The Bill of NO Rights (kind of funny)

Bill of Responsibilities

The following has been attributed to State Representative Mitchell Kaye
from GA.

"We, the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid any more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt free liberty to ourselves and great-great-great- grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal, bedwetters.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim that they require a Bill of No Rights:

ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone - not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc., but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to FREE food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You don't have the right to demand that our children risk their lives in foreign wars to soothe your aching conscience. We hate oppressive governments and won't lift a finger to stop you from going to fight if you'd like. However, we do not enjoy parenting the entire world and do not want to spend so much of our time battling each and every little tyrant with a military uniform and a funny hat.

ARTICLE IX: You don't have the right to a job. All of us sure want all of you to have one, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.

ARTICLE X: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to pursue happiness - which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an overabundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights."

NUFF SAID - MUCH FOOD FOR THOUGHT.....

A New Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Self-Dependence (a.k.a. Declaration of Independence)
This was written by Eric Sloane in a brilliant and easy to read and ponder little book titled, "The Spirits of 76" published by Ballantine in 1973. The author poses some very thoughtful questions and challenges us to consider the spirit behind the words of the Declaration of Independence. He believes that we have changed some of the meanings and are often missing the real spirit of the words. Food for thought! He says (the bold words are my emphasis)...

"One night, while reading about the Declaration of Independence, I dozed off wondering what it must have been like to have taken part in its writing. Suddenly I was there. With a quill pen I was writing the great words. ‘When in the course of human events.” The rest I do not recall, but I remember the title being different—Declaration of Self-Dependence.

As I think now of my dream, the title made more and more sense. The 1776 proclamation referred so much to the American revolutionists that it lacked the flavor of a personal statement. Now, two centuries later, the popula­tion and its government have become so vast and complicated that the voice of the individual is vague, weak, and less heard. Perhaps a mote pertinent, personal declaration is in order, and herewith I present my declaration for today.

When in the course of human events, the material well being of a society obscures the spiritual principles upon which that society was founded, it becomes proper to review out heritage and redeclare its reason for being. Only by such recollection can a true renaissance of the original American spirit occur.

My nation was born with a declaration of independence, but to be free, I must also practice an individual independence.

The statement of 1776 had unique worth because it was the first government manifesto to totally respect the independence of the individual. Different from other national statements of purpose, it was not a declaration of domination but one of liberation.

I hold these truths to be self-evident, that within our democracy the exact principles which rule the conscience and economy of the individual must also govern the conscience and economy of the government. I hold therefore that government waste in any form is intolerable, because just as no family can for long spend more than it earns, neither can a government do so. As frugality is part of the family economy, so must thrift be important to national revenue. The practice of thrift is insurance against greed, which had no part in the original American philosophy.

I hold that respect is the root of morality and that disrespect for oneself, for others, or for the nation is contrary to the American spirit.

I believe that self-dependence produces self-respect. Therefore, helping a man to be self-dependent is an admirable pursuit. But helping a man while taking away his initiative and independence is degrading. Permanently doing for a man what he can do for himself is contrary and destructive to the Ameri­can tradition. I believe in the dignity of labor and the pursuit of excellence. Therefore, I believe that striving for the most pay for the least amount of work is an immoral aim. It is a principle that cannot endure without eventual demoralization of the worker and decay of workmanship.

Just as you cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong, I believe that the wage earner cannot profit by destroying the wage payer. Both capital and labor have equal rights in the American system, and the independence of both is equally deserving of recognition. For either to strike against public welfare or violate the innocent is immoral and against the American tradition.

I believe that the moral strength of the nation is only as strong as the moral strength of its individuals. I therefore commit myself to the pursuit of labor, respect. independence, thrift, excellence, and peace. I hold that self-­dependence of the individual is a reflection of self-dependence of the nation. that the American heritage is not only something bestowed upon the individual but, equally, what the individual contributes to his country.

I consider “In God We Trust” a profound statement of national commitment. I believe that democracy without commitment to God is a depar­ture from the original American concept. I believe that all men are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights and that the foregoing creed renders not only independence to the nation but self-dependence for each American."