LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Plato’s Republic , or the U.N. Charter and find me any happiness at all. And this is one good reason why we who live here can’t bring ourselves to read American Civics or even the daily paper. As it is with us, so it was with the Original Dads. Their beef with King George? He was no fun . As the Declaration of Independence goes on to say, George III is attempting 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 the Head of a civilized Nation. Totally. There are 27 specific complaints against the British Crown in the Declaration of Independence. To modern ears they still sound reasonable. They still sound reasonable because so many of the complaints can be leveled against the present U.S. federal government. Maybe not the “Death, Desolation, and Tyranny” [unless you’re a DACA “Dreamer”], but how about: ...has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their Substance. George III was a piker compared to FDR and LBJ. ...has refused his Assent to Laws, the most
wholesome and necessary for the public Good. Our Congress wouldn’t pass a balanced budget or any legislation banning people over 30 from wearing spandex bicycle shorts. ...has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing Armies... ...has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our Laws... Federal regulator agencies, for instance. ...Depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury. If we cross one of those regulatory agencies. ...Cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World. As U.S. trade quotas and tariffs do. ...Imposing Taxes on us without our Consent. Nobody asked me if I wanted a 1040 Form. ...has excited domestic Insurrections amongst us... For sure.The Constitution is an equally forthright piece of work and quite succinct – (21 pages in the American Civics E-Z- reader large-type version) giving the complete operating instructions for a nation of 250 million people. The manual for a Toyota Camry, which only seats five, is four times as long.
12 | October 2017
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