Independence Day Reflections
July/02/2009 18:45
Over the Independence Day weekend, I hope everyone will pause and spend some time to reflect on the importance of this holiday, and on the debt of gratitude that we owe our Founding Fathers. While the Founders were men of different temperament and from varying walks of life, and those from the various states had extremely divergent interests, they were all united by a common ambition – freedom from the ruling government that burdened them with unfair taxation. In declaring their opposition to the status quo, these courageous men knew they literally were putting their lives on the line for the principles they believed in.
Having had the opportunity to visit Philadelphia recently, it was an emotional experience to visit Independence Hall and spend some time in the very Assembly Room where our patriot forbearers deliberated over the issues that led to the framing of the Declaration of Independence. The room has a sacred and spiritual air, and the presence of such great patriots like Richard Henry Lee, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson remained perceptible.
In the back of my mind, I wondered what these noble men would have to say if they could come alive and pay a visit to the United States of the twenty-first century. I believe they would be surprised to see that the average American works till the middle of April (even longer where property taxes are high!) to pay their burden of taxes demanded by our federal, state and local governments. I think they would be horrified to see the United States House of Representatives approve a huge hidden tax obscurely buried in a thousand plus page long Cap and Trade bill.
I imagine it would trouble these men of great principle to see a local government raise taxes after just promising the citizens they had no intention to do so. In the Shores, they would be flabbergasted to see that tough decisions are made with out the public debate and open discourse, often times contentious but marked with respect, that epitomized their successful efforts that led to a free and independent America.
After reflecting on what our Founders would think about seeing the state of our contemporary government, I could only hope that if they had it to do all over again, that they would not be discouraged to see how just how far our country has strayed from the principled course they set for us.
I hope on this Fourth of July you will spend some time reflecting on the contributions of our Founding Fathers, and considering what we can do as modern day citizens to bring our civic government back into alignment with the values they espoused.
Happy Independence Day!
THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM FROM UNFAIR TAXATION STARTED HERE IN 1776:
Having had the opportunity to visit Philadelphia recently, it was an emotional experience to visit Independence Hall and spend some time in the very Assembly Room where our patriot forbearers deliberated over the issues that led to the framing of the Declaration of Independence. The room has a sacred and spiritual air, and the presence of such great patriots like Richard Henry Lee, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson remained perceptible.
In the back of my mind, I wondered what these noble men would have to say if they could come alive and pay a visit to the United States of the twenty-first century. I believe they would be surprised to see that the average American works till the middle of April (even longer where property taxes are high!) to pay their burden of taxes demanded by our federal, state and local governments. I think they would be horrified to see the United States House of Representatives approve a huge hidden tax obscurely buried in a thousand plus page long Cap and Trade bill.
I imagine it would trouble these men of great principle to see a local government raise taxes after just promising the citizens they had no intention to do so. In the Shores, they would be flabbergasted to see that tough decisions are made with out the public debate and open discourse, often times contentious but marked with respect, that epitomized their successful efforts that led to a free and independent America.
After reflecting on what our Founders would think about seeing the state of our contemporary government, I could only hope that if they had it to do all over again, that they would not be discouraged to see how just how far our country has strayed from the principled course they set for us.
I hope on this Fourth of July you will spend some time reflecting on the contributions of our Founding Fathers, and considering what we can do as modern day citizens to bring our civic government back into alignment with the values they espoused.
Happy Independence Day!
THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM FROM UNFAIR TAXATION STARTED HERE IN 1776: