IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
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. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That 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, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
A Note To Readers
Happy Independence Day yesterday, a day we celebrate that marks the beginning of America’ greatest triumph– independence from that most terrible of all world empires, the British.
Rather than me rambling on, I suggest that all sit down and read out loud to family and friends the full Declaration of Independence. That will cause at least some to reflect upon those universal principles stated there so eloquently.
In This Week’s Report
Under the title, “U.S. Drought Monitor and Related Developments,” you will find, in addition to the U.S. Drought Monitor, that the drought has come back and the remaining snowpack is fast disappearing. And then an item providing some background on the measuring of precipitation and a forecast for the remainder of the year.
“Why We Must Always Think About Water 50 Years Ahead” highlights the warnings that the Colorado River and Lake Mead are nearing a break-point where rationing will be imposed on all five states that take water from those sources. Then comes an article of land subsidence in California’s Central Valley and the shrinking aquifers.
This week’s report on the Oroville Dam is an article that is quite extensive on the status of construction and contains many very excellent photos.
Under the title, “Wildfire!,” you will find both a forecast for the coming months that is very alarming, and reports on the already devastating fires now burning.
Next, we have, once again, an ideological fool proposing “water markets” for dealing with California’s water problems. These so-called experts really do not give a damn for anyone or anything but their God— money. Well I have a little fun with this one.
Finally, an article warning of a new and bigger than 2008 crisis proceeds our Feature for the week. That feature is links to the first two parts of an eight-part series on the fundamental principles of Lyndon LaRouche’s economic thinking.
