How many of us are sick and tired of the School Bully? You know the one... who runs the playground on fear and gathering favour by fear. By that I mean he always ruled because we were scared of him, not because we liked him.
It obviously got me thinking about how politics is run today. We are run by the School Bullies: the unpopular bloke we all secretly hated but pretended to like.
Sometimes, a hero came onto the playground and we all thought how great he was, but were too afraid to voice our support. At least publically.
This is where we are at. We are back to our childhood nightmares where we professed to support the School Bully but secretly cheered when that brave kid came out of the woodwork and stood up against the bully. How we wished we could have been so brave. But we were not.
Yet, years ago, people did stand up against the school bully. And didn't they do it well.
So join me on my thought journey. I hope you enjoy it.
The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, by the Continental Congress, is a cornerstone of American history and a brilliant document that is revered. Crafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, with input from John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston, the Declaration was a bold assertion of the thirteen American colonies' desire for sovereignty and their intention to sever political ties with Great Britain. Its enduring relevance lies not only in its immediate impact but also in the principles it enshrines, which continue to speak volumes to us today.
What amazes me is the age of the men who wrote it. Thomas Jefferson (principal author) - Born on April 13, 1743, Jefferson was 33 years old. John Adams - Born on October 30, 1735, Adams was 40 years old. Benjamin Franklin - Born on January 17, 1706, Franklin was 70 years old. Roger Sherman - Born on April 19, 1721, Sherman was 55 years old. Robert R. Livingston - Born on November 27, 1746, Livingston was 29 years old.
These ages reflect a range of experience and perspectives, with Franklin being the eldest and one of the most seasoned statesmen, while Livingston was the youngest among the key contributors.
Which got me thinking that age is not the issue: it is the WISDOM that matters. And wisdom is what we need at this time in the world.
In fact, the " Founding Fathers " of America were:
- George Washington - Born on February 22, 1732, Washington was 44 years old.
- John Adams - Born on October 30, 1735, Adams was 40 years old.
- Thomas Jefferson - Born on April 13, 1743, Jefferson was 33 years old.
- Benjamin Franklin - Born on January 17, 1706, Franklin was 70 years old.
- James Madison - Born on March 16, 1751, Madison was 25 years old.
- Alexander Hamilton - Born on January 11, 1755 (or 1757, as some records indicate), Hamilton was around 21 or 19 years old.
- John Jay - Born on December 23, 1745, Jay was 30 years old.
These ages highlight the contributions to the American Revolution and the founding of the United States, with figures like Franklin providing senior leadership and younger individuals like Madison and Hamilton bringing fresh perspectives.
It struck me, when I learned this, that it took a group of LIKE MINDED people who shared a common goal to come up with one of the greatest pieces of writing ever recorded, outside of certain Bible passages. And some speeches by Martin Luther King and Sir Winston Churchill.
What astonished me was that it is so relevant today.
The Declaration of Independence emerged from a time of escalating tensions between the colonies and the British Crown. In today's speak, between the government and the governed.
Years of grievances over taxation without representation, military oppression, and various legislative injustices had fueled a revolutionary spirit among the colonists. The document records some of the most famous words in history:
" that all men are created equal and are endowed with unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It asserts that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed and that the people have the right to alter or abolish any form of government that becomes destructive of these ends. "
How many of us today feel that OUR governments have let us down and wish that we, too, could write a letter and tell the buggers that we have had a gutful? To tell them to go away and let us start again and get back to basics?
The Declaration meticulously lists the colonies' grievances against King George III, cataloging a series of abuses that justified the decision to seek independence. It is both a statement of principles and a formal declaration of war, marking the birth of a new nation committed to the ideals of liberty and self-governance.
Of course, the one thing the colonists had in their favour was that they still had the right to own weapons. Primitive by today's standards, but effective, nonetheless.
I was interested to see this on my travels through meme Land.
Yet here I was, thinking about it and wondering how it would sit today, in Australia. Our supply lines are contingent on China. We have no factories. We have no money and our food supplies are decreasing daily. We have outsiders supporting our government.....
Is this more accurate today?
I have a feeling that a second Eureka moment may be on the horizon and I wonder if Canberra is ready for it? Let's face it, if the people west of the Great Divide decide to change tack, Australia's ship would head into dangerous waters and find reefs and rocks that have lain below the surface for many years.
But back to the Declaration of Independence...
When they wrote their " letter " , they could back it up with the ability to fight back. How many nations and people around the world today surrendered their guns and now find themselves unable to defend themselves in their own homes, let alone against an unfriendly and uncaring government?
As we are increasingly governed By and not For, one cannot help but wonder how a disgruntled populace can fight back? Of course, the obvious answer is we have that opportunity at the ballot box. Yet, why is it that the ballot box seems so ineffective in righting the wrongs these days?
We have come to a situation where a third of the population in any given country is able to prevail over the other 2/3rds. And it seems to matter not what voting system is in place, we have this strange phenomenon whereby the third win.
When I read that a third of the population of America still stand by Biden, it makes me realise that no matter what, a third of the population are morons, will always be morons and will continue to rule the world because we have it so wrong.
Britain is about to fall to a majority landslide to Labour by virtue of a split vote between Tories and Reform. The third will prevail.
I wonder if the Coalition of minor parties must finally be on the table. Where we vote not for who we want but who we DO NOT want?
Imagine: we all hate the school bully. 30% of the school will vote for him because he is giving them treats at the tuck shop. Exam questions before the exam. He has the teachers in his pockets. the rest of us hate this. I want Marylou but someone else wants Bushy or PP. Or Redhead. We are so busy voting for our favourites that the School Bully wins in a landslide at the school leader election.
That is what is happening. In fact, I wonder if the school bully is setting it up.
Like it or not, we are stuck in a 2 person/party race. The third candidate always loses.
Can our parties unite and form friendships for the good of the school? To get the school bully out of power?
The Founding Fathers in America was a group of men united with common ideals and a common cause: to bring down the school bully. Across the classrooms and ages.
Can you imagine what could be achieved if, instead of fighting each other, they united to fight the common enemy?
Now that would be something to behold.
Is it time to UNITE and Fight against the 30%?
New parties, new names.... the bottom line is do you want to get rid of the bastard's who are ruining our lives? If so, let's do what these men said hundreds of years ago.
"Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, 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."
Otherwise, the school bullies will just keep taking over.
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