Retaking Democracy in a Declaration of Independence
Dem Rising – Story #1
Retaking Democracy in a Declaration of Independence.
Most people know that the 4th of July is a celebration of the independence of the United States of America from England. Probably very few of us have actually read or thought much about the truths that this Declaration addressed to King George III of England. Because King George was basically unhinged and needed some straightening out, we learned a lot about freedom from a man who didn’t value it.
Back then, Americans only wished for the freedoms of Democracy, like those written into the coming Constitution. They sought a better way of life than the one King George afforded them when he ruled America. So, we sought our independence from him.
Exact quote from the Declaration of Independence about King George:
“He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.”
Hypothetical: If King George lll were somehow King for a Day here in America, would he have called in the National Guard, overruling the legal wishes of California’s Governor and the Mayor of LA? This, despite the law of the land?
Would George, as King, order the Marines to LA and keep them unemployed for upwards of a month, to control essentially peaceful demonstrations? Since local law enforcement had control of the streets in the first place. The King might deploy Marines visibly in L.A. to pressure city leadership—a show of force designed to intimidate or override civil authority.
Sure, he would have. He’s the King. He’d declare himself independent and superior to the Civil members in power. This is just one way he’d overrule and overcome our Democracy. This echoes exactly what the Colonists feared: a distant ruler seizing military control from locally-elected leaders.
This kind of hypothetical shows why the Colonists broke away: unchecked centralized power, enforced by military muscle, against the will of civil, democratic leadership.
It also illustrates how the Declaration’s grievances remain deeply relevant: The Founders built our system specifically to prevent someone like King George—or any autocrat—from using military force to crush local, lawful leadership. Or detaining local leaders, restricting media coverage, or shutting down communications under emergency powers.
However, a kingdom isn’t a Democracy, and we wouldn’t ever allow an Autocrat or a king to take over America. We would retake our Democracy, because without the freedoms it affords us, America would cease to be.
Throughout this King’s power usurpation, or any autocrat’s grasp, our battle cry of protest might be something like, Dem Rising. Retake Democracy.
Today, and in the future, we’re going to delve into some of the rights afforded by our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence to determine whether or not we‘re still on course to be far, far better off today than when a King or Autocrat ruled us. Certainly we need to actively participate in our Democracy to keep it on the Rise. Let’s all make that our own personal Declaration of Independence. Stay Tuned.
Read a transcription of the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives.
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