I don't know who we are anymore. This is a dark moment that will be an indelible stain on America's social conscience. Halloween horror is about to turn into a nightmare for the vulnerable in America
The key founding document that explicitly asserts the right and duty of citizens to revolt against an unjust government is the Declaration of Independence (1776) — primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson.
Here’s the most relevant passage:
> “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends [life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness], 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. … But when a long train of abuses and usurpations … 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.”
Source:
📜 The Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
This is the foundational American statement affirming that people not only have a right but also a duty to resist and replace tyrannical government.
Yet less than a year and a half later Madison warned us about the very thing we are currently experiencing today.
"The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny."
~ James Madison, The Federalist Papers, No. 47, February 1, 1788
Agreed! After the display of bullshit by rump and his regime of misfits for our highest ranking military officers, one might think their vision is coming into focus? The endless illegal and corrupt activities of this regime, boots on the ground in our cities, and the destruction of our institutions (also, the East wing of the WH), etc….our military leaders must be examining their role in safeguarding our democracy. ‘We the pro-democracy people’ have been standing up and speaking out, and will continue to do so! But we could do w/ a little help from our military leaders who have sworn to uphold our constitution. Are they all as pitiful as the GOP Congress??
Whoa! I was right there with you up until your last sentence. "... even though nobody who matters will read it." Really? How condescendingly offensive! I understand your intended meaning, or at least I think I do. But as a reader of all you shared prior to that statement, it felt like a slap in the face. Do better!
You are absolutely right, that came out all wrong, certainly not my intention, I apologize unreservedly and will amend because that’s not what I meant. I was of course speaking of those within the Democratic Party who could effect change.
Well hopefully many people who do matter within the Democratic Party will read what you have to say..... you have wisdom and insight and they could learn from you. Glad you found your voice again today! Ignore the complainers of your lengthy posts. They can stop when they've had enough. Many of us hang on every word and value your full expression.
You took his comment wrong. There are so many people out there not reading or supporting independent journalism…and, those are the people, who stayed home and did not vote!!!!!
The United States has long worked to avoid any accountability that participating in international norms (like the Rome Statute) would cause, knowing that supporting the Rome Statute or the ICC would put them up for an unfavorable examination of the history of and current list of crimes of humanity and genocide in the US. When the original author of the word genocide advocated for protection from genocide be extended to economic and cultural groups (in addition to racial, ethnical, national, and religious groups), the US and other powers at the time ensured that that definition never made it into international law since they knew then they would all be guilty.
Well, that kind of lookback would be ex post facto legislation which is frowned on by enlightened legal systems. We're certainly morally culpable for our past injustices, but unlikely to be legally liable for acts occurring before the international legal framework was adopted.
Sadly for us, we haven't left our evil ways behind and thus have shown ourselves to be rank hypocrites.
If you have a lot of material you believe is in the best interests of your readers to learn about, of course your posts are going to be longer. I realize that the attention span of people in an era of the internet and cell phones is much shorter than it was a few decades ago. But losing the ability to focus for more than a few seconds leaves us much more vulnerable to manipulation by sources who rely on our distractability.
Thanks for bringing the truth to light. I for one agree with everything you say. I am not able to become a paying supporter but when that changes I will definitely do my best to support you in any other way. Please, keep sharing your immense knowledge and articulating the truth 🙏
Don’t ever concern yourself about becoming a paid subscriber. This is a community and the generosity of my paid subscribers ensures I can provide the truth at no cost to those who have other things to worry about.
Do not let anyone who finds fault with the length of your posts intimidate you in any degree, shape, or form. Your posts are not just thoughts, or opinion. You are an excellent educator, always bringing in important history and expressing yourself clearly and succinctly. One thing I can tell you, having been an American for 75 years now, is that part of our history includes some of our citizens wanting to denigrated the better-educated, well-read, and better informed foreigners. I was raised by someone who felt it was his job to denigrate those who were foreign and others who he felt inferior to. Sadly, this is human nature of some, but not all, thank God. Minds are like books, they only function when open, and many people’s books are closed. And please, don’t criticize yourself for expressing your feelings. I find it extremely caring of you to care about the USA. So be you, express yourself as your authentic self, and continue to be a gift to me and many others. Tally ho! Thank you, Leah
And we will get through this together. It may be what finally makes people put aside the division and care about each other again. No one will starve. Food banks, friends and family, etc. won't let it happen.
The politics won't destroy us. But if anything, we will destroy ourselves unless closed eyes open. More urgently, closed hearts need to reopen.
If we seek unity we can't become divisive.
If we want to be heard, we must listen.
If they insult and are hurtful towards a person, they aren't worth having as a friend regardless of what they believe.
We hate labeling, so we should practice what we preach.
