The following from Politics Alabama
I know, this title is a bit provocative, but from a Constitutional perspective it might just be true.
When we broke away from England way back when, we announced our intentions via the Declaration of Independence. Let's look at a short excerpt from that document.
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. That to secure these rights, 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.
Clearly, the Founders viewed the purpose of the government to secure and protect the rights of its citizens. But notice that one phrase, "deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." I highlight this, because our current government does not enjoy the consent of US citizens. It's not even close. In fact, only 23% of US citizens believe our government operates with our consent.
Most voters nationwide continue to feel disconnected from their government and overwhelmingly believe that Congress puts party politics ahead of its constituents' concerns.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that only 23% believe the federal government today has the consent of the governed. Sixty percent (60%) do not think this is the case, while another 17% are undecided.
Did you catch that? A full 60% think our government is operating without our consent, while only 23% believe otherwise.
Let's return to the declaration, shall we?
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
Personally, I think we're far past the point when we should have taken action "to alter or to abolish" our government, as most elected officials govern for their own benefit and view ordinary citizens with disdain.
What do YOU think?
The exact wording of the question on the poll is as follows:
What do YOU think?
The exact wording of the question on the poll is as follows:
The Declaration of Independence says that governments derive their authority from the consent of the governed. Does the federal government today have the consent of the governed?
How would YOU answer it?
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