The Declaration of Independence

Americans have become extremely lax in knowing their history. The documents that founded our great nation are being pushed further and further from our view. It is my goal to publish a new document each week. I hope that you will read these documents and understand the wisdom of our founding fathers. I hope that you will find it within you to uphold these documents to the best of your ability. I hope that you will see that freedom isn't always free or easy. I hope that you will realize that some sacrifices make for a better future.







The following text is provided from http://www.constitution.org/usdeclar.txt





Declaration of Independence
[Adopted in Congress 4 July 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 to 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 shown
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.
He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for
opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of
the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to
cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers,
incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at
large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime
exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and
convulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the population of these
states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for
naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to
encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions
of new appropriations of lands.
He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing
his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.
He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the
tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their
salaries.
He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither
swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their
substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies
without the consent of our legislature.
He has affected to render the military independent of and
superior to civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction
foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our
laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for
any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants
of these states:
For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing taxes on us without our consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by
jury:
For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended
offenses:
For abolishing the free system of English laws in a
neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary
government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it
at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the
same absolute rule in these colonies:
For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable
laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our
governments:
For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring
themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all
cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of
his protection and waging war against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned
our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign
mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation
and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty
and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages,
and totally unworthy of the head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the
high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the
executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall
themselves by their hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has
endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the
merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is
undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and
conditions.
In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the
most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by
repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which
may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have
warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an
unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the
circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to
their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties
of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably
interrupt our connections and correspondence. We must, therefore, acquiesce
in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold
the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.
We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in
General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for
the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of
the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these
united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states;
that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that
all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and
ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they
have full power to levey war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish
commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may
of right do. 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.

Random Political Thoughts Over the Past Couple of Weeks

Funniest Radio Interview: Ann Coulture on Rush Limbaugh. She constantly referred to the President as B. Hussain Obama.

Local Political Insanity: City of Birmingham and the Jefferson County Commission
Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford gave the State of the City speech this week. His solution to the city's problems: repave the roads and add fountains. Lots and lots and lots of fountains. And a domed stadium. We must have a domed stadium.

A little background on Langford. He's the former mayor of Fairfield, AL and a former county commissioner. During his tenure as mayor he lead Fairfield (and several surrounding communities) to near bankruptcy. He served on the JeffCo Commission during the sewer bond issue. The bond issue was built on adjustable rate loans which spiked during the last few years and have lead Jefferson County to the verge of bankruptcy.

And this leads us to the Jefferson County Commission. The county is almost a year behind on the sewer debt payments. At one point they were going to raise water and sewer rates to almost $400/month for residents. They are also trying to charge non-users for not using the system. In their latest meeting the Commissioners voted to spen $1M on a lobbiest to send to Washington to plead for money from the Feds. The vote was taken during an outburst in the meeting with some commissioners unaware the vote was happening.

A rare positive remark about our new President: The push to move back the digital conversion date is a great idea. Not only are many Americans not ready for the conversion but many local networks are not ready also. Broadcast signals are week to non-existant. The full impact of this conversion will render many more homes without broadcast networks than estimated due to the weakness of digital signals. Now if he (or someone) will push for public education on the issue that goes beyond "buy a converter box."


I wish everyone would contact their senators and representatives and tell them to repeal the stimulus package. Is $1000 in your pocket worth generations of debt? How do you think the package will be paid for? There are only three choices: increase taxes, borrow the money or print money that is worthless. None of these options will help the economy. Reducing taxes and putting more money into your pockets will stimulate the economy.

If you fear losing your job take a look around. Count the number of products you pick up before you find one made in America. A nation where the majority of jobs are service jobs cannot survive. We need to bring back the spirit that built this nation: innovation and invention. We need to take pride in our work. We need to both expect and ACCEPT an honest day's wage for an honest day's work. We need to realize that most of our "needs" are truly "wants."

Media bias much? Mr. Bush verses President Obama

My bias against President Obama is not racial. It is philosophical. I do understand the significance of his election but I truly hope he was elected based on principle and not on skin color because if skin color was the reason then the Civil Rights movement failed terribly. I do hope his time in office proves me wrong. I hope the best for his presidency. My hope is limited though, socialism always fails.

TV Catch-Up

JACK IS BACK!!! Taking a year off seems to have worked wonders for 24. The show is fresher, tighter and more exciting than it has been in several seasons. The writers made a good choice moving the scene to DC. Honestly, could we really have done another season in LA (especially since the last time we were there a nuke was detonated). I love that the new president has more balls than most men.

Lost: Great beginning. Another show that is getting tighter. Once the writers decided on a time frame to wrap the show the stories found more focus. I am glad we are finally finding out a bit about the special qualities of the island. I am hoping that this year reveals that Ben is truly a good guy. It is just a feeling I have.

CSI: Grissom's exit was, at best, a huge disappointment. The ending scene was a contrived pre-teen fantasy.

American Idol: I'm taking bets on when bikini girl is disqualified for inappropriate behavior with a member of the cast or crew. The 4th judge is a nice addition. She seems balanced until contestants disrespect the other judges. I miss the freaks.

Biggest Loser: This week's ep was heartbreaking. The two youngest members up for elimination with the largest member of BL being eliminated. There was a ray of hope...the follow up showed he had lost 101lbs so far. A personal note: I'm pushing a friend of mine to audition. He is working to lose weight on his own and is keeping pace with the contestants on his own. He could totally win this and that would provide the money for him to complete his education

If Nationalized Banking Doesn't Scare You Then Nationalize Porn Should

E! Online is reporting that Larry Flint and Joe Francis are seeking a $5 Billion bailout of the Porn Industry from the US Government.

"People are too depressed to be sexually active," Flynt added in a statement. "This is very unhealthy as a nation. Americans can do without cars and such but they cannot do without sex."


OK people. Let's think about this. We've seen what the government can do with health care and social security. Do you really think allowing them access to the porn industy will improve the quality of low budget, no plot line, drunken girls flashing tits on video? Be prepared for GGW: Extra Nips and Sagging Utters Edition.

Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner: Rub-A-Dub-Dub I Love A Clean Tub

For the past month I have been using the Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner. I bought the product out of necessity - our schedule is so hectic we aren't at home enought to clean the house as it needs to be cleaned.

The product is easy to set up and install. Batteries are included as is the first bottle of cleaner. Once you are completed with set up all you do is hang it over your shower attachement. To use the cleaner you simply press a button. This starts a 15 second countdown after which the cleaner runs.

After a few days I noticed a difference in my shower. It looked and smelled much cleaner. You will still need to wipe down the shower every other week or so but you will not need to scrub it like you would without the Automatic Cleaner.

It is a bit noisy so I would not recomment running it while others are sleeping. Also, while it cleans walls well it does not clean creavices and curtain egdes to the level I would like.

The company recommends running the Automatic Cleaner once a day. We ran it twice a day the first week (partially because it was new and fun). You will go through the cleaner much too quickly running it multiples time per day.

The company's website does have coupons for BOGO cleaner refills but the application would not run on my computer which was a bit frustrating.

Overall I would recommend this product for no other reason than I do not have t clean the shower by hand as often.

http://www.automaticshowercleaner.com/