Refelections on the Declaration of Independence

The Pursuit of Happiness, Not the Entitlement to Happiness

As I have been reflecting on the past 4th of July weekend and all of the events, including tea parties, parades, picnics, fireworks, and good time spent with families, I began to wonder. Is the Declaration of Independence out of date? Have we reached a place where we no longer understand what our founding fathers were talking about? I ask because there appears to be a serious disconnect between how our government should function and how it actually functions.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

“We hold these truths to be self-evident...” What do we today hold to be self-evident? Our President says we are no longer a Christian nation, what are our unalienable rights? Life? I guess that depends on your definition of “life.” Liberty? Do we really understand what Liberty (yes, with a capital L) is, how it functions, feels like or do we know it when we see it?

We have the unalienable right to pursue happiness not the entitlement to happiness. We have the right to pursue wealth, love, success, faith, and, yes, even an alternative lifestyle (if you so choose). We are not guaranteed a right to any of those things. Our founding fathers would tell us to stop being spoiled, arrogant, presumptuous and ill-prepared to pursue the very things we are striving to achieve. We do, I believe, have a Right to expect our government to maintain a state that will bestow liberties on the citizenry, create and foster a positive economic environment for commerce and, ultimately, to preserve and protect the Union.

I wish to point out some of the grievances set forth in The Declaration of Independence that have relevance today.

"He has made Judges dependent on his Will-alone, for the tenure of their offices-"

The Democrats want judges’ dependant on their will and socialist dogma. Not the will of the people or even the founding fathers, not to interpret the Constitution, but to include International law (such as it is) to be the ultimate determinants of judicial appointments. International law that does not have “certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness “as a foundation or basis for justification of the law.


"He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance. "

“The erection of a multitude of offices and sent hither swarms of officers,” like locusts, is devouring the substance of our labors at an alarming rate. I would even argue that Alexander Hamilton, a strong federalist, would cringe at the largesse of our government and be at the front of the debate against the expansion into the obesity we are lumbering toward. Communism/socialism failed for two reasons: First, it did not understand the nature of man and made poor assumptions as to the needs of man. Second, the sheer size and magnitude of the government could no longer be supported by the people. Like a nuclear bomb, this type of government imploded and collapsed on itself, causing the resulting explosion to destroy lives, businesses and bring real poverty and anarchy. Is this what Obama meant by “Hope and Change”?


"He has refused to Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good "

'For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most
Valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our governments"

The severe altering of our basic form of government away from capitalism is precisely the concern of our founding fathers in the Declaration. Make no mistake, our way of government is changing and the goal of the Democrats is to go farther down this road. We are not on a slippery slope but an avalanche toward socialism. Far away from what the signers of the Declaration envisioned.

Clearly, President Obama fancies himself more of a tyrant King than the President of the free United States. He is not alone; the court jester team of Reid and Pelosi fancy themselves as prince and princess of the Obama court.

I want my country back and I need your help!

Icet announces endorsements for State Auditor Bid

House Budget Leader, Allen Icet, announces endorsements of his campaign for State Auditor

Missouri House of Representatives Endorsements:
Rep. Brian Munzlinger (R-1)
Rep. Casey Guernsey (R-3)
Rep. Mike Thompson (R-4)
Rep. Jim Guest (R-5)
Rep. Mike Lair (R-7)
Rep. Doug Funderbunk (R-12)
Rep. Charles Gatschenberger (R-13)
Rep. Joe Smith (R-14)
Rep. Sally Faith (R-15)
Rep. Mark Parkinson (R-16)
Rep. Anne Zerr (R-18)
Rep. Jeanie Riddle (R-20)
Rep. Steve Hobbs (R-21)
Rep. Therese Sander (R-22)
Rep. Rob Schaaf (R-28)
Rep. Jerry Nolte (R-33)
Rep. Tim Flook (R-34)
Rep. Bob Nance (R-36)
Rep. Ryan Silvey (R-38)
Rep. Jeff Grisamore (R-47)
Rep. Gary Dusenberg (R-54)
Rep. Bryan Pratt (R-55)
Rep. Dennis Wood (R-62)
Rep. David Sater (R-68)
Rep. Cole McNary (R-86)
Rep. John Diehl (R-87)
Rep. Andrew Koenig (R-88)
Rep. Tim Jones (R-89)
Rep. Sue Allen (R-92)
Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst (R-93)
Rep. Rick Stream (R-94)
Rep. Michael Leara (R-94)
Rep. Walt Bivins (R-97)
Rep. Brian Nieves (R-98)
Rep. Steve Tilley (R-106)
Rep. Scott Dieckhaus (R-109)
Rep. Charles Schlottach (R-111)
Rep. Tom Loehner (R-112)
Rep. Mark Bruns (R-113)
Rep. Bill Deeken (R-114)
Rep. Rodney Schad (R-115)
Rep. Tom Self (R-116)
Rep. Kenny Jones (R-117)
Rep. Stanley Cox (R-118)
Rep. Larry Wilson (R-119)
Rep. Scott Largent (R-120)
Rep. Mike McGhee (R-122)
Rep. Chris Molendorp (R-123)
Rep. Barney Fisher (R-125)
Rep. Ed Emery (R-126)
Rep. Tom Flanigan (R-127)
Rep. Bryan Stevenson (R-128)
Rep. Ron Richard (R-129)
Rep. Kevin Wilson (R-130)
Rep. Marilyn Ruestman (R-131)
Rep. Don Ruzicka (R-132)
Rep. Mike Parson (R-133)
Rep. James Viebrock (R-134)
Rep. Charlie Denison (R-135)
Rep. Eric Burlison (R-136)
Rep. Shane Schoeller (R-139)
Rep. Bob Dixon (R-140)
Rep. Jay Wasson (R-141)
Rep. Raymond Weter (R-142)
Rep. Maynard Wallace (R-143)
Rep. Tony Dugger (R-144)
Rep. Mike Cunningham (R-145)
Rep. Darrell Pollock (R-146)
Rep. Don Wells (R-147)
Rep. David Day (R-148)
Rep. Dan Brown (R-149)
Rep. Jason Smith (R-150)
Rep. Ward Franz (R-151)
Rep. Mike Dethrow (R-153)
Rep. Gayle Kingery (R-154)
Rep. Wayne Cooper (R-155)
Rep. Shelley Keeney (R-156)
Rep. Clint Tracy (R-158)
Rep. Billy Pat Wright (R-159)
Rep. Ellen Brandom (R-160)

Missouri Senate Endorsements:
Sen. Jim Lembke (R-4)
Sen. Jason Crowell (R-26)
Sen. Luann Ridgeway (R-17)
Sen. John Griesheimer (R-26)