Independence Day? Hardly!
By Ron Ewart
We are celebrating "what" Day? Independence you say! Independence from what? Certainly not independence from government tyranny. We have "tyranny" in spades from our own government, at all levels. When our Founding Fathers wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence, it was a declaration of war against the tyranny of Great Britain. It was a declaration of independence from excessive taxation, from harsh regulations, from no representation, from military rule. The colonials had enough and declared war, with all of the tragic consequences that come from such a declaration. They were willing to die for their freedom and their independence.
HERE IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE INDEPENDENT, FROM THE DICTIONARY?
1. Not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion, conduct, etc.; thinking or acting for oneself: an independent thinker.
2. Not subject to another's authority or jurisdiction; autonomous; free.
3. Not influenced by the thought or action of others.
4. Not dependent; not depending or contingent upon something else for existence; operation, etc.
5. Not relying on another or others for aid or support.
6. Declining others aid or support; refusing to be under obligation to others.
7. Possessing a competency.
9. Expressive of a spirit of independence; self-confident; unconstrained.
If July 4th is Independence Day, it is not the Independence that is defined in our English dictionary. Freedom and independence means freedom of choice, freedom of movement, freedom of what to buy, freedom of what to wear, freedom of where to live, freedom of where to work, freedom to live on and use our land without undue government interference and our freedom to roam freely throughout America without having to go through check points and body searches. We are constantly subjected to the authority and jurisdiction of government. We are continuously being influenced by the dictates of government. We can't move sideways without butting heads with a bureaucrat to get some permit or license. Way to many of us are DEPENDENT on government for their very existence. We are forever relying on government for aid and support. We, as a culture, are no longer competent, self-sufficient, self-reliant and responsible. Some of us are, but way too few.
The truth is, America's government has gone way beyond what King George the III imposed upon the colonies. The people of America have allowed themselves to be enslaved by this government and have given up their right to freedom, liberty and independence because they were and are unwilling to defend their freedom and liberty with whatever it will take to maintain them.
What we celebrate on the 4th of July is a myth called freedom. We are not free. We are not independent. In fact, we are so controlled by government and we are so dependent on government, they have slapped invisible handcuffs on each of us and confiscated our right of free choice and our right to live on our land, unfettered by government interference.
Freedom, liberty, independence? Hardly! We will wake up in time? i wonder!
Ron Ewart is President of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RURAL LANDOWNERS, P. O. Box 1031, Issaquah, WA 98027. Phone: 425 222-4742 or 1 800 682-7848 (Fax No. 425 222-4743).
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