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The Declaration of Independence, IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
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.
ReasonTV: 3 Big Takeaways From Obamacare Decision
Here are the three most important things you need to know in the wake of the Supeme Court’s decision on The Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare:
1. Government is still unlimited.
2. Mitt Romney is still lame.
3. Health care costs will still soar.
AFP California: Outrage Over Judicial Activism and Obamacare
The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Obamacare was the result of judicial activism as the court created a “tax” and ignored the expressed intent of the law. The court’s unprecedented decision does not bode well for states-rights and individual freedoms. Obamacare will cost taxpayers $1.8 trillion over the next ten years and destroy the best healthcare system in the world… unless voters carry out another revolt this November.
All About the Liberty Bell
The Pennsylvania Assembly ordered the Bell in 1751 to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of William Penn’s 1701 Charter of Privileges, Pennsylvania’s original Constitution. It speaks of the rights and freedoms valued by people the world over. Particularly forward thinking were Penn’s ideas on religious freedom, his liberal stance on Native American rights, and his inclusion of citizens in enacting laws.
As the Bell was created to commemorate the golden anniversary of Penn’s Charter, the quotation “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof,” from Leviticus 25:10, was particularly apt. For the line in the Bible immediately preceding “proclaim liberty” is, “And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year.” What better way to pay homage to Penn and hallow the 50th year than with a bell proclaiming liberty?
Also inscribed on the Bell is the quotation, “By Order of the Assembly of the Province of Pensylvania for the State House in Philada.” Note that the spelling of “Pennsylvania” was not at that time universally adopted. In fact, in the original Constitution, the name of the state is also spelled “Pensylvania.” If you get a chance to visit the second floor of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, take a moment to look at the original maps on the wall. They, too, have the state name spelled “Pensylvania” (and the Atlantic Ocean called by the name of that day, “The Western Ocean”). The choice of the quotation was made by Quaker Isaac Norris, speaker of the Assembly.
Centered on the front of the Bell are the words, “Pass and Stow / Philada / MDCCLIII.” We’ll get to Pass and Stow in a bit.
Bell as Symbol
After the divisive Civil War, Americans sought a symbol of unity. The flag became one such symbol, and the Liberty Bell another. To help heal the wounds of the war, the Liberty Bell would travel across the country.
Starting in the 1880s, the Bell traveled to cities throughout the land “proclaiming liberty” and inspiring the cause of freedom. We have prepared a photo essay of its 1915 journey to the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco.
A replica of the Liberty Bell, forged in 1915, was used to promote women’s suffrage. It traveled the country with its clapper chained to its side, silent until women won the right to vote. On September 25, 1920, it was brought to Independence Hall and rung in ceremonies celebrating the ratification of the 19th amendment.
To this day, oppressed groups come to Philadelphia to give voice to their plight, at the Liberty Bell, proclaiming their call for liberty.
History of the Bell
On November 1, 1751, a letter was sent to Robert Charles, the Colonial Agent of the Province of Pennsylvania who was working in London. Signed by Isaac Norris, Thomas Leech, and Edward Warner, it represented the desires of the Assembly to purchase a bell for the State House (now Independence Hall) steeple. The bell was ordered from Whitechapel Foundry, with instructions to inscribe on it the passage from Leviticus.
The bell arrived in Philadelphia on September 1, 1752, but was not hung until March 10, 1753, on which day Isaac Norris wrote, “I had the mortification to hear that it was cracked by a stroke of the clapper without any other viollence [sic] as it was hung up to try the sound.”
The cause of the break is thought to have been attributable either to flaws in its casting or, as they thought at the time, to its being too brittle.
Two Philadelphia foundry workers named John Pass and John Stow were given the cracked bell to be melted down and recast. They added an ounce and a half of copper to a pound of the old bell in an attempt to make the new bell less brittle. For their labors they charged slightly over 36 Pounds. More
Liberty Bell Center
The Liberty Bell: From Obscurity to Icon
Audio Podcast (right click-save as target)
LIBERTY BELL INFORMATION SHEET
Liberty Bell information in International languages click here
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) Delivers Weekly GOP Address On The Need To Repeal Obamacare
In the Weekly Republican Address, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) calls for full repeal of Obamacare following the Supreme Court’s decision this week to uphold the President’s health law. A doctor who has practiced medicine for 25 years, Sen. Barrasso says the Court’s ruling did nothing to improve the failed health care law: “It remains unworkable, unaffordable, and very unpopular.” Sen. Barrasso says congressional Republicans are committed to repealing Obamacare and replacing it with health care reform that ensures Americans “get the care they need, from the doctor they choose, at a lower cost.”
