dagblog - Comments for "A Declaration of Independence From Government Incompetence"

The Declaration also

acanuck — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 07:00:56 +0000

In reply to A Declaration of Independence From Government Incompetence

The Declaration also denounced George III

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies.

What it's talking about is the Quebec Act of 1774, a British law that tried to gain the loyalty of newly conquered French-speaking Canadians, who were almost as disgruntled as residents of the 13 colonies. The act restored the French system of civil law (while keeping the British criminal code), restored the seigneurial system of land ownership, and allowed Roman Catholics to take public office without renouncing their faith. Pretty advanced stuff for the 1770s, but the bare minimum needed to keep Quebec from joining the incipient revolution down south.

Adding territories reserved for Indians (what would later become Michigan and Ohio) to Quebec helped cement trust that Britain would keep indigenous lands from American settlement. Indians played a key role in the Revolutionary War, but paid a terrible price when Britain lost.

I'd like to declare

Dan Kervick — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 06:10:32 +0000

In reply to A Declaration of Independence From Government Incompetence

I'd like to declare independence from the founders.

I like a lot of the founders. They were smart and interesting guys, well read in the philosophy and debates of the 18th Century, well-read in the political problems and upheavals that afflicted both the ancient world and the Europe of their day. They wrote some interesting stuff.

But here's the main thing about the founders: they're dead. They don't live here anymore, and they haven't for a couple of centuries. We the living have to take care of ourselves best we can, and also provide the best future we can for our children and their children. We can't afford the idolatrous founder worship of our civil religion.

Nuance is a librul lie. The

tmccarthy0 — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 19:28:55 +0000

In reply to A Declaration of Independence From Government Incompetence

Nuance is a librul lie. The Constitution says somewhere, no healthcare for u, but definitely healthcare for me.

But let's get real, the Declaration of Independence is a list of grievances, a letter saying King George Sucks, he is such an ass, we hate him, not only does he abdicate his responsibilities but he is taking our shit, and it is rightfully ours. They say they intend to prove by example what a sucky dude King George is:

"To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world." Hahaha here is comes.

And then they list why they hate his guts and why they are forced to deal with this, they even say, we've basically begged you to reform, let us be represented in the Commons and each time you brush away our concerns with the slander of tribal colonists! So we say, NO WAY, we are going to war with your ass.

Haha, I love that letter.

Definitely, double A. The

Michael Maiello — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 18:48:07 +0000

In reply to Yeah ok but if you're honest

Definitely, double A. The Declaration doesn't embody many contemporary political philosophies and, you wouldn't expect it to. But it seems to me that this is largely because George was a jerk.

Yeah ok but if you're honest

artappraiser — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 18:43:37 +0000

In reply to A Declaration of Independence From Government Incompetence

Yeah ok but if you're honest you have to admit there really is a lot of anti-far-off-federal government stuff in the Declaration (if not the Constitution and Bill of Rights.) You have to keep in mind that at this stage they hadn't even "federated" yet, just a coalition of individual governments quite proud in all 13 cases of being able to govern themselves in different ways according to the preferences of their citizens.

For example this

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance..

is just like the famous conservative sarcastic quip about running away when you hear I'm from the federal government and I'm here to help.