this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2026
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[–] bizarroland@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I have often argued that the Declaration of Independence is the true foundational document of the United States, and very few people have ever countered my claim.

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.

https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 3 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

For the idea and shaping of the united states yes but the USA came into being when the constitution was ratified as the framework for law and government.

[–] bizarroland@lemmy.world 3 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Yes, but former governments claimed to derive their authority from some sort of divine being, or noble birth, whereas the United States rebuked that, and said no, it is the people who give the government power.

Prior to that moment, rebelling against the government was rebellion against God or against your genetic betters.

After that moment, rebelling against the government is the people saying, "You have gone off track. It is time to put you back on track."

And in a way that is important, because since American government derives from the consent of the governed, it is vital for the people currently in power to keep the American people distracted from what is happening so that they do not align together in strong enough numbers to overthrow them.

Therefore we have continuous circuses.

The moment they stop dancing and distracting us from what is happening is the moment they lose everything.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 2 points 20 hours ago

oh im in no way arguing against its importance.