“Hi. I’m Dr. John Barrasso, United States Senator for Wyoming.
“The President and his allies in Congress are going to try to convince the public that the Supreme Court just gave the health care law a seal of approval.
“The fact is that this is the same failed policy that won’t lower the cost of health care in America.
“On Thursday, I was in the courtroom as the Supreme Court ruled that the President’s health care law is what the President claimed it was not: a new tax.
“President Obama has repeatedly promised, and I quote, ‘if you’re a family making less than $250,000 a year, my plan,’ he said, ‘won’t raise your taxes one penny.’
“Now, all of America knows the truth.
“The President’s health care law hires more IRS agents to investigate you and to make sure you buy insurance—but it fails to deal with the shortage of nurses and doctors to actually take care of you.
“The President’s health care tax is only one of his many broken promises related to this law.
“He promised lower health care costs, but they keep going up.
“He promised lower insurance premiums, but they’ve increased $2,400 a family over the past three years.
“He promised the law would create jobs, but the Congressional Budget Office projects that 800,000 fewer people will have jobs because of this law.
“He promised it wouldn’t add a dime to the deficit, but the law calls for trillions of dollars in new spending that Americans don’t want.
“The President said he would protect Medicare—but instead he raided $500 billion from our seniors on Medicare—not to strengthen Medicare—but to start a whole new government program for someone else.
“Even after the Supreme Court ruling was announced, the President said that if you like the insurance you have, you can keep it.
“Mr. President, because of your law, many Americans have already lost the health insurance that they had and they liked.
“Each broken promise proves that the Supreme Court’s ruling did absolutely nothing to improve the President’s failed health care law.
“It remains unworkable, unaffordable, and very unpopular.
“Americans deserve better.
“As a doctor who’s practiced medicine for 25 years, I know that the health care system in this country is far from perfect. It’s one of the reasons I ran for the Senate in the first place.
“The goal of health care reform all along should have been to ensure that people get the care they need, from the doctor they choose, at a lower cost.
“Under President Obama’s health care law, they got the exact opposite—tax increases and government control.
“Now we have another chance to reform our health care system and in a way that does not result in higher costs, in fewer choices, and less personal control.
“There should be no doubt: Republicans in Congress will fight to repeal the President’s failed health care law.
“It is a law that is bad for patients, it is bad for the nurses and the doctors who care for those patients, and it’s terrible for taxpayers.
“In the middle of a tough economy, President Obama passed a health care law that has made our economy even worse.
“By forcing expensive new health care mandates through Congress, he’s made it harder for Americans to find good jobs and provide for their families.
“With unemployment at over 8 percent for over 40 straight months, we cannot afford for this tax to stay in place any longer.
“Once we have repealed the law, we will tackle the serious problems that plagued our health care system and are now getting worse.
“We will replace this law with real reforms that will actually lower costs and improve access to care.
“We will not make the same mistakes the Democrats made.
“We will not raise taxes in the middle of a recession.
“We will not push through a 2,700 page bill the American people can’t afford and don’t want.
“Unlike President Obama, we will not cut deals behind closed doors to protect special interest groups, or include political carve outs for some states at the expense of others.
“What we will do is make sure that our health care system is truly patient-centered, not government-centered.
“Republicans in Congress are committed to a step-by-step approach that’s focused on lowering the cost of care.
“That means commonsense solutions, like allowing premium breaks to encourage healthy behavior.
“It means letting consumers buy insurance across state lines, and letting small businesses pool together to offer affordable health insurance to their workers.
“It means finally ending the lawsuit abuse that leads doctors to practice defensive medicine by ordering expensive and unnecessary tests.
“Now that the Supreme Court has acted, the American people cannot afford for Congress to wait any longer.
