Happy Independence Day to my fellow Amerikanskis. Please observe the day by breaking petty laws, frustrating bureaucrats, and being otherwise ungovernable. Sic semper tyrannis and all that.
That was very serious and dramatic. Here is something with more joy.
Adams:.…never…
RICHARD HENRY LEE!: HELLO, JOHNNY!
Adams: .…Richard…
Benjamin Franklin: Johnny and I need some advice.
RICHARD HENRY LEE!: If it’s mine to give, it’s yours, you know that!
Benjamin Franklin: As you know, the cause we support has come to a complete standstill. Now, why’s that?
RICHARD HENRY LEE!: Simple! Johnny’s obnoxious and disliked!
Benjamin: Franklin That’s true. Now, what’s the solution, I wonder.
RICHARD HENRY LEE!: Easy! Get someone else in Congress to propose!
Benjamin Franklin: Oh, Richard, that’s brilliant, Wasn’t that brilliant, John?
Adams: ….brilliant.
Benjamin Franklin: Yes. Now, the question remains — who can it be? Now, at the present time, only Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Delaware have declared —
Richard Henry Lee: And Virginia! Don’t forget Virginia, Benjy!
Benjamin Franklin: Oh, how could I? But — strictly speaking — while Virginia’s views are well known, your legislature has never formally authorized its delegation here in Congress to support the cause. Now, if we could think of a Virginian with enough influence to go down there and persua —
RICHARD HENRY LEE!: Damn me if I haven’t thought of someone.
Ben, Adams: ..who.
RICHARD HENRY LEE!: ME!
Benjamin Franklin: Oh, why didn’t I think of that. 🙂
RICHARD HENRY LEE!: Gentlemen, a salute! To VIRGINIA! THE MOTHER OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE!
Adams: Incredible. We’re free and he hasn’t even left yet. What makes you so sure you can do it?
RICHARD HENRY LEE!: HAH! My name is Richard Henry Lee!, Virginia is my home! My name is Richard Henry Lee!, Virginia is my home! And may my horses turn to glue if I can’t delivery up to you, a resolution for Independency! For I am F.F.V, the first family in the sovereign colony of VIRGINIA!! Yes, the F.F.V, the oldest family ,in the oldest colony, in America! And may the British burn my land if I can’t deliver to your hand a resolution on INDEPENDENCY!!!!”
Adams: Spoken modest-Lee, God help us.
Franklin: Oh, He will.
RICHARD HENRY LEE! They say that God in heaven is everybody’s God — I’ll admit that God in heaven is everybody’s God — but I tell ya, John, with pride, that God leans a little to the side of the LEES! THE LEES OF OLD VIRGINIA!!!!!!!!
And now, for some earnest rebellion.
Without encountering agents of his state or government
But a sorry cloud of tyranny has fallen across the land
Brought on by the hollow men who did not understand
That for centuries our forefathers have fought and often died
To keep themselves unto themselves, to fight the rising tide
That if in the smallest battles we surrender to the State
We enter in a darkness whence we never shall escape
When they raise their hands up our lives to possess
To know our souls, to drag us down, we’ll resist
Watt Tyler led the people in 1381
To meet the king at Smithfield to issue this demand
That Winchester’s should be the only law across the land
The law of old King Alfred’s time of free and honest men
‘Cause the people then they understood what we have since forgot
That the government will only work for their own benefit
And I’d rather stand up naked against the elements alone
Than give the hollow men the right to enter in my home
When they raise their hands up our lives to possess
To know our souls, to drag us down, we’ll resist
Stand up, sons of liberty, and fight for what you own!
Stand up, sons of liberty, and fight, fight for your homes!
Stand up, sons of liberty, and fight for what you own!
Stand up, sons of liberty, and fight, fight for your homes!”
Reading Freely 
Happy 4th…. and good luck with the Freedom bit! I think you’re going to need it…
Now that SCOTUS has dealt the unsupervised administrative state a body blow (they now have to answer to the judicial branch), things are looking…mildly..up. Of course, the state will continue metastasizing until it self-implodes, but it’s nice to have an occasional pushback. What did you make of the…erm, debate, if you saw it over there? I watched it for ten minutes and had to turn it off.
Oh, I didn’t watch the debate. I never do – even the ones over here. It’s just hot air & performative theatre.
You think things are ‘up’ because SCOTUS said that the Pres *is* immune from prosecution for a lot of what he does??? Isn’t that a *bad* thing….? [looks confused]. Surely everyone – no matter who they are – should be held accountable for their actions?
I’m talking about the Chevron decision — which makes the burgeoning administrative state — all these ‘executive agencies’ that are their own judge, jury, and executioners — accountable to the court system again.
That one must have passed me by! I only really catch US news via the BBC or YouTube. I can’t remember seeing anything regarding Chevron…
Here’s an article on it, but admittedly it’s chiefly of interest to Americans:
https://reason.com/2024/07/02/the-supreme-court-didnt-destroy-the-regulatory-state-it-stood-up-for-due-process/