Patriots and Traitors

The date was July 4th, 1776 when the Continental Congress approved and signed a document that not only asserted our rights as a people, but also made traitors of every signatory. At the time, all colonists were subjects of the King of England. As such, it was treasonous to rise up against the power of England. Each of the 56 delegates who affixed their signature to the bottom of this declaration where not only making the first formal statement by any nation to claim their inalienable rights, they were signing their death warrant. 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

In addition to declaring our rights under God they also clearly stated their belief that governments are formed to secure these rights at the consent of the people. Then continued with laying out what amounted to a 28-count indictment of the King of England. Surely, they all knew the King would consider this document treasonous and that each of them risked everything in openly supporting such a document. In signing, they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

“For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

Who were these heroes, these patriots, these traitors willing to risk their life and those of their families to support such a revolutionary concept of self-rule? They were well-educated community leaders; established lawyers and judges, trusted state officials elected to numerous positions, successful merchants, publishers, writers, inventors, large landowners and aristocrats, soldiers and diplomats. Each one a man of position, power and wealth. Each member of this delegation had much to gain from the status quo, yet each one still chose to risk everything for this noble cause called liberty. 

Though many of the signatories survived the war and helped to form our young nation, there were others who lost everything.  Five of the 56 signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons while they served in the revolutionary army. Nine fought and succumbed to their wounds or hardships suffered during the revolutionary war. It is clear we have much to be thankful for the courage, humility and vision of these early American heroes.

This month as we contemplate the beginning of our great experiment and the sacrifices made by our founders, it is hard not to compare the leaders of the past to our current elected officials. Where are the true leaders who are willing to sacrifice for others, and put honor and integrity above politics and special interest? Today our leaders appear to put party policy over the best interests of the US. Regardless of party affiliation, they spend their time positioning talking points, blocking ideas of the other party, and outright lying to voters as they stuff their pockets from special interests. They borrow from the future leaving our children with billions in debt; promising their constituents anything to win their vote, knowing in their hearts fiscally it can never be done, but selling it nonetheless. 

Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence would be the first person to condemn the modern politician. Below are a few of his quotes that speak directly to our currently dysfunctional system. I doubt you will find any current member of Congress or the Senate that have the same sentiments. If so, where is their voice?     

“I predict future happiness for Americans, if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”

“The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale.”

“Tyranny is defined as that which is legal for the government but illegal for the citizenry.”

“No people can be both ignorant and free.”

― Thomas Jefferson

It seems the only thing Congress and the Senate can ever agree on is passing laws that increase their salary, or provide for additional opportunities at wealth. Do they have the same health plan as their constituents? NO. Can they do insider trading? YES. Where are the heroes of today? People of integrity and purpose, willing to buck the system to make things better for everyone. Things have to change and working within the current system is not working. You can love your country but still desire change. It is our duty as Americans to demand more from our delegates and interject change into the status quo. Look for leaders with new ideas that push against the norm and possibly threaten their own position. Let us have an open discussion about term limits, electoral college, campaign reform, and gerrymandering (to mention a few).

Today, more than ever, we need to demand more from our elected officials who continue to dismiss the legacy of our fore fathers to feed their own excesses and slowly steal away our freedoms. As we approach the next election cycle ask yourself, where is the hero of today?