Libertarian Perspective
"We the People In Order To..."
by Ron Getty
Thu, 3 Jul 2008

Two hundred thirty two years ago, Thomas Jefferson authored the Declaration of Independence, and with representatives of the 13 colonies signed it, thereby laying the cornerstone for America to become a free nation. The Tree of Liberty had a blood-price, as 4,400 Americans died and 6,200 were wounded on Revolutionary War battlefields.

"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."

The 13 colonies abruptly severed the royal governorships of Great Britain, and Americans declared themselves independent of King George III's rule. This dissolution was instigated by Britain's internal taxes, trade tariffs, and military impositions, and the pitiless ignominy of no representation in Parliament.

"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."

Government is created by agreement among emancipated associations of people who freely give their consent to create a limited government to solely protect the people's lives, property, and rights.

"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or 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."

No government, when formed with the consent of the governed, should abuse the limited powers the people have freely given it solely to protect their lives, property, and rights. No government through its elected, appointed, or governmental employees can ignore the people who gave their consent to be governed.

"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."

However, no government, once created and consented to by the governed, should be arbitrarily dissolved. The dissolution of a government through revolutionary war or a civil war is an act not to be taken lightly or without extremely serious discussion, thought, and forbearance.

"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."

We, the people, support a government that has as its fundamental cornerstones honor, integrity, and righteousness. We, the people, support a government that esteems civil rights and believes in decency, respect, and individual liberty. These hallmarks represent a government formed of the people, by the people, and for the people, and one that is ultimately responsible to the people who give their consent to be governed.

"That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States . . . 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."

The Founding Fathers united in their belief that independent American states would rectify the onerous impositions visited upon Americans by Great Britain. The Founders then began a new experiment with the dawning of an American democratic republic.

In so doing, the Founding Fathers created a free nation, which for over two centuries has stood as a shining beacon of democracy and a buttress against tyrannical rulers. A free nation, which even today, represents to people suffering from unbearable restraint and suppression an inspirational dream for a right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

Independence Day is a crucial reminder for Americans that we have freely given our consent for a limited government whose sole purpose is to protect our lives, property, and rights. However, as Thomas Jefferson stated, "My reading of history convinces me that government is best which governs least."

Therefore, we the people can have our lives, property, and rights protected and still have the limited government which governs the least—and this would be our best government.

© Copyright 2005 by Libertarian Party of California