Remembering the Original Fourth of July

The Wall Street Journal carried an interesting article by Thomas Fleming where he drew from his book "What Life Was Really Like in 1776".  Mr. Fleming notes that in addition to the soaring idealism of the Declaration of Independence and the grim pledge to defy the world's most powerful nation

Those Americans, it turns out, had the highest per capita income in the civilized world of their time.  They also paid the lowest taxes--and they were determined to keep it that way.

Something to keep in mind in November as we are again assaulted by the socialistic taxing impulse.  Mr. Fleming goes on to note

By 1776, the Atlantic Ocean had become what one historian has call "an information superhighway" across which poured books, magazines, newspapers and copies of debates in Parliment.  The latter were read by John Adamns, George Washington, Robert Morris and other politically minded men.  They concluded that the British were planning to tax the Americans into the kind of humiliation that Great Britain had inflicted on Ireland.

Let's keep this independent attitude in mind as we try to avoid doing to ourselves that which Britain wished to inflict on us.  Regardless of what some of our current leaders say, the country was not founded on having the government "spread it around" as some sort of pseudo-patriotic duty and the reaction from the citizens was swift against anyone who tried--foreign or domestic.  Happy Fourth! 

Comments

[Anne]

Let's respect each other, and keep personal political opinions off the Voice blog.
Happy 4th to all!

[JROC]

A healthy exchange of ideas is imperative for a strong democracy. I don't agree with everything our editor posted but today of all days, we should celebrate the fact that we can all express ourselves openly about our political views. The absence of debate allows for the polarizing voices of AM radio to go unchallenged.

The reality of 1776 has little to do with today's society. The information superhighway that took months to cross the pond, now moves at lightning speed. We are inextricably connected to the rest of the world and what happens in Athens has real impact on our lives. This new reality makes comparisons to that long-gone era of rural gentlemen a bit awkward.

We must never forget the basic principles of those idealists but we must look forward for solutions. We can't forget that women were not involved and many of these gentlemen owned slaves. I admire their courage and vision but would not look at their reality as a model. Much has changed in 236 years.

[Anne]

Eloquently stated, JROC. Thank you.

[Joe]

@Anne -- if you are looking for a blog with no "personal opinions" being expressed, you are in the wrong place and I suggest you go blog elsewhere.

@JROC -- it's interesting that you assert that "We can't forget that women were not involved" because I did not choose to retype the middle of the Fleming article that described how much women were involved in those days. He writes of Eliza Lucas who experimented with indigo plantings in S. Carolina that she drove to be one of the major export crops of the day for the whole region. Then he notes Lydia Darragh who ran her undertaking business for a decade before the Revolutionary War while being one of George Washington's most valuable spies.

There were many more woman participating as equals--we just suffer from a modern view that is inaccurate about how things were back then which is why these historians can educate us!

[JROC]

Women played a very important role but were not allowed to vote and were not involved in drafting or signing the Declatation of Independence....or does that really say Joanne Hancock?

[JF]

Great 4th of July posting!
If an opinion expressed does not comport to someone else's idealogical view, it's deemed inappropriate, or worse, hate speech. Let's end the political correctness that prevents us all from speaking freely and unassailed.

[hillsider]

Amen, brother. The funny thing is even Anne's posting about keeping personal opinions off is...wait for it....a personal opinion. I think she just had a bit too much July 4th barbeque sauce.

[Anne]

Not at all-just a proud Democrat.

[Not My Party]

Proud Democrats stifle free speech? Proud Democrats refuse to engage?
That's not my father's Democratic party.