A New Declaration of Independence: A Moment With Bill Reflection

“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 areLife, 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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, 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 throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

I propose that it is time to overthrow our government.

No, I am not talking about the Democratic Senate or the Executive Branch.

No, I am not talking about the Republican-held House of Representatives.

I am talking about the entire government of the United States of America.

Treason you say? How can it be treason when I am simply suggesting that we exercise those rights which are specifically laid out in the Declaration of Independence, a document generally recognized as the root of our freedom?

I do not call for a military take-over, nor do I call for citizens to rise up in violence. I simply call for Americans to exercise the rights which have always been theirs, and replace the present governing body with one that is truly representative of over 300 million people and not the upper one percent.

In case you haven’t noticed, our government is dysfunctional. Public trust in the government is at an all-time low and why shouldn’t it be? As recent events in D.C. have shown, compromise is just a word you will find in the dictionary between “circumcised” and “concubine.” Elected officials, placed into office to pass legislation that will help the majority of citizens, instead dance a little jig to the music played by banks, drug manufacturers and any other corporation with the millions necessary to buy votes for the wealthy.

Why would we do this? Think about this for a moment: there are over 320 million of us and only what, 10,000 politicians. We would do this because we can. We would do this because we must. We would do this because they have had their chance to lead, have failed miserably, and now should be sent packing with nothing more than the clothes on their back and the lies on their lips.

Oh no! Why think small. I think we should overthrow the economic system while we are at it. Again, in case you haven’t noticed it, the system is broken. Prices are rising, incomes have stagnated, opportunities are diminishing and profits are not being shared. Our corporate leaders are shipping jobs overseas; our government leaders are giving tax loopholes that encourage such cost-cutting measures; and we are left hoping that the minimum wage will be increased so we can afford bread next week.

So I propose that we tell capitalism to take a hike and don’t come back no more, no more, no more, no more. I propose we move towards self-sufficiency. I propose that communities come together and change the way we look at local economic structures. I propose that people stop living in debt, that people start doing for themselves and that people quit playing the consumerism game.

Democrats blame Republicans. Republicans blame Democrats. Everyone blames the Tea Party. The poor blame the rich, the rich look in disgust at the poor, big business blames restrictions and the indigent blame the lack of societal compassion. The truth of the matter is that we all deserve a portion of blame. We bought into this b.s. a long time ago. We increased our spending on items we did not need. We ignored the warnings about dangerous chemicals in our food. We spent more than we had, demanded more than we had a right to, and hitched our wagon to an American Dream that never had a prayer of becoming reality.

Tell me who the fools are in this scenario, the corrupt politicians or the populace who continues to believe the lies and vote corruption in year after year? Tell me who the fools are in this scenario, the credit card companies who gouge your pocketbook with high interest rates, or the populace who continues to believe that happiness can be purchased with a gold card? Tell me who the fools are when dangerous products are produced, warnings issued and yet you continue to purchase those products? Tell me who the fools are when you know that your children are not receiving a first-class education and yet you continue to pass school bonds to pay for the inefficiency? Shall I go on?

And the leaders love it! They are sitting in their ivory towers right now laughing at us all.

They prey on our weaknesses like blood-thirsty jackals. They prey on our fears, they prey on our needs and they prey on our dreams. If you don’t do this then this horrible event will happen. If you don’t buy this then you will never know peace of mind. If you don’t vote for this person then you will forever be lacking in creature comforts and security. They make sure you are aware of your shortcomings and they promise to do something about those shortcomings, but the promises always fall short and you are left with nothing but more fear and more shortcomings.

It is madness and it must end.

A full 70% of our economy is based on consumer goods. Think about that fact for a moment, and then consider what happens to such an economy when the consumers are no longer able to purchase those goods. It is widely believed that as the United States economy goes, so goes the world economy. If that is true, then what message is sent to the world when the U.S. economy is floundering without a life jacket?

I am convinced that the U.S. economy is heading towards a catastrophe that will make the Great Depression look like a Sunday picnic. The wealth of this country is controlled by a mere one percent of the populace. That, my friends, is a recipe for disaster, and there is no relief in sight. The promises being made are based on an antiquated formula that has long since been rendered meaningless. The solutions being suggested are the same tired solutions that have been suggested for decades and they have been proven incorrect in today’s world.

And yet we continue to play the game.

We continue to spend more than we make. We continue to blame our ills on “those other people.” We continue to vote into office those who simply do not care about our needs. We are screwed, blued and tattooed and we keep coming back for more.

It is time, my friends, for a revolution, and that revolution begins with you.

It begins at an individual level and then spreads to local communities, and no change will happen without a conscious decision to act. Become more self-sufficient. Lower your debt. Buy locally. Become involved in local politics at a grassroots level. Become the watchdogs who demand change that is good for all people and not just the wealthy….and for the love of God, quit blaming each other. This is not the fault of the Democrats, nor is it the fault of the Republicans. Every single time I see a rant on Facebook saying that the Liberals are to blame for our woes I want to scream, just as I want to scream when a Liberal says the Right Wing is at fault. Whenever we label each other we are playing the game our elected leaders want us to play. Don’t you see that? Don’t you understand?

I know in my heart that you can put me in a room with any one person and I can find grounds for compromise. I know that and you do too. Put me in a room with a group of people and I know that we can take steps and make decisions that will benefit everyone. We will just be human beings working together without labels and without agendas that will cripple any attempts of forward movement.

Change begins with you. Change begins with me. Human beings working together; the concept is as old as mankind, and it still works for those willing.

Unalienable rights…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Strong words….true words….words worth revolting over.

2013 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)