A Declaration of the People of the United States Against the Abuses of Donald J. Trump
Honoring the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
Donald Trump has made clear his intentions. He wants to establish a dictatorship in the United States. Using the military to patrol cities, ignoring the Constitution, and using his office for personal gain, it is now clear that Trump should be impeached and removed from office. Here is a new version of the Declaration of Independence, which if the founding generation were here, I’m certain they would willing sign.
When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for a people to call out the injuries and usurpations of one who has wielded power contrary to the spirit of the Republic, a decent respect to the opinions of humankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to such declaration.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all persons are created equal, endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty, truth, and the pursuit of justice. That government exists to secure these rights, deriving just powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever a leader subverts these ends, it is the right of the people to speak out, resist corruption, and restore integrity to their institutions. Prudence indeed dictates that governments and their officers should not be challenged for light or transient causes; but when a long train of abuses and betrayals evinces a design to undermine democracy itself to establish a dictatorship, it is the duty of the people to hold such a figure to account.
Such has been the conduct of Donald J. Trump. The history of his tenure is a history of repeated injuries, falsehoods, and violations of constitutional norms, all of which have as their direct objective the establishment of autocracy in place of liberty. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world:
He has spread deliberate falsehoods to deceive the public, undermining trust in elections and democratic institutions.
He has sought to obstruct justice and investigations into his own misconduct, placing himself above the law.
He has incited violence against fellow citizens, endangering the peace and security of the nation.
He has abused the powers of his office for personal gain, extorting foreign governments and enriching his own enterprises.
He has shown contempt for the free press, branding truth as an “enemy” and elevating falsehood as a sign of loyalty.
He has inflamed division based on race, religion, gender, and national origin, betraying the nation’s commitment to equality.
He has disregarded the suffering of the people during times of crisis, neglecting his duties to protect the nation's health and welfare.
He has denied science, scorned expertise, and placed lives at risk for the sake of political advantage.
He has conspired with allies and enablers to weaken the checks and balances that safeguard liberty.
He has, at last, sought to overturn the will of the voters, threatening the peaceful transfer of power that is the cornerstone of the Republic.
In every stage of these oppressions, voices of conscience have warned him; petitions have been answered only with contempt and derision. A leader whose character is thus marked is unfit to govern a free people.
We, therefore, as citizens of the United States, appealing to the judgment of history and the hopes of posterity, do solemnly publish and declare: that Donald J. Trump has betrayed the trust of the office he held; that his words and deeds are contrary to the principles of liberty; and that the people, united, must reject his tyranny, resist his abuse of power, and restore fidelity to the Constitution.
We call on Congress, a coequal branch of government, to exercise its Constitutional duty to impeach and remove such an aspiring dictator from office.
And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of democratic institutions, we pledge to one another our vigilance, our voices, and our unwavering commitment to freedom.
I’ll sign it. And the nice thing is: unlike the Founding Fathers, those who do put their signatures on a document like this one will not be committing treason. A case could be made, in fact, that REFUSAL to sign would do more damage to the Republic.
Looks like we are on the same page today. I sent out my post on "The man who would be king" today. I like your declaration of independence. We need one.