I've been talking about the non-voting 3rd party for the last 2 years. ⅓ of registered Americans did not vote. Voting in America has always been a choice. It needs to become a law. People should be rewarded for voting, and fined for not voting without a legitimate excuse. Corporate lobbying, special interest groups, super pacs, dark money, and insider trading all need to be banned from the system.
Keep speaking about this regime. I am scared for what our children and grandchildren will have to go through due to unscrupulous politicians and millionaires who only care about their pockets. This is the worst administration of my lifetime.
I cannot believe that the American public can let their people (Republicans) do this to 42 million, other Americans and be ok with that! I am so dumbfounded and heartbroken 💔
We've become the unwilling prostitutes in one of the cruelest sceams by those wh o have vacated their soals in exchange for a future where only their power and nightmares grow for their demons hunger for pain is untethered to any semblance of humanity
"Dominion voting machines are used in 27 states by tens of millions of voters to cast their vote. These are now under the control of a 2020 election denier."
And yet, this is the same administration that continually insists that paper ballots, filled out at the polling place on election day, are the only proper way to vote.
This has indeed become gospel for every voter in a "Liberty Vote" state.
I'm not in one of those states, but as a programmer, I know how trivial it'd be to print out a paper copy that reflects your votes accurately while tweaking the hell out of them inside the machine
Although, frankly, the way to cook the vote is to compromise the tabulators -- there are far fewer and they're more accessible.
Anyway, in 2026 it's back to the past for me with that old-school paper ballot. They can pitch it in the river but they can't hack it.
Me too. I am so deeply disgusted and trying hard not to be disillusioned. None of us can afford to give in to depression over the recent happenings. We must lift each other up. One for all and all for one. Unfortunately, our people, those who are like minded are scattered everywhere. We also must remember to feed the hungry, (with no $ s.n.a.p. for the holidays) reguardless of politics. And love those who persecute us.Tall order. But its the only way to hang on to our humanity which carries a light of the divine inside. This little🕯light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!!!
The key founding document that explicitly asserts the right and duty of citizens to revolt against an unjust government is the Declaration of Independence (1776) — primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson.
Here’s the most relevant passage:
> “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends [life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness], 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. … But when a long train of abuses and usurpations … 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.”
Source:
📜 The Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
This is the foundational American statement affirming that people not only have a right but also a duty to resist and replace tyrannical government.
Yet less than a year and a half later Madison warned us about the very thing we are currently experiencing today.
"The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny."
~ James Madison, The Federalist Papers, No. 47, February 1, 1788
Agreed! After the display of bullshit by rump and his regime of misfits for our highest ranking military officers, one might think their vision is coming into focus? The endless illegal and corrupt activities of this regime, boots on the ground in our cities, and the destruction of our institutions (also, the East wing of the WH), etc….our military leaders must be examining their role in safeguarding our democracy. ‘We the pro-democracy people’ have been standing up and speaking out, and will continue to do so! But we could do w/ a little help from our military leaders who have sworn to uphold our constitution. Are they all as pitiful as the GOP Congress??
Whoa! I was right there with you up until your last sentence. "... even though nobody who matters will read it." Really? How condescendingly offensive! I understand your intended meaning, or at least I think I do. But as a reader of all you shared prior to that statement, it felt like a slap in the face. Do better!
You are absolutely right, that came out all wrong, certainly not my intention, I apologize unreservedly and will amend because that’s not what I meant. I was of course speaking of those within the Democratic Party who could effect change.
You have no reason to apologize!
I amended the last sentence, but that will not update if you are reading the post from the emailed version of it.
Well hopefully many people who do matter within the Democratic Party will read what you have to say..... you have wisdom and insight and they could learn from you. Glad you found your voice again today! Ignore the complainers of your lengthy posts. They can stop when they've had enough. Many of us hang on every word and value your full expression.
You took his comment wrong. There are so many people out there not reading or supporting independent journalism…and, those are the people, who stayed home and did not vote!!!!!
Noted. I appreciate his reply and his amended statement which makes his meaning clearer. Onward together!
The United States has long worked to avoid any accountability that participating in international norms (like the Rome Statute) would cause, knowing that supporting the Rome Statute or the ICC would put them up for an unfavorable examination of the history of and current list of crimes of humanity and genocide in the US. When the original author of the word genocide advocated for protection from genocide be extended to economic and cultural groups (in addition to racial, ethnical, national, and religious groups), the US and other powers at the time ensured that that definition never made it into international law since they knew then they would all be guilty.
Oh, your comment gives a little more insight into why we didn’t become a member of the ICC. I’d been wondering that for awhile.
I'm glad! And yeah it's always frustrated me that we aren't.
Well, that kind of lookback would be ex post facto legislation which is frowned on by enlightened legal systems. We're certainly morally culpable for our past injustices, but unlikely to be legally liable for acts occurring before the international legal framework was adopted.
Sadly for us, we haven't left our evil ways behind and thus have shown ourselves to be rank hypocrites.
