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What might this experiment in self governance produce in another 237 years?
Hell, I wonder how many government-schooled kids nowadays even know what holiday falls on July 4th. Most folks see the 4th just as "a day off."
A day off from summer vacation?
I don't know what the next 237 years holds in store for your great country and great people since I'll only be around for a minor fraction of that time, but I wish all of you a happy birthday and many more happy ones to come. And I hope, whatever happens, Canada and Canadians will always remain best of friends with you and your country.
Eleven score and 17 years ago, our founders signed a document that started out the greatest experiment in self governance the world had ever known.
Now, 237 years later, how has that experiment changed, for better or worse?
For better: In 1776 "all men" meant "all white males". Today, it means "all mankind"
or does it? Perhaps it just means "all Americans." At least, the meaning has expanded.
but, "all men are created equal", meaning equal in opportunity, equal before the law still rings true.
For worse: "that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men" has come to include a whole lot more than securing rights. People seem more interested in security than in rights 237 years after the signing of the declaration.
What might this experiment in self governance produce in another 237 years?
Wild speculation is acceptable for that last one.
Hell, I wonder how many government-schooled kids nowadays even know what holiday falls on July 4th. Most folks see the 4th just as "a day off."
I think we're close to where we started. An abusive govt, and a majority that tyrannizes the minority.
Curious statement. Isn't democracy theoretically about rule of the majority?
We aren't a democracy.
Yes we are. We're a representative democracy.
Yes we are. We're a representative democracy.
Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?”
“A Republic, if you can keep it.”
You've got to be kidding. Public schools don't teach kids about the 4th of July? :roll:
I see your point now. Funny you mention it. I read a while back that most Americans think WW2 actually began in 1941, this includes the adults.Yes, they teach kids about Independence Day, however I believe they dumb-down the meaning. Government schools love to teach dates, but never context. When I was in school, I remember HATING history. Everything was dates, dates, dates. Whole concepts were glossed over. History was taught "safely." For instance, how many kids think the Civil War was fought over slavery? How many kids know something about Benedict Arnold aside from when he turned traitor? It was only after I was out of school, did I appreciate history. Since then, I've read dozens of books over dozens of different periods of time. The "what" that they drilled about in school, has now been replaced with the "why" and "how," which makes history so much more meaningful. It is this, that is what government schools severely lack.
We are a Constitutional Republic. The supreme law of the land is the Constitution, not the will of the people.
Despite what the right wing says, President Obama is not nor is he trying to destroy America. I predict that this nation will continue another 237 years and we'll be just as divided then as we are now.
Question: Do they have Fourth of July in England?
if I may ... our government works best when it protects the minority against the tyranny of the majority ...
And vice versa. A tyranny by the minority is just as bad, such as how a minority of 535 politicians in congress control every aspect of our life with endless laws.
the minority to which you refer are corporate heads and the ultra rich, who in turn control the Congress
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