Making a case for government
To the editor:
“A return to grassroots self-government,” by Hayes Gahagan (Feb. 1, 2012, Star-Herald) is overlooking many realities.
It is the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution, that says that all men are created equal … endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It goes on to say, “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed …” It goes on to say, “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.”
It goes on to list the things that the King of Great Britain had done that they, at that time, considered the King’s tyranny. It is a long list but worth one’s while to read. Compared to the grievances of today’s American right wing, 1776 wins.
Ronald Reagan, who was President of the Government claimed that Government was the problem, not the solution to our problems. He was not paying attention to the Declaration of Independence, then, and worked within our government to govern. Republicans haven’t suggested another form of government, just “less” of it. Less rules, less regulations, less taxes, while less involved in our lives. At the same time they want the Government to rule against such individually personal things as abortions, marriage, citizenship, voting and drug use.
They need to better define just what it is they want and how they propose for it to happen. If they leave out Government as a solution, what’s left? We already have examples of that: Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Cheryl Lovely
Presque Isle
