It wasn't so much that the Colonists had to pay taxes that led to the
revolutionary war, it was that a governing body in which the colonists had
no voice levied these taxes upon them. ("Taxation without representation)
And yes, this by nature is a tyranical form of government.
To say that the US govt is "more oppresive" now than the British govt was
then is a gross misrepresentation. Obviously modern day American politics
are influenced heavely by Corporate enterprises, but the fact is that there
isn't a tax or levy imposed upon US citizens that doesn't come from
governing bodies that WE elect and/or directly vote on ourselves. The
authors of the Constitution made sure that no tax would be taken lightly.
This is why all Federal tax bills must originate in the House, where
representiives serve only 2 years, thus making themselves more vulnerable to
losing their seats should they vote for unfair/unpopular bills.
Also, the 5% of funds that the British took from Colonists went to better
the interests of the British empire, not necessarily, (in fact rarely,) the
common good of the Colonists.
While Thomas Jefferson writes about Man's inalliable rights, saying, "Life,
Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness", it is no coincidence that he borrows
Thomas Moore's (I think it's from "Utopia" but I haven't had a History class
in 4 yrs so I may be quoting the wrong author/literature) "Life, Liberty,
and the Pursuit of PROPERTY". Here in lies the real 'freedom' that American
Separatists sought at the time of the signing of the declaration.
So, do we celebrate freedom on the 4th? yes... but our modern minds (with
the help of revisionist historians) have so narrowly defined freedom's
context that it some times becomes trying to remember what the revolution
was all about. Observing history with an objective eye, rather than a
subjective, modern one, allows one to attain a greater understanding of past
events and the triggers for them.
Sol
>From: "Chris Dooley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: [D] July 4th
>Date: Mon, 01 Jul 2002 11:18:25 -0400
>
>So me and this guy were sitting and having a little debate and here is how
>it sort of went though very narrated. We had this debate at a party of all
>things.
>
>We were discussing the 4th of July and the meaning behind it.
>It is my understanding this is the day back in 1776 that we declared
>independence from britain and their high taxes, etc etc...
>Thus the declaration of independence and soon after the constitution were
>born.
>
>Now i studied history some in college but i am not a history buff, but my
>friend put this scenario to me....as he proclaims to some what be a history
>buff....
>
>Now i know that people like to have an excuse to party and that is fine,
>but he questioned that a lot of people just celebrate holidays without even
>thinking about the meanings anymore, which makes sense. but he told me
>that the reasons behind us fighting the british back in the day were
>justified as there laws and tariffs were tyrannical, etc etc.....
>
>He goes on further to tell me that the many of the "reasons" we ended up
>having the revolutionary war back then are not only in effect and law now
>but are worse in the present time (brought on by the us govt and big
>business). Reasons being things such as percentage of income to taxes,
>privacy, owning a gun, and basic freedoms, etc etc....
>
>He says that we had many problems including that back then the british
>wanted 5% of everything we earned to go to them, yet now we pay close to at
>least 25% or more of everything we earn in sales taxes, income taxes (which
>are stolen from us before we even see it), property taxes, estate taxes,
>etc taxes.....
>
>So my question and wonder is this.... is the us govt more oppressive now
>than the british govt was back in the time of the revolutionary war (and
>thus the birth of the holiday of July 4th) and is the holiday just a spoof
>of celebrated so called independence and freedom? What are your thoughts?
>
>Now i know we do have it better than some countries believe me, (of course
>there are many that are "more free" with different social system structures
>that do just as well economically) but i am wondering if all those years i
>have celebrated "freedom" (as i was taught and learned) has really been
>just a waste brought on by the propaganda of the traditional american
>holiday in general? And is all this money i and many others spent over the
>years on fireworks and barbecues etc etc, though put to good use and fun
>and i do not regret it (hee-hee), been just a waste of our resources to
>celebrate something that doesnt hold as much truth as it used to?
>
>If anyone is a history buff maybe they can shed some light on this, or
>maybe if u just have an opinion?
>
>And to keep this somewhat on topic what is everyone doing for July
>4th.....?
>And though i question the logic of the holiday (less than my friend) i will
>be out in force with the grill and the new mix cd....just bc i like to
>party.....
>
>peace
>
>d
>
>www.audiomind.tk
>
>
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