How relevant is the Declaration of Independence today?

In eight months, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. We will have multiple meetings, I imagine, that deal with issues surrounding those times and these times.

Why start with the Declaration? Courageous and eloquent as it was, it was merely a statement of first principles, a list of grievances against the king, and... well, a declaration of independence from him and his realm. The Declaration of Independence is not and never has been binding in any legal sense - unlike the Constitution, which was written 11 years later and is a completely different kind of document designed to serve a completely different purpose. Nor is the Declaration "incorporated" in any way into the Constitution or a formal part of our governing system.

Yet, the Declaration of Independence has always had a special place in the hearts of Americans. Especially its stirring preamble, which said -

"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..."

These words began the Age of Democracy with a stirring statement of some revolutionary ideas. These include that

• Men/people have inborn, inherent universal rights.
• The purpose of govt is to secure these rights, based on the consent of the governed. Govt is bottom up, not privileges endowed to a few by the whim of a monarch.
• When govt is bad enough, the people have a "right to revolution" to reform it or overthrow it and make a new one that will better protect their interests and rights.

We're all supposed to know that. What many people do not know is that the Declaration has long been a political touchstone for other reasons. Political conservatives have for decades/centuries insisted it is "incorporated" into our Constitution. This is by their own admission because mainly because the Declaration - unlike the Constitution - mentions God as the creator of our rights and alludes to them being natural rights. Natural rights are a big deal to U.S. conservatives, for reasons I and the TBA readings will explain.

Since the Trump Presidency, the script has flipped. Progressives and liberals have started to notice the Declaration more and more. In particular they note how eerily similar are many of its long list of grievances against King George III to what Trump and Project 2025 are doing to the country. Read the Declaration's grievances and maybe you will see it.

At any rate, on 12/22 Civilized Conversation will devote our weekly roundtable discussion to the Declaration of Independence. A pre-mtg discussion question to mull: What do you think a NEW declaration of Independence-type document would look like if written today? No one today, IMO, should take seriously any notions of armed revolt or secession or anything violent or illegal. Still, what are the gravest grievances against Trump or modern U.S. government in general such a document might list, and should anything be added/altered to the opening prose of the Declaration to modernize or expand it?

Optional Backgrounders –

· Full text of Declaration. Note its 3 parts: (1) Preamble, (2) 27 grievances that justify (3) resolution of independence. Read it.
· Wiki entry - More history, influences, and its use in civil rights and other freedom movements.
· One long-forgotten line from the Declaration is urgent to remember. Recommended.

Trump/MAGA:

• Conservative legal blog lists FIVE grievances Trump is violating.
  - A liberal lists ELEVEN. Recommended.
  - Excerpt from NYT op-ed on same.
  · Lincoln’s “2nd American revolution” advanced All Are Equal revolution. Opinion: MAGAs don’t want to live in Lincoln’s America. Recommended NYT, if you can.
  · Before Trumpism: Conservatives emphasized Declaration mainly because it asserted divine origins of our rights.

Atlantic Monthly 11/25 whole issue: Our Unfinished Revolution (free trial or subscription req., but they’re so good!)

• What the Founders would say now. Key points on Ryan’s pursuit of happiness comments. Recommended.
• America needs a mass movement – now. By conservative David Brooks. Why are we so passive?