Monday, June 9, 2008

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence


When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.


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 are Life, 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. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.


He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.


He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.


He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.


He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.


He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.


He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.


He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.


He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.


He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.


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


He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.


He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.


He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:


For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:


For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:


For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:


For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:


For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:


For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:


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


For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:


For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.


He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.


He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.


He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.


He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.


He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.


In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.


Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.


We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Bill of Rights

Bill of Rights


Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.


Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.


Amendment III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.


Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.


Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.


Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.


Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.


Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.


Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.


Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Ron Paul outlasts John Edwards? Guthrie backs Paul

It has been trumpeted loud and far that Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama for President of the United States. Ron Paul may have just gotten a better endorsement from a resident of that fine state, from legendary singer-songwriter Arlo Guthrie.

The Florida Republican primary took place today. Ron didn't win. Results are still coming in, but it is clear that another state has gone by without a real Republican frontrunner emerging. Watch for a solid finish in Maine from the Ron Paul Revolution.

An interesting interview with Mitt Romney pushed radio host Mark Larsen to support Ron Paul for President.

More...

Monday, January 28, 2008

Former Nirvana bassist, Novoselic, a fan of Ron Paul? New Paul ad debuts

Novoselic a Ron Paul fan, new Paul ad debuts, Ron releases a message

Former Nirvana bassist, Krist Novoselic, is apparently a fan of Ron Paul. As a Democratic State Committeeman and through his political action committee JAMPAC, Novoselic has becoming increasingly active in politics. He was a speaker at the 2006 Libertarian National Convention and...

The Paul campaign is running a new ad in Arkansas and Tennessee...

A Ron Paul Republican, Joseph Arminio, is taking on Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest for Maryland's 1st Congressional District. Those men and three other candidates took the stage at a debate in Chestertown. In typical fashion, Arminio was prescribed Xanax by an opposing candidate...

Ron Paul just released a message on his website. ...

Paul is ramping up efforts to make a very strong showing in Maine this weekend.

Ron Paul defeated Hillary Clinton in the first straw poll to pit Republicans versus Democrats.

Full Story

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Ron Paul has beaten every other remaining candidate

With Paul's recent 2nd place finish in the Louisiana Caucus, ahead of Mitt Romney, he has now defeated every other remaining Republican candidate at least once in the early states.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Ron Paul MLK fundraiser tops $1,000,000 by noon

Ron Paul MLK fundraiser tops $1,000,000 by noon

Just before noon on the West coast, Ron Paul supporters helped their guy top the $1,000,000 mark. It took just over 12,000 donations, with nearly 3,000 of them coming from first-time donors. More...

Can Ron Paul go the distance?

Can Ron Paul go the distance?

In 1988, Ron Paul ran for president and got about 0.5% of the national vote. For some that was the measuring stick for how they thought Ron would perform in this election. He'll get a percentage or two, tops, and then the Revolution will fade away into blissful silence. A year, several double-digit primary finishes and thirty-million dollars later, those same elements who've been proven wrong over and over again are still pretending as if Ron Paul is already out of the race. Dream on, my friends, dream on.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

10,000+ pledge donations to Ron Paul on MLK day

Ron Paul supporters have a dream
On Monday, January 21st, supporters of Ron Paul have organized a "money-bomb" to coincide with Martin Luther King Day. Like MLK often did, Ron Paul now takes a stand against the wrongs perpetrated on society and inspires his messengers in a way that is a threat to the powers that be. In addition to the donations, at least 1,500 Ron Paul fans have pledged to take to the streets in support of MLK and Ron Paul. More...

Chris Rock, Richard Pryor and Ron Paul on Racism

Here is an interesting perspective on racism in America by way of a conversation between Richard Pryor, Ron Paul and Chris Rock. Check it out as these guys, through compiled quotes, have a candid chat about what divides us. Who would've known that Pryor and Paul have similar views.