Annual 4th of July Founders' Address ... July 4th, 2004

This is a piece I imagined into existence four years ago.  Sadly, since that time events have shown that we have no true opposition party, only compromised enablers. I posted this back in 2004 on Smirking Chimp.  It's continued relevance has prompted me to include it in a diary today.

Annual 4th of July Address to the Eternal Guild of the Founders and Guardians of the USA ... July 4, 2004

Dear Fellow Revolutionaries,

It is in great sadness that I speak with you today, the 228th anniversary of that monumental day in Philadelphia when we spoke a great nation into being. At the time that we crafted this form of government we were acutely aware of the dangers inherent in concentrated power. Because of this we were very careful to separate the powers of the Executive from the Judiciary and from Congress. The power of Congress being the necessary balance to the power of the Executive. And each answerable to an independent Judiciary, committed to and working for the common good of the citizenry. With both Executive and Judiciary, in turn, subject to removal by impeachment in Congress.

We were also careful to reserve the power to make war for the Congress. We did this because war is a far too serious matter to be left to the whim of any individual, regardless of their sense of honor, integrity or intent. In fact, we recognize that honest and decent men can have disagreements on fact and interpretation which are matters best handled in the deliberative body. We also invested this power in the Congress to separate the power to declare war from the power to wage war.

History has proven that it is necessary for any nation's defense to have a single Commander-In-Chief. War being a day-to-day and moment-to-moment phenomena, it is folly to distribute decision making power to any deliberative body. The demand for timely decisions precludes this choice. History also tells us to beware the leader who is quick to war - and all leaders, I fear, fit this description. War is such a temptation for any man who has risen in power to the level of the Executive. The fruits of wartime provide choice rewards for political benefactors, while the costs of war often fall upon those who can least afford it.

We are now faced with a situation in which a despot has gained power. This circumstance is worsened by the fact that political alliances have prevented the Congress from acting in its traditional role as a balance against unchecked Executive power. And at the heart of the councils of power are those who would aspire to empire. The life-blood, resources, and indeed the reputation and good word of our nation have been squandered in foreign adventurism. Meanwhile, arrogance precludes even bothering to count the thousands slaughtered by our forces. Indeed, the very name "America" which once inspired respect and hope, is now feared and hated throughout the world. And to further inflame passions, our spymasters have been violating the rule of law and humanity by using despicable methods of interrogation.

All the while, in an ongoing theft from the public commons, business interests with ties to the administration are enriching themselves through exclusive arrangements for materiel and support. This theft is furthered by irresponsible structures of taxation which place an overwhelming burden on those who can least afford it, while many of the most prosperous businesses and individuals pay little or nothing. The populace is increasingly divided in regards to material wealth and comfort. There are those fortunate few living in extravagance, while the great majority are kept in daily fear for loss of what little they have. Instead of loving compassion, the poor are treated with contempt and loathing by society at large - conditioned by years of propaganda placing the blame exclusively on the poor for their situation in life.

How, you might ask, have things degenerated to this point? How could people with policies such as this possibly come to power? The answer is as unsurprising as it is ironic. It is, in a word, RELIGION. A political party has arisen which shamelessly uses religious differences to mobilize voters and gain power. The despot has ridden this movement, projecting the image of an honest and pious individual. He has even gone so far as to suggest that he was chosen by The Creator to lead the nation. Furthermore, he claims to have conversations - dialogues if you will - with The Creator. A dubious claim for anyone, but particularly for a man who claims that God told him to start a war, a war for which there is no rational excuse. Yet though his actions belie his words, his religious followers blindly cling to their finely crafted illusions.

And where, you might ask, is the press? Surely the 1st amendment is still in force and the free press is informing the populace of these injustices. Unfortunately, those in power have waged a decades long skirmish designed to cow the press. The despot and his followers take this even further with outright intimidation and threat. But just as the invention of the printing press helped fuel The Reformation, there is a new communications technology which promises hope in alerting and energizing those true patriots who seek to restore the United States to its lost ideals. The whole world is counting on them.

Until Next Year ...

•  I know, not the 4th anymore ...

  but then again, it's not 2004 either ...

  by kbman on Sat Jul 05, 2008 at 11:40:41 AM PDT