Once again, the federal government has failed to achieve the purposes for which it was created by our founding fathers -- only, this time our union of the states of America has deteriorated, not only in the eyes of we the people of America, but in the eyes of the world as well. The unprecedented economic depression the world is now facing and has endured for the past four years has its roots in the over-reaching and destructive alliance between financial institutions, wealthy individuals, businesses and special interest groups determined to increase their power and its accompanying wealth by force from the American people and the world by whatever means necessary, with the help and cooperation of the federal government.
This is reminiscent of the untenable position our founding fathers found themselves in during the years leading up to the famous declaration which created our great nation. The 13 English colonies on the eastern shores of North America became the original United States with their independence from Great Britain in 1776:
The Declaration of Independence, In Congress, July 4, 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 bonds 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 of 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 shewn, that mankind are most 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.
[...]
"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 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 (FEDERAL GOVERNMENT), and that all political connection between them ... is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they (WE) have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and 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."Signed, John Hancock and 55 other representatives of the 13 independent and United States of America
Eleven years later, the form of their government was established as a federal republic with the writing and adoption of the Constitution in 1787. They stated in the Preamble...
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
The writers and establishers of the Constitution wisely and deliberately avoided interference with state sovereignty, encouraging state governments to manage their various interests unimpeded by national authority. The main purpose of the original states in organizing a federal government was to deal with the interests shared commonly by the states, such as foreign policy and transportation. The three branches of the federal government were established as a system of checks and balances to prevent the national government from exceeding its authority and becoming dictatorial in its administration of the authority granted to it by the people of their individual states.
Since 1787, the national government has steadily increased in size and complexity, particularly the executive branch, which has 15 departments and dozens of executive agencies created by Congress to administer various national services. Although the executive branch is the largest branch of the federal government, it is the legislative branch which has created the huge size and scope of the executive branch. It is also the legislative branch which has fallen into extreme disfavor with the people of the United States. Approval ratings have never been this low, averaging in the area of 12-15%, or an 85-88% disapproval rating.
Although the recession, which has moved steadily into depression for the past four years, is credited with this most recent slide in legislative approval, the truth is that with few exceptions the legislative branch has generally been the most unpopular and divisive branch of the federal government. The failure of the legislative branch to enact laws which protect citizens from abuses of power by financial institutions, and their relentless passage of laws designed to steadily increase the power and wealth of certain individuals, businesses and special interest groups who provide legislators with financial and other benefits in exchange for favorable legislation is at the heart of their unpopularity.
The net effect of this misappropriation of power and wealth is the reduction in power and wealth of the American people. The 13 original and United States of America which established the federal government in their founding Constitution of 1787 set forth six original purposes for this union: 1.) A more perfect union; 2.) Establish justice; 3.) Ensure domestic tranquility; 4.) Provide for the common defense; 5.) Promote the general welfare; and 6.) Secure the blessings of liberty. Only one of these six purposes has been accomplished -- "provide for the common defense."
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