THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IS A TESTAMENT AGAINST BIG GOVERNMENT

The Declaration of Independence is the birth certificate of America.  In that document are found the truths that form the basis of American government and society.  Today we celebrate again for 244^th time the ideals that make us free.  We laud the fact that our rights are not granted from the governmental authority but comes from God Himself.  People were created to be free and do right according to their conscience.  They should be viewed equally in the eyes of the law.  People are not servants of the State.

But in 2020, two camps that have evolved in philosophies about government.  One that believes government has all the answers to all major problems in society.  The other which is still molded in the Spirit of 1776 and calls for limited government designed to protect individual rights.

Few people today read past the majestic opening clause of the Declaration of Independence.  When reading further on down, one realizes the Declaration is a testament for limited government and is against big government.

Indeed, some of the grievances in 1776 listed sound all too familiar today. “He [the King] has erected a multitude of New offices and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their substance.”

If put in 21^st century vernacular it would be: “The government has created a large bureaucracy aka The Deep State.  It has sent swarms  of bureaucrats to regulate and harass our people and greatly increased the cost of doing business and living.”  This is what big government does.

The COVID-19 pandemic government response has given Americans a good taste of what it is like to live in a country without a bill of rights.  Living in a police state is not fun.  It can restrict movement, the ability to gather in worship and the ability to hold a job.

The government’s response to the COVID-19 has demonstrated the nature of big government does not change.  Remember even when the curve was flattened, state governors for one reason or another would not or very slowly would re-open their states for business?  All the while millions of citizens were out of work and practically under house arrest. Big government is very slow to respond to the basic needs of citizens.  In America the government is supposed to be servant of the people to protect their God given rights so they can pursue life and liberty. 

So, as we are celebrating independence this Fourth of July, remember America as Lincoln said at Gettysburg was “conceived in liberty”, not in bureaucracy. 

Americans should reject there is a “new normal” for living in a post-pandemic world.  The COVID-19 is a temporary condition.  In contrast our God given rights acknowledge and enshrined in the Bill of Rights are to last forever.  The normal in America is liberty and the protection of the individual.

One of the chief advocates of the Declaration of Independence was John Adams.  He was the nation’s first Vice President, and second President of the United States.  He studied the political history of civilizations.  In the early days of the American Revolution he made a profound observation in a letter to his wife Abigail.  “Liberty once lost is lost forever.”  Adams’ observation is also a warning today.  We must demand now that COVID-19 hospital admissions are manageable that full liberties be restored to Americans that are not at high risk of contracting the virus.  Demand the normal that is set forth in the extraordinary Declaration of Independence.