It is our 236th observance of adopting a declaration severing ties to Great Britain and the rule of King George III on July 4, 1776. The announcement to the world was rewarded with seven more years of war to secure the aspirations alluded to in the document.

Freedom has always come with a duty and heavy cost in blood and treasury. It can never be taken for granted, as Ronald Reagan once said; “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream.”

Ironically, now in 2012 we are faced with almost the same problems as our founding fathers were 236 years ago. The only difference is the enemy.

Individualism and personal responsibility has been replaced with government dependency. Freedom from excessive taxation has just this week been ruled by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional and government has a right to tax its citizens for whatever purpose government deems prudent. Government intrusion into moral, ethical, family and religious matters are being perpetrated on the citizenry without impunity. I wonder whatever happened to we the people in Lincoln‘s phrase of, “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” It appears now a definitive disconnect between government and we the people.

The people’s last vestige of hope used to be the Supreme Court to control an overreaching government and interpret the Constitution as to its original intent. The Supreme Court has become so partisan and stuck on themselves, almost every decision coming out is 5 to 4 with we the people suffering the consequences of a court we can no longer have any confidence in whatsoever. The Judiciary has become a vehicle for the legislative and executive branch to further disenfranchise we the people. Where did Chief Justice John Roberts get the authority to change the legislation on the Affordable Healthcare Act from a penalty provision against the people to a tax? This type of activism is played out everyday in federal courts around the country.

We the people need to let our voices be heard this November and elect representatives who are dedicated to upholding the Constitution of the United States. We should vote for candidates who pledge to impeach those in government who violated their oath of office and trample on we the people’s rights as citizens. We the people fought for freedom, not oppression from the federal government. Oppression in any form is detrimental to the pursuit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Those are our God given rights for which no man or government has a right to deny.