About a month ago, I had the audacity to rewrite, as minimally as possible, the Declaration of Independence to fit our current political situation. That diary can be viewed
. I think you'll agree that it's shocking how little revision was necessary.
The text of that rewrite is repeated below. And following it, I have a link to a high-resolution graphical version, suitable for daydreaming, or for printing on ledger size (11"x17") paper.
The original file is over 2 mb, and Imageshack won't host files larger than 1 mb. That version is less compressed, and probably crisper. If someone knows of a site that would be willing to host the original, I would be happy to upload it there. Text and file link below...
In CONGRESS, July 4, 2006
The unanimous Declaration of the fifty United States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for a people to restore the political system which has connected them with one another, and to reassume 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 that reformation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people 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 the People, 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 has shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to reform such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these States; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present President is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Cooperation in investigations into the abuses of his Administration.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Spies without the consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the National Guard independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to acts foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to the disregard of our Legislation.
For imposing financial Obligations on us by deceit, and without our Consent.
For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury.
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences.
For taking away our Constitutional Rights, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Government.
He has plundered our reputation, ravaged our environment, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He has excited insurgencies against us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our nation, the merciless Terrorists, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A President whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these States, solemnly publish and declare, That these United States once again are, and of Right ought to be openly and unabashedly governed under the Constitution of the United States of America; and that as such, they have full Power to limit the power of the Executive, encourage a full separation of Powers, establish free and fair Elections, and ensure for the American People a political system that is honest, transparent, and free from the corrupting influences of money. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
When Imageshack brings the image up, click on it to bring it up to full resolution, then right click to save it onto your own computer. Print it off, sign it, bring it to gatherings, have others sign it, then put it on your wall. It might not accomplish anything, but maybe it will occasionally make you feel rebellious enough to go out and DO something about this band of criminals running our country.