Self-evident truths America's best asset — Our View



When those "self-evident" truths were written in 1776, they were considered a radical departure from the traditional approach of government. The Founding Fathers, tired of having to acquiesce to British rules that didn't take into account the realities of the new world being developed so far and so different from England, wrote the Declaration of Independence as a justification for their fight for independence.

Now, 239 years later, we are still talking about those words and the rights they represent.

As wise and forward thinking as the members of that first Congress were, it is unlikely they thought about issues such as national healthcare, marriage equality or government collection of personal data.

Instead of thinking about details, they focused on broader concepts. All men are created equal. All are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. Everyone has, among other things, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Not a top-down, the government will tell you how to live your life approach. No, they had their fill of that with the British monarchy. Their way — the American way — would be government from the bottom up, with powers being granted by the governed.

It sounds simple, but it's not. It's messy. Especially in a country as diverse as the United States. During the Revolutionary War, it was easy to get consensus among the general population against British rule. Even today, when faced with an outside threat — world wars, the 911 attack, the threat posed by ISIL and terror groups — our nation can come together in an amazingly unified way.

It's the internal differences that are problematic. Gay marriage, racial and gender equality, conservative versus liberal. These are tough issues with passionate supporters on both sides. Often, there is no agreed "will of the people."

Despite the turmoil, our nation and our government persists. Why? We believe it is because as a nation we have, like the Founding Fathers, stayed focused on those broader concepts — the unalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

It's not a perfect system. But, we believe a nation focused on respecting the equal rights of everyone is the best possible choice.

Happy Independence Day.