By By Donald Morrison
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with their President, 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 and women 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, and that whenever any President becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people peaceably to replace him.
Prudence will dictate that Presidents should not be changed for light and transient causes. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations evinces a design to reduce a free people to absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such a leader.
The history of the current President is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute personal Tyranny. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world:
He has systematically attempted to undermine the prestige and credibility of the Congress, the Judiciary, the Military, the Press, the Scientific Community, the Federal Reserve and other mediating Institutions necessary for a free and democratic Society.
He has attempted to withdraw Health Coverage from tens of millions of his fellow citizens in order to provide tax breaks for the wealthiest among them.
He has coarsened the National Discourse and, by his own example, encouraged his supporters to engage in displays of incivility and even violence, including violent insults upon the very seat of democratic government, the Capitol. For that, and for myriad other attempts to impose his will upon a free People, he has so far escaped sanction.
He has chosen, through words and actions, to divide the people of the Nation rather than unite them.
He has undermined the laws for Naturalization of Foreigners and brought open warfare on Immigrants to a country that was in fact founded by Immigrants and, as a result of their patriotic service, has prospered for years as a Beacon of Freedom in the world.
He has appointed Cabinet ministers distinguished by their lack of qualifications and their determination to subvert the very purpose of their Agencies.
He has accepted Emoluments from self-interested parties both foreign and domestic, and he has enriched himself and his family at the public expense, to a degree heretofore unseen in these States.
He has offered praise and encouragement to murderous Dictators and undemocratic human rights Abusers around the world, many of whom have rewarded him for his patronage with personal gifts.
He has turned a blind eye to the efforts by certain hostile foreign Powers to subvert our nation鈥檚 Electoral Process on his behalf, meanwhile showing contempt for traditional Allies and Alliances that have long embodied our democratic Values.
He has belittled and insulted friendly nations, withdrawn from Treaties commercial, environmental and military, thereby diminishing the influence and reputation of our Nation as a reliable partner in international affairs.
He has, in his preference for insults, unreliable behavior and a smirking contempt for integrity and consistency in his personal affairs, as well as his conduct of the affairs of state, proven lacking in dignity for the Office of the Presidency.
We, therefore, the citizens of these United States of America, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do solemnly publish and declare that we of right deserve leadership better than this and are determined to obtain it.
For the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Proclaimed this day in the Spirit, and the great Tradition, of 4 July, 1776.