In 1765, The British enacted The Stamp Act, which would require all newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents, commercial bills, advertisements, and other documents issued in the colonies, to use a stamp.
The British would then collect tax revenues for these stamps, and use these revenues for the defense of the colonies. Being that the tax was used for their defense, wouldn’t one conclude that this tax was well-intended? Why then were the colonists so outraged? So outraged that movements such as The Sons of Liberty were started; as well as the convening of Congress, in Oct. of 1765, in New York City, where The Declaration of Rights and Grievances were written.
Most of us know that the colonies were being taxed, but did not have representation in Parliament, back in England. Is it possible that the people of the colonies felt disenfranchised?
Perhaps we can get into their heads for a moment…
- OK, the government is going to take tax revenues from us, then use it for this, or for that. However, no one has consulted us. Perhaps we have a different view; perhaps we have an alternative idea that will makes sense, and may satisfy a larger majority of people, as opposed to, this is how it is, and you will like it. - Eventually, Parliament being faced with a loss of trade, repealed the Stamp Act in 1766. For anyone that is not aware of this, we do have a constitutional right in this country to petition our government; and it is with great thanks to our founders that we have this, and other first amendment rights.I believe it is a moral injustice to force something on people, that through a great majority, did not agree with the end result; clearly they were tired of Britain controlling their way of life, and of doing business.
The American Revolution did not take place until eleven years later; and the rest is certainly history. However, if we look back, perhaps the whole revolution could have been avoided “if” The British government would have listened to the pleas of the colonies. It is really hard to imagine it working out that way, because we would not have The United States today, and we would quite possibly still be part of England, but that is not the case, and today, we all know why.
So, here we are in modern times, saying, this is not the most prudent use of our tax dollars, and it is totally affecting our lives, our businesses etc….and we want change! If you read The Declaration of Independence, in its entirety, they listed a whole host of grievances against Britain; so surely Britain must have known that the pot was boiling over, however, they did not want to make the necessary changes, and the rest is history.
I do pray that our government will see that the people are getting very weary of the normal course of doing business in D.C., and begin to come back to the grass roots, and get down to the level of the every day person; otherwise, it is not too hard to imagine that the people will eventually need a party that will represent them again, and not the special interests of a few; and policies that will encompass the needs and concerns of the entire country, and not “just” a constituency of people.
In The Declaration of Independence, our founding fathers declared, that we have three very basic rights; and they are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I pray that we never lose these rights.
Mark
Sunday, 22. March 2009
Please also see:
Is History Repeating Itself?
Sunday, 22. March 2009
Nice writing style. I look forward to reading more in the future.
Sunday, 22. March 2009
Thank you Mike!
Sunday, 29. March 2009
To continue on a bit, unlike the colonists who had no representation in England, we do have state representation today, in the form of Congressman and Senators. However, for a very long time, I have felt that our voice ends the day after Election Day.
We have heard the saying, power to the people, many times, in many ways; I don’t totally believe that the people need to be a self governing body in The U.S., (although I wouldn’t be totally against trying it) but I do believe that the people need to have a body in The Congress that “truly” represents them.
While it was our founder’s vision to have representation for each state, I do believe that The Representatives should consider the country as a whole as well. For example, if one state is going bankrupt, then it will effect us all. So, to that extent, it does make you wonder how or if state and federal laws should coincide.
So, today, we do have taxation with representation, but our voices and representation seem to be of a very limited nature. At this point, I can not lay out any feasible alternatives, but I do know that many people are very frustrated. When the people, overwhelmingly, are against policies, yet the government continues to pursue them, then we must believe that the people will be heard at some point, as seen with the tea parties springing up around the nation.
Most political movements start out by petition and peaceful demonstration; I just pray that the government will engage the people, in conversation, before the situation gets worse.
Mark
Friday, 10. April 2009
Unfortunate as it is, history has taught us that petitioning the government has seldom produced the results that was desired by the petitioners. We need look no further than our own congress, where corruption is rampant and those with cash in hand can buy whatever legislation they want, regardless of the will of the people.
Amazingly with an approval rating in the tank, our congress still endures along that treacherous road to oblivion, without respect to the people who put them there. More importantly, it is amazing that despite the poor job people think is being done in congress, the sheeple continue to vote them back into office. Perhaps if people would choose a different kind of leader, we would have a different kind of leadership, instead we are a nation of lemmings.
May God help us!
Friday, 10. April 2009
Hey K,
Agreed! Even if the current, majority (democratic) in Congress turned to a Republican majority, I have very little confidence that old habits would completely disappear.
I would be more supportive of Republican (philosophically) fiscal policy of tax cuts, smaller government etc., however, we all know that that both parties “sadly” break campaign promises, politics as usual (in D.C.) remains the same, and little to no change occurs.
I am once again reminded of The Who song…”Won’t Get Fooled Again”
In the end, Roger sings, “meet the new boss, same as the old boss.”
Therefore, it seems that a complete overhaul, and reform of the federal government is the only possibility that will work; also tossing these special interest groups out on their asses as well…then revisit our roots, as our framers (founders) conceived it.