"Government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit and security of the people, nation or community; whenever any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, unalienable, indefeasible right, to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public Weal."

Quote by:
   
George Mason
(1725-1792), drafted the Virgina Declaration of Rights

I read this as a call for secession when government no longer serves the needs of the community. What say you?

Quote from: Shooterman on July 16, 2012, 04:05:48 PM
I read this as a call for secession when government no longer serves the needs of the community. What say you?

I think George Mason, were he alive today, would join me -- and you, I think -- as a proud Tenther.

Quote from: tbone0106 on July 16, 2012, 06:23:16 PM
I think George Mason, were he alive today, would join me -- and you, I think -- as a proud Tenther.

Very little doubt, Tee, as Mr Mason gave us the Tenth Amendment as well as the rest of the Bill of Rights.

For those that may be interested, the following is the quote of Mr Mason, from which Mr Jefferson derived his famous 'all men are created equal' phrase in the Declaration of Independence.

"All men are created equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; among which are the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing the obtaining of happiness and safety."

Quote from: Shooterman on July 16, 2012, 09:07:13 PM
For those that may be interested, the following is the quote of Mr Mason, from which Mr Jefferson derived his famous 'all men are created equal' phrase in the Declaration of Independence.

"All men are created equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; among which are the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing the obtaining of happiness and safety."

More beautiful words were never written. Thanks, Shooterman, for keeping us true to what the founders had in mind.

But I notice that the "cannot... divest their posterity" part didn't make it into the Declaration of Independence, or into the Constitution. What Mason was pointing out is that it would be sinful and wrong for us -- now or ever -- to act in a way that would bind future generations to pay our debts. We have done so, much to our shame.

Voting Dear Leader out of office is the very least step we can take toward righting that wrong.

Quote from: Shooterman on July 16, 2012, 09:07:13 PM
For those that may be interested, the following is the quote of Mr Mason, from which Mr Jefferson derived his famous 'all men are created equal' phrase in the Declaration of Independence.

"All men are created equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; among which are the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing the obtaining of happiness and safety."

Some people will tell you that it is education which transforms a serf into an independent citizen. That of course is utter bullshit. What changes a man from a serf, or, indeed, a slave, is the ability to own property and enjoy the fruits of his own labor.

-Dr Watt