Independence Day

The original Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776. You can learn more about its history here.

But what were the reasons for declaring independence, and how are the States' 1776 objections relevant to the current Administration?

I suspect that the objections raised by the States against King George have a few uncomfortable parallels to the situation that we find present in our current administration. Here are some of the charges against King George versus the actions of the Bush administration:

* "He refused his assent to laws." The Bush administration has issued over 800 signing statements, negating the laws duly passed by both Republican and Democratic Congresses.
* "He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance." The administration has denied various states the ability to pass laws regulating greenhouse gases, and other environmental concerns.
* "He has obstructed the Administration of Justice." The most blatant example of obstruction was this administration's destruction of millions of White House emails during the time of the lead up to the Iraq war.
* "He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone." The administration has fired federal judges, when those judges did not prosecute according to the administration's wishes. Judges may serve at the pleasure of the president, but they shouldn't serve to please the president.
* "For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury." Guantánamo Bay is relevant here.
* "For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences." Rendition of (kidnapping) citizens and other innocents for the purpose of torturing them in despotic countries is not unknown to this administration.
* "For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments." This administration has declared as void the U.S. Constitution (habeas corpus) and the Bill of Rights (warrantless searches).
* "He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us." The administration, and especially the president and vice president, has been primarily occupied with strengthening its grip on power by relentlessly attacking, and inciting others to attack, anyone who disagrees with them. Their concern from January 20, 2001 has not been governance, but expansion of personal power.

Happy Independence Day!