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Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts)
Sun Mar 3, 2013, 10:26 AM Mar 2013

"…to alter or abolish it"

Mods note: This excerpt appears longer than it really is because it contains two internal quotes from documents in the public domain.

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/16293-abolish-it-its-our-right

It's obvious to anyone paying attention at this point that this current government doesn't give a damn about anyone who isn't buying influence in Washington. That's why they'll vote unanimously for giving the military hundreds of billions of dollars to maintain an imperial presence around the world, but they won't pay for $85 billion to provide assistance to low-income families trying to heat their homes or keep early childhood education centers open. And when things have gotten this bad, revolution is a moral obligation, not a radical idea. The Declaration of Independence proves that.

"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."
- Declaration of Independence, 1776

The New Hampshire state constitution's "Right to Revolution" clause says it a little more plainly.

"Government being instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security, of the whole community, and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, whenever the ends of government are perverted, and public liberty manifestly endangered, and all other means of redress are ineffectual, the people may, and of right ought to reform the old, or establish a new government. The doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power, and oppression, is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind."
- New Hampshire Constitution, 1784


This Congress is an illegitimate one by default, seeing as our founding documents clearly state that governments only derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. Since this Congress has had the lowest recorded approval ratings in history since 2011, it's safe to say we no longer consent to this current government, and have the right to alter or abolish it.

However, our past attempts to merely alter this government through the vote have been ignored and undermined, thanks to unfair gerrymandering that keeps the unpopular members of Congress in power, like Paul Ryan in Wisconsin. These same redistricting schemes are also used to drive popular members of Congress with wide support out of power, like Dennis Kucinich in Ohio.

Aside from the vote, our attempts to alter this government through protest have also been rendered obsolete. Occupy Wall Street proved that there is a country full of people willing to protest not just on a designated day of action, but 24 hours a day, for months at a time, in any weather. And the nonviolent movement that used publicly-owned parks and first amendment rights to free speech and free assembly to get its message across was ignored by our elected officials, ridiculed by the media, and violently crushed by police. When unarmed, seated college students can be viciously attacked without provocation and then accused by their attackers of violent behavior, protest alone will no longer accomplish our goals.
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"…to alter or abolish it" (Original Post) Jackpine Radical Mar 2013 OP
We've been beat down, sold out and Faux pas Mar 2013 #1
Yeah. Jackpine Radical Mar 2013 #2
I'm 63 and I was sure I wouldn't Faux pas Mar 2013 #3

Faux pas

(14,646 posts)
1. We've been beat down, sold out and
Sun Mar 3, 2013, 10:38 AM
Mar 2013

our voices muted. This is not the country I grew up in. My heart is broken.

Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts)
2. Yeah.
Sun Mar 3, 2013, 10:42 AM
Mar 2013

I know.

I'm 68 years old. A common sentiment among people in my age group is "I'm glad I'm so old. I won't have to live to see what's coming."

Let me add that I don't share that sentiment. I intend to keep fighting until they drag me off.

Faux pas

(14,646 posts)
3. I'm 63 and I was sure I wouldn't
Sun Mar 3, 2013, 12:28 PM
Mar 2013

live to see this downward spiral. I always figured it would happen the day after I shuffled off this mortal coil. Left On!

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