The GOP's "A Pledge to America"

Looks like the GOP is playing fast and loose with our Declaration of Independence. On the very first page of “A Pledge to America,” released on Sept. 23, 2010, the GOP declares:

“Whenever the agenda of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to institute a new governing agenda and set a different course…[as] proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence…”

However, since I don’t exactly trust the GOP, I looked up the actual wording in the Declaration itself, which says:

“…whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…”

That’s quite a difference, I dare say.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are way past the point of instituting a new governing agenda and setting a different course, as the GOP is insisting. It’s time to “abolish it, and institute new Government.” And by that I mean, it’s time to establish a Zero Party system by means of creating a third party which is leaderless and without members – in modern parlance, a “virtual party.” I dub this party, the Independent Contractors’ Party. [My next post will provide more info, but for now I just want to whet your curiosity.]

More on “A Pledge to America:”

Out of the 100+ people featured in its 14 pages of photographs, there were at most 3 or 4 Negroes. And they were scarcely distinguishable, being in the background or out of focus. However, those folks who were prominently featured (that is, with large photos) were all White Folk.

Among these photos, we see mostly white faces, a full-page of a cowboy in silhouette, and:

• a rodeo
• tree-lined street in a small town or suburb
• old veterans and young troops barely out of their teens
• a few community gathering, in the spirit of town hall meetings
• hints of our small town and rural heritage

These types of photos were not featured:

• bustling, big cities
• groups of black people
• scruffy young people (only clean-cut Republican types allowed)

Conclusion:

People who embrace this Pledge are clinging hopelessly to a past which can never be resurrected: Small town America with neighbors who know each other and don’t lock their doors at night. Among them are people who would robotically recite the Pledge of Allegiance without (really) thinking about what they are saying:

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag…”

It doesn’t even occur to them: “I’m pledging my allegiance to a piece of cloth, an idol of sorts.”

To them I would say: “The time has long passed when it’s not necessary to say what you mean. Words are important – let’s start with at least that much.”

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“Instead of trying to resurrect a past, we should be creating a future. And for that, I need the help of everyone who values their word and thinks about what they say.”