Independence Day 2006!

This famous painting of the Signing of the Declaration by Trumbull can be found at the Declaration of Independence website. It's an excellent site! One you'll want to visit on this holiday.

Be sure to read What July 4 Means to Me by Ben Franklin, yes, that Ben Franklin. In the piece he says:

America will, with God’s blessing, become a great and happy country. This country affords a good climate, fine wholesome air, plenty of provisions, good laws, just and cheap government, with all the civil and religious liberties that reasonable men can wish for. A virtuous and laborious people may be cheaply governed.

I have sometimes almost wished it had been my destiny to have been born two or three centuries hence, for inventions of improvement are prolific, and beget more of their kind. The present progress is rapid. Many of great importance, now unthought of, will before that period be procured.

What was very much understood by our founding dads and what we seem to have forgotten is this:

Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.

I wonder what he would think of our nation on this July 4th.

I thought I'd link Vox Day's piece, from last year titled, "What independence?" It gives one pause. Do you think we're better off a year later or not? Vox Day makes some strong points.

Check out the Squiggler. She has some good 4th of July links and here's a comprehensive link to government sites. Might as well see where some of those tax dollars are being spent!