Excellent

 

The thing that has been, it is that which shall be

And that which is done is that which shall be done

And there is no new thing under the sun.

 

Here, in 1776, we are 150 years down a long road that is leading – unavoidably – to an event which rarely happens in this world. That is the beginning and establishment of a NEW NATION  which will be governed by the NEW ARRIVALS in the middle part of North America with the Laws that we make for ourselves and pledge to respect, promote and obey.

Our present situation, being genuine members of Great Britain’s ancient and honorable heritage while finding ourselves 3,000 miles away across the Atlantic, has become a predicament. It is an argument between two groups of Englishmen, those who will keep the power of Royal rule from Great Britain and others who see the necessity of managing our own affairs with British Law as our guiding rule. That predicament seems to have no easy, happy resolution and some of us ‘over here’, but NOT most of us, have plotted to just go ahead and admit that these colonies will eventually, obviously become a separate self-governing nation – so what are we waiting for?

Colonists in these thirteen colonies are invited by the ‘independence’ types to throw off the ‘abusive’ and ‘overbearing’ behavior of Monarch, Parliament and colonial governors so that – a sunny new day may dawn on our East coast homes. We are harangued with the possibility of tossing away our problems presto! And strolling into a new realm of happy prosperity. To which We the Wise might say – Caveat Emptor. That happy stroll may turn out to be a long, difficult path of hard work and – trouble.

We know the ancient histories of Greece and Rome. We have read through the Old Testament and the difficult path the Israelites have endured. We are familiar with the histories of the European nations from which we have come to America. We cannot play a childish game of making  King George III  and the geniuses in Parliament into malevolent fiends out to torment and impoverish us while we are – gosh, only trying to be nice folks with nice thoughts.

Each and every person on this planet knows very well that we all have the capacity and agency to make Good happen, and also the capacity and agency to make wrong and abuse happen. It is Normal, Natural, Real for anyone to feel righteous offense and indignation when we are slighted or injured, or when we FEEL slighted or injured. But our sense of injury DOES NOT justify ANY reaction to a perceived injustice. TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT. Starting up a New Nation DOES NOT GUARANTEE that those who ‘volunteer’ to be leaders and officials in the NEW sovereign entity will be Good and Honorable people. IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE that Bad Government, Bad Laws, Bad Administration will happen among We the Injured and Offended – just as it has happened in many other places and times across the ocean and around this world.

If we suppose that we will establish and organize a New Nation with a complete set of new laws to govern ourselves then we must address explicitly, blatantly the RESPONSIBILITIES we will necessarily acquire along with those Rights for which we clamor so loudly. We will need to set forth for our own edification those Responsibilities  in a written form for all to see and consider.  Establishing a new system of government for our New Nation and the States that will be created will be EASY – all we need is Honorable People to serve as legislators, executives and judges. And good luck with that. But that is THE TRUTH. The great puzzle of operating a government is how to select from many ‘eager’ leaders those people who are honest and serious about competent, effective governing and UNSELECT others who see opportunities for using government as a money grab and power grab racket. Such people are crawling around everywhere and ‘normal’ people are FOOLS to just let anybody get into office with PROMISES of CONCERN for the neighbor folks.

The Federal Legislature is the SINGLE MAIN AUTHORITY  in Our Country. State legislatures follow the Laws voted into place by the Federal Congress, supposedly. And local councils fall into line, supposedly.

The Executives ( mayors, governors, and President) are directed and managed by the Legislatures. They do not issue DECREES, ORDERS, PARDONS etc. without the agreement of more than, at least, a simple majority of the legislature.

The Judiciary provides a review function for determining how particular laws are applied to particular situations. Judges forward WHATEVER decisions they make in EVERY case that is tried to the LEGISLATIVE body that is nearest to the Court. Town justice to town council, State Justices to State legislature and Federal Judges to the Federal Legislature – Congress. The legislatures consider those opinions and then direct the Executive to carry out the actions to apply enforcement that the Legislature agrees upon.

Perhaps having Legislatures in charge will lead to some sort of chaos, as in herding cats. Taxpayer Citizen Voters MAY CONSIDER THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO ELECT – SANE, COMPETENT, HONORABLE PEOPLE TO BE LEGISLATORS. An idea whose time has – been around for quite a long while.

Responsibilities : 

Personal Responsibility to become mentally competent, educated, intelligent, wised up, sensible and circumspect.  We are the homo SAPIENS   not the  [ homo Crapiens ].

Responsibility to raise children with EFFECTIVE education program that will succeed in making children skillful at thought.

Responsibility to contribute to neighborhood, community, society and country.

Responsibility to participate in Commerce – be employed, operate a business. Maintain personal solvency and expect Financial and Fiscal acuity from citizens and government. 

Responsibility to support and promote effective governing, VOTE, serve in elective office and private associations.

Responsibility to publicly support others who are seeking lawful co-operation.

Responsibility to maintain Good Health – physical AND mental.