“It is time for Washington to repeal the President’s health care law and replace it with real health care reform.
“Thank you for joining me today.”
The Women and the Snake in Egypt
Silly woman, you knew I was a snake before you brought me in
Al Wilson: The Snake
Well the election in Egypt is done and now that he has power our new democratically elected president is showing his colors saying he will work for the release of the 1st Word Trade Center Bomber.
The shock to our friends of the left who insisted that the Muslim Brotherhood was not a terror organization must be great and now for them a decision must be made:
Confronted with this new reality are they going to deal with it directly acknowledging what is going on and acting accordingly or is their hatred of Pam Geller, Robert Spencer,Kathy Shaidle and all of us who have sounded the warning for years just too comfortable for them to abandon it over a little thing like freeing the first person who tried to take down the World Trade center?
I’m betting on the latter but I’d be delighted to be proven wrong.
Congressman Issa Releases Statement About Denial of Admission to Upcoming Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations
WASHINGTON, DC – On June 26th Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk requesting permission to observe the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks that will take place in San Diego, Calif., next week. He wrote, “It is my hope that observing the negotiating process firsthand will help to alleviate some of my concerns about the process through which the agreement is being negotiated.” Congressman Issa was informed yesterday by the office of U.S. Trade Representative Kirk that he would be barred from observing the negotiations and only able to attend “public portions of the event.”
In response, Congressman Issa released the following statement today:
“The U.S. Trade Representative has once again chosen to block Congress from observing negotiations for this vital trade agreement over which the House and Senate have fundamental constitutional responsibility.
“The TPP process should be transparent and open to oversight, not a secretive backroom negotiation. TPP agreements impact multiple sectors of the American economy—especially our ability to innovate and create new intellectual property, as well as preserve an open Internet.
“Congress has a constitutional duty to oversee trade negotiations and not simply act as a rubber stamp to deals about which they were kept in the dark. While I had hoped the TPP would permit me to observe this round of the negotiation process firsthand, our efforts to open TPP negotiations up to transparency will continue.”
Learn more at KeepTheWebOPEN.com/tpp.
Dems Scared Of Their Mandate Tax
The Court Upheld ObamaCare By Ruling That The Mandate Is A Tax, But Democrats Are Pretending It’s Not
Dems ‘Stumbling,’ Scared To Defend Mandate Tax
“The Obama administration played down the tax factor… The healthcare law contains a slew of tax provisions.” (“Supreme Court Ruling Casts Tax Shadow Over U.S. Healthcare Law,” Reuters, 6/29/12)
“…senior administration officials argued that the penalty was not a tax…” (“High Court Gives GOP New Weapon On Taxes,” The Hill, 6/29/12)
· JAY CARNEY: “it’s not a tax…it’s a penalty” (Twitter, @MarkKnoller, 6/29/12)
· DAVID AXELROD: “…what it is is a penalty…” (NBC’s Today Show, 6/29/12)
· STEPHANIE CUTTER: “It’s a penalty.” (“Obama Campaign Spokeswoman Won’t Call Mandate A ‘Tax,’” The Washington Free Beacon, 6/29/12)
“…Democratic leaders were stumbling Thursday when asked about the ruling that the mandate was a tax — an argument that was quickly becoming a GOP talking point.” (“Democrats Take Short Health Care Victory Lap,” Roll Call, 6/29/12)
“The cautious and measured statements from Democratic House and Senate candidates Thursday reflected the unease about renewing a debate that ended badly for the party in November 2010.” (“GOP Sees Down-Ballot Gold In Supreme Court Decision,” Politico, 6/29/12)
· SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “…wouldn’t say if he agrees with the Supreme Court ruling that the individual mandate in the health care law is constitutional as a tax.” (“Harry Reid Won’t Say If Obamacare Mandate Is A Tax,” Daily Caller, 6/28/12)
· SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D-NY): “…who heads the Democrats’ communication and policy arm, also sidestepped the question.” (“Democrats Take Short Health Care Victory Lap,” Roll Call, 6/29/12)
· REP. CHARLIE RANGEL (D-NY): “‘Do you think it’s a tax in your personal opinion?’ ‘No, it’s a fee for services,’ Rangel replied.” (“Rangel: Obamacare Mandate Is Not A Tax, It’s A ‘Fee For Services,’” Daily Caller, 6/29/12)
SUPREME COURT: ‘A Tax’
SUPREME COURT: “…the shared responsibility payment may… be read as imposing a tax on those who go without insurance.” (Supreme Court Of The United States Syllabus, National Federation Of Independent Business Et Al. V. Sebelius, Secretary Of Health And Human Services, Et Al., 6/28/12)
AFP Fights ObamaCareTax with a Multi-Million Dollar Ad Buy in 12 States
Americans for Prosperity announced an enormous effort today – with a $9 million price tag – in response to the Supreme Court ruling on the Affordable Care Act. The effort includes a major TV buy, online activism and grassroots activities in a dozen states including CO, FL, IA, MN, NV, NH, NM, NC, OH, PA, VA and WI. This is AFP’s largest healthcare effort ever.
