whose independence

[albed]

American liberty was a creation of the American people, who crossed the Atlantic and were determined not to have European tyranny follow them across the ocean. The Declaration announced the fact of American liberty and the news of American independence to the world. The Founders did not create America; America created the Founders.

This history is especially poignant today, where there is another big political fight over the nature of government in America. Whatever you think of legislation like bailouts, the so-called stimulus, and our new health care law, these laws were passed over the objections of a majority of the American people. We can scarcely say that our representatives today are “deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,” as the Declaration prescribes. In fact, a recent Rasmussen poll showed that only 21 percent of Americans believe that the federal government is living up to this clause.

Eric O'Keefe

It's the U.S. government that should be celebrating its independence from the people.