If you have a lot of material you believe is in the best interests of your readers to learn about, of course your posts are going to be longer. I realize that the attention span of people in an era of the internet and cell phones is much shorter than it was a few decades ago. But losing the ability to focus for more than a few seconds leaves us much more vulnerable to manipulation by sources who rely on our distractability.
In other words: keep writing the way you do!
I look for your words every day because they clarify so many things for me, including where I stand. Thank you s o much.
Thanks for bringing the truth to light. I for one agree with everything you say. I am not able to become a paying supporter but when that changes I will definitely do my best to support you in any other way. Please, keep sharing your immense knowledge and articulating the truth 🙏
You are very kind.
Don’t ever concern yourself about becoming a paid subscriber. This is a community and the generosity of my paid subscribers ensures I can provide the truth at no cost to those who have other things to worry about.
Do not let anyone who finds fault with the length of your posts intimidate you in any degree, shape, or form. Your posts are not just thoughts, or opinion. You are an excellent educator, always bringing in important history and expressing yourself clearly and succinctly. One thing I can tell you, having been an American for 75 years now, is that part of our history includes some of our citizens wanting to denigrated the better-educated, well-read, and better informed foreigners. I was raised by someone who felt it was his job to denigrate those who were foreign and others who he felt inferior to. Sadly, this is human nature of some, but not all, thank God. Minds are like books, they only function when open, and many people’s books are closed. And please, don’t criticize yourself for expressing your feelings. I find it extremely caring of you to care about the USA. So be you, express yourself as your authentic self, and continue to be a gift to me and many others. Tally ho! Thank you, Leah
Thank you Leah, your words mean the world to me.
Agreed 🕯🧡
And we will get through this together. It may be what finally makes people put aside the division and care about each other again. No one will starve. Food banks, friends and family, etc. won't let it happen.
The politics won't destroy us. But if anything, we will destroy ourselves unless closed eyes open. More urgently, closed hearts need to reopen.
If we seek unity we can't become divisive.
If we want to be heard, we must listen.
If they insult and are hurtful towards a person, they aren't worth having as a friend regardless of what they believe.
We hate labeling, so we should practice what we preach.
If it's just opinion, we're censoring like them.
Be bigger.
Be kinder.
Be compassionate.
That's what really makes America great. 🇺🇸
Just my perspective.
Absolutely!!!! Don’t let anyone steal your joy, your kindness, your ability to rise above negativity!!
I've been talking about the non-voting 3rd party for the last 2 years. ⅓ of registered Americans did not vote. Voting in America has always been a choice. It needs to become a law. People should be rewarded for voting, and fined for not voting without a legitimate excuse. Corporate lobbying, special interest groups, super pacs, dark money, and insider trading all need to be banned from the system.
I’m buying what you’re selling Dan, but alas I fear it will never come to pass.
I don’t mind your long posts, because they are well-paced & very informative…in a way that this elder can understand. Thank you! Please continue!
Appreciate it Kathy
Keep speaking about this regime. I am scared for what our children and grandchildren will have to go through due to unscrupulous politicians and millionaires who only care about their pockets. This is the worst administration of my lifetime.
I think it's safe to say "worst regime ever" in our nation's history!
I like your post I want to read more
I cannot believe that the American public can let their people (Republicans) do this to 42 million, other Americans and be ok with that! I am so dumbfounded and heartbroken 💔
At this time there is an urgency to convey ideas before it is too late. Keep doing what you’re doing, it is invaluable.
sad & disturbing
We've become the unwilling prostitutes in one of the cruelest sceams by those wh o have vacated their soals in exchange for a future where only their power and nightmares grow for their demons hunger for pain is untethered to any semblance of humanity
"Dominion voting machines are used in 27 states by tens of millions of voters to cast their vote. These are now under the control of a 2020 election denier."
And yet, this is the same administration that continually insists that paper ballots, filled out at the polling place on election day, are the only proper way to vote.
This has indeed become gospel for every voter in a "Liberty Vote" state.
I'm not in one of those states, but as a programmer, I know how trivial it'd be to print out a paper copy that reflects your votes accurately while tweaking the hell out of them inside the machine
Although, frankly, the way to cook the vote is to compromise the tabulators -- there are far fewer and they're more accessible.
Anyway, in 2026 it's back to the past for me with that old-school paper ballot. They can pitch it in the river but they can't hack it.
Me too. I am so deeply disgusted and trying hard not to be disillusioned. None of us can afford to give in to depression over the recent happenings. We must lift each other up. One for all and all for one. Unfortunately, our people, those who are like minded are scattered everywhere. We also must remember to feed the hungry, (with no $ s.n.a.p. for the holidays) reguardless of politics. And love those who persecute us.Tall order. But its the only way to hang on to our humanity which carries a light of the divine inside. This little🕯light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!!!