Declaration of Independence 2011
Partly out of respect for the 4th of July, but mostly out of boredom (no waves anywhere) I decided to revisit the document that serves as the basis for today's festivities. Anything over 225 years old could use a little updating so I decided to take the liberty (get it ?:)).
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," should now read: "The truth is no longer relevant, men of equal net worth are equal."
"That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness," now reads: The arguments over "Creator" having grown to divisive and "rights" an overstatement, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are certain privileges that may be given to a certain few at the aforementioned rich men's sole discretion and election.
"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed," now reads: "That to secure individual's wealth, the Government will act at the wealthy's direction and wield its power to control the governed from threatening this wealth.
"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 . . . ." This is where I became a little lost. Back then a few guys with muskets had just overthrown the British Empire. The forefathers probably thought revolution whenever necessary was relatively easy. Not so easy (or legal these days).
At the time the Declaration was written I think altruism was at an all time high and people genuinely wanted the best for each other. None of the forefathers could imagine that the greed created by capitalism would result in such inequality and ultimately corrupt both their whole vision and the documents true meaning.
On the other hand maybe they were talking about change through elections. I hope not, we tried that a couple of years ago.
The document and what it represents is no longer worth the paper on which its written.
KOKO
