When in the Course of human events . . . .

In honor of the Fourth of July, I commend to my readers the Declaration of Independence. Yes, its fine language about equality must count as rank hypocrisy, written and consented to, as it was, by slaveholders, but one can nonetheless see clearly in the broad language and the specific grievances the skeletal charter of a quite attractive liberal democratic regime. Indeed, some of the grievances against George III are eerily relevant to our own time and our own regime headed by a man named George. To wit:
. . . He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
. . . For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
. . . For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments . . . .
Happy Independence Day (to readers in/from the U.S.).