President Obama promised that his healthcare law was not a tax increase, but now we know it is actually one of largest tax increases in history. Tell Obama: repeal the healthcare bill and pass patient-centered reform.
Sign the Hands Off My Health Care Petition Now!
Paul Revere Project: Center-Right Coalition Must Unite to Make Elections a Referendum on ObamaCare
The statement below is from the Paul Revere project, representing many conservative, libertarian and Tea Party leaders. The project is directed by Al Regnery, former publisher of the American Spectator magazine and former president of Regnery Publishing.
Statement of the Paul Revere Project
Conservatives, Libertarians, Pro-Life and pro-Family Advocates and the Tea Parties Must Unite to Make the November Election a Referendum on Obamacare
That great majority of Americans who still believe in liberty must now put their differences aside, work together and defeat the forces of statism in November.
If there was any lesson that came from the Supreme Court on Thursday, it was that Americans cannot rely on anybody but themselves to protect their liberty. If the free society is to be preserved it can only be done at the ballot box by people with a common goal.
President Obama, the slim majority in Congress, and now the Supreme Court have banded together to impose, on middle-class Americans, one of the largest tax increases in history. Worse, that troika of government power has joined together to create one of the largest expansions of government power in decades – a new law that will infringe on the liberties of every American, will result in vast deficits while destroying the best health care system the world has ever known, will. violate religious liberty, and create detrimental interference by government in people’s daily lives.
As likely Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said, “If we want to get rid of Obamacare, we’re going to have to replace President Obama.” While replacing President Obama is at the top of the list, replacing enough members of Congress to assure that the votes exist to throw the law out is a close second.
The American system of government is built on the concept that government power comes from the people and that government should have no more power than the people want it to have. Elections, under our system, are designed to remind politicians and the bureaucracy that their power over the rest of us can be taken back as easily as it is granted. That is just what happened in 2010, when voters retired the congressional majority responsible for Obamacare. Now the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, more concerned with the reputation of his institution than the liberties he is charged with protecting, has upheld the law by re-writing it, turning its mandate into a tax that the defeated congressional majority, and the President, claimed was not a tax. But what the Supreme Court was really telling Americans was that if you don’t want this law, you are going to have to defeat it at the ballot box in November. There is no better time for the American voter to again assert the limits of power over the institutions of Washington.
Thus all the forces in American society who believe in liberty, whether they are Republicans, Democrats or independents, must join together to make the November election a referendum on Obamacare.
Who are all these people? They are the traditional conservatives, to whom liberty is sacred. They are libertarians, to whom a sound economy and lower taxes are important. They are Evangelical Christians, who defend the family and believe in the sanctity of life. They are Catholics, whose religious liberty is threatened by an intrusive bureaucracy. They are the Tea Party, offended by intrusive government and threats to liberty. They are even those to view a weakened American economy as a threat to our national security. In short, they are the majority of Americans who want no part of this over-reaching, intrusive and unpopular law.
Some of commented that the Supreme Court on Thursday handed the freedom-loving American voter the greatest gift of all time. Hard for some to construe, to be sure, but if true, let us band together and deny the President and Congress another term to inflict even more damage to American freedom.
The Paul Revere Project is a non-partisan journalism effort comprised of individuals and organizations from all parts of the conservative movement, libertarians, and the Tea Party.
