Slightly Eroded Yet Still The Most Free
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Gary [email protected]
During the second half of the 18th century, colonists in America were getting a little fed up with the British. Things like taxation without representation and the authority of the British parliament to govern them from afar were really grating on the colonists.
Then along came the Stamp Act, which said every document possessed by a colonist had to have British stamp. To enforce the Stamp Act, the British parliament enacted the Writs of Assistance Act. That legislative gem essentially allowed British soldiers to write their own search warrants, enter the homes of colonists and demand to see the stamps.
That was kind of the last straw.
By 1774 each colony established a way to govern itself. The British responded by sending troops to impose the will of the empire.
In 1775 the colonies each sent representatives to the Second Continental Congress where they joined together – the “United States of America” – to defend their desire to govern themselves through armed conflict – the Revolutionary War.
Independence Day came in 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was adopted. That’s when the United States formally declared its independence from Great Britain.
For the most part, the war ended with a victorious United States in 1781 and formally ended in 1783 with the Treaty of Paris. That’s when Britain gave up on any claims it had to the United States.
Needless to say, the British don’t celebrate much on July 4.
What followed was the gradual formation of the most free nation on earth. A title I believe this nation still holds today.
But sometimes I get a little worried about some of the things I see that tend to erode these hard-fought freedoms and I find it hard to understand how we get to places like that.
Like, how do we get to a place were a state supreme court says you can’t “legally resist” a cop who is “illegally entering” your home?
How does the U.S. Supreme Court rule that it’s OK for the cops to kick down your door without a warrant if they smell pot outside your apartment?
How is it OK for the government to tap our phones without a warrant?
How is a corporation a person?
How did money become speech?
Why is eminent domain – the power of the government to take private property for public use – being used for private projects simply to generate property tax revenue?
Why do more than 500 occupations in the U.S. now require a government license under threat of arrest if you don’t have the license?
Why is there greater judicial protection for pornography than there is for commercial speech?
Why do we have to allow our wives and children to be groped by airport screeners in the name of security?
Why do we have the government forcing us to purchase health insurance?
And why with each passing year does government grow and grow and grow?
We ran an editorial earlier this week that noted an “enormous onslaught of new regulations could well cost hundreds of billions of dollars, hamper our recovery, undermine our competitiveness and cost jobs.[[In-content Ad]]If we don’t take the necessary steps now, our competitiveness and the success of America’s small businesses – the job engines of our economy – are at risk. Businesses with fewer than 20 employees incur regulatory costs 42 percent higher than companies with up to 500 employees. The average regulatory cost for each employee of a small business exceeds $10,000 per year. The Small Business Administration priced the total cost of federal regulation compliance at $1.75 trillion in 2008 – amounting to $15,000 for each U.S. household.
The founders envisioned a limited federal government. I’m just not sure how limited it is anymore.
It seems to me some of the things the government is doing these days – with a particular nod to the warrantless entry rulings – are precisely the kinds of things the colonists rebelled against. A modern day writ of assistance, if you will.
Nonetheless, I believe the U.S. remains the most free nation on earth and that is worth of celebration.
So enjoy your freedom and independence this holiday.
Here’s hoping everyone has a safe and relaxing July 4 weekend.
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During the second half of the 18th century, colonists in America were getting a little fed up with the British. Things like taxation without representation and the authority of the British parliament to govern them from afar were really grating on the colonists.
Then along came the Stamp Act, which said every document possessed by a colonist had to have British stamp. To enforce the Stamp Act, the British parliament enacted the Writs of Assistance Act. That legislative gem essentially allowed British soldiers to write their own search warrants, enter the homes of colonists and demand to see the stamps.
That was kind of the last straw.
By 1774 each colony established a way to govern itself. The British responded by sending troops to impose the will of the empire.
In 1775 the colonies each sent representatives to the Second Continental Congress where they joined together – the “United States of America” – to defend their desire to govern themselves through armed conflict – the Revolutionary War.
Independence Day came in 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was adopted. That’s when the United States formally declared its independence from Great Britain.
For the most part, the war ended with a victorious United States in 1781 and formally ended in 1783 with the Treaty of Paris. That’s when Britain gave up on any claims it had to the United States.
Needless to say, the British don’t celebrate much on July 4.
What followed was the gradual formation of the most free nation on earth. A title I believe this nation still holds today.
But sometimes I get a little worried about some of the things I see that tend to erode these hard-fought freedoms and I find it hard to understand how we get to places like that.
Like, how do we get to a place were a state supreme court says you can’t “legally resist” a cop who is “illegally entering” your home?
How does the U.S. Supreme Court rule that it’s OK for the cops to kick down your door without a warrant if they smell pot outside your apartment?
How is it OK for the government to tap our phones without a warrant?
How is a corporation a person?
How did money become speech?
Why is eminent domain – the power of the government to take private property for public use – being used for private projects simply to generate property tax revenue?
Why do more than 500 occupations in the U.S. now require a government license under threat of arrest if you don’t have the license?
Why is there greater judicial protection for pornography than there is for commercial speech?
Why do we have to allow our wives and children to be groped by airport screeners in the name of security?
Why do we have the government forcing us to purchase health insurance?
And why with each passing year does government grow and grow and grow?
We ran an editorial earlier this week that noted an “enormous onslaught of new regulations could well cost hundreds of billions of dollars, hamper our recovery, undermine our competitiveness and cost jobs.[[In-content Ad]]If we don’t take the necessary steps now, our competitiveness and the success of America’s small businesses – the job engines of our economy – are at risk. Businesses with fewer than 20 employees incur regulatory costs 42 percent higher than companies with up to 500 employees. The average regulatory cost for each employee of a small business exceeds $10,000 per year. The Small Business Administration priced the total cost of federal regulation compliance at $1.75 trillion in 2008 – amounting to $15,000 for each U.S. household.
The founders envisioned a limited federal government. I’m just not sure how limited it is anymore.
It seems to me some of the things the government is doing these days – with a particular nod to the warrantless entry rulings – are precisely the kinds of things the colonists rebelled against. A modern day writ of assistance, if you will.
Nonetheless, I believe the U.S. remains the most free nation on earth and that is worth of celebration.
So enjoy your freedom and independence this holiday.
Here’s hoping everyone has a safe and relaxing July 4 weekend.
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