Joe, I had not read that about John Hancock’s signature. Thanks!

HeatherO, too many assumptions about what our right’s were, I’ll stick with the Bill of Rights, how about you. That covers enough for me.

When the Declaration of Independence was written, the authors and signatories knew they would be considered to have commited treason against the King, and many died because of it. Their vision for this country – a vision they shed blood for – is a far cry from what exists today. Little known is that a large British Fleet was already at anchor in New York Harbor when the Declaration was signed.

Why was John Hancock’s signature so big? He already had a 500 pound bounty on his head for treason. He signed it so big so “that his Majesty could now read his name without glasses and could now double the reward.”

It is my fervent desire that we continue to have our tea parties and town halls – come back to touch with the divination of our founding fathers – continue to have robust and healthy debate in this forum and others – be the Americans we used to be.

Navy Chief, Navy Pride

I really don’t think most well meaning people realize how socialistic this is. I also believe that many people are just jealous that someone else would have the nerve to make more money themselves, without knowing that when you take that away from a free society, you strip that system of one of the things that makes it free.

The most important thing you touched on though is God. If we don’t get back to the basics, and start doing what’s *right* no matter what the consequences are, we’ll continue to fail as a country. I really feel that both parties have missed this concept, and why is there only a two party system? I’ve heard politicians talk about how they have to vote for something just b/c if they don’t, they won’t get the right people’s vote on something they want. Sooo it doesn’t matter whether it’s right to vote for it, what matters is that we vote in a way that assures that we get what we want? I see a recipe for disaster in that.

I believe that even more important than what the politicians do, is what we do personally. If we vote for something just because it keeps our paychecks coming in, but at the end of the day it’s wrong, and we know when it’s wrong, then we continue to damage ourselves as well as our country.