. How many foreign governments have a fully active military base in the United States? None! I find this to be disturbing on two fronts. The first I have already mentioned. I don’t see why I should have to give my money to fund a U.S military base in Italy or any other country other then our own. My second issue with this is that where did we, as a nation, develop the idea that it is our right to have military bases across the globe. It is a wonder why so many nations around the world dislike this country. For some reason, our government feels the need to plop ourselves smack in the middle of everybody’s business. What world right was given to us to make this decision? Somewhere along the way, the rich politicians of our country evidently got tired of ruling over our land so they decided to reach out and impose their will on other countries. It’s actually quite a scary prospect when you consider the magnitude and history of it all. History has told us that any self proclaimed “Great Nation” who finds it necessary to impose itself on the unwilling, will eventually fall! Don’t believe me, ask the Romans. Oh wait, they aren’t around anymore are they?
So now I ask, should we have active military bases in other countries? Consider this while pondering your answer. Since our Founding Fathers did not like having a foreign military entity housed within our homes, I don’t imagine that they would approve of having ours housed within someone else’s.

Now I look at the issue of free trade. Again, like I said, we do have the ability to trade, unlike our ancestors. However, as I look at the issue of free trade in today’s world, I find myself bringing it closer to home. Who is it that the average American trades with? Corporate America. Corporate America and special interest groups have more influence on this country then you and I do. When Corporate America flashes its money, they get what they want, regardless of who or what it affects. They have the ability develop and change policy that affects the way we live in this country. For instance, a few weeks ago, around the first of the month (February 2007), a drug company called Merck advertised a new vaccine against the HP virus for girls between the ages of 11 and 13. How many people are aware that Merck is also trying to get a law passed that will require that all girls between the ages of 11 and 13 be given the vaccine. Am I the only one who is bothered by the fact that a company who manufactures a vaccine for an illness is trying to make it into law that every girl MUST take this medication. Can you say……. Financial Incentive! The problem is, is that this type of activity takes place all the time within our country. This goes back to the fact that the rich can do and say what they want. I could go on and on about Corporate America but it would be repetitive because most of it revolves around the rich screwing the poor. ENRON, enough said.

I guess in closing this blog, I would like to explain why this bothers me so much. You see, I was under the impression that on July 4th 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was created it was done so with the intent of giving the power to the people.
“That, to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed.”

If you have trouble following the Old English, let speak plainly. The United States Government was created as an instituted of men which gets its power from the opinion of the people. They way I see it, the only power that we hold within the United States Government is the ability to vote. Even the credibility of voting was challenged in the 2000 Presidential Election. We then learned, which I already knew from a Social Studies class in the 8th grade, that OUR VOTE DOES NOT COUNT. Don’t believe me? Ask Al Gore what he thinks about it. This is for another “Rant” though.

We as American’s have fallen into the role of the sheep while the government is our shepherd. When will we realize that our Founding Fathers gave us the blueprint to make changes within our Government?

“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.”

These quotes are taken directly from the text of the Declaration of Independence. A document that is so highly revered as the blueprint to our nations birth. Perhaps it is time that the “We the People” be put back into the minds of our politicians. I for one, am tired of being the sheep who follows this shepherd. I feel that its time to invoke our heritage and take back what is rightfully ours.

“that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
(Abraham Lincoln; The Gettysburg Address, November 19th, 1863)

That is my Rant for the day

Seth