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Every year we celebrate "The 4th of July" across most of the United States. Many of us celebrate more than the date. We celebrate the Declaration of Independence. But, I wonder how many of us really reflect on what this day means to more than 300 million people...and the millions more who also aspire to the promise of America?

Talking to a Texas transplant the other day started me thinking along these lines. He was saying how much he "loved" the 4th of July because he could kick back, eat lots of hot dogs, watch the fireworks, drink cold beer...and relax. He also looked forward to that extra day he would have away from the job on Monday. When asked if he ever thought about the Declaration of Independence and patriotism, his reply was..."What is more patriotic than hot dogs and fireworks?"

Far too many people in today's mad, mad world have that attitude. The "Me-More Generation" seems to be an ever-expanding national malady. Few people seem to have learned anything from their classes in governance. Even more have failed to read the most famous sentence in the English langue -- "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."

If we really understood the birth of our nation, perhaps we wouldn't be so eager to accept the government excesses of today. It might be a good exercise for each of us to revisit and read the provisions of The Stamp Act, The Townshend Acts and the Coercive Acts.

These established law in the colonies that made life unbearable for the citizenry of our land. The end result was revolution.

The Stamp Act was a law that required a government inspection and seal or stamp on every document in the colonies, as a method of placing more money into the treasury of King George III. It required the seals of Great Britain be placed on every paper, pamphlet, poster, document and flyer as a means of control and expanded revenue.

One could argue the pending Cap and Trade or Energy Bill has provisions much like the Stamp Act. Everyone planning to sell his or her home or construct a new building will be required to have a government seal. An inspector will check the insulation, size and strength of light bulbs, the energy efficiency of refrigeration, washers, dryers, air conditioning, thermal windows etc. If everything doesn't meet the coercive government standards and pass inspection, you will have no official seal to build or sell. Isn't this much like passing government inspection for your next published document and obtaining a seal under the Stamp Act?

What were the Townshend Acts? They were a series of laws taxing paint, paper, lead, tea and just about any product the colonies imported from England. They were so far reaching in non-representative taxation that they were the driving force behind the Boston Tea Party.

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