Radio shows

by Michael Peroutka, Institute on the Constitution

A careful reading of the Declaration of Independence reveals it to be a document of complaint.

Indeed, almost three quarters of this world-famous document of freedom is devoted to the listing of 27 complaints against King George, III and against the British Parliament. (Anyone who reads this list of grievances cannot help but be startled by the fact that these complaints, leveled against the King and Parliament two hundred and thirty-five years ago, are strikingly similar to the offenses of our federal government today.)

However, by far the most important section of the documents is NOT the list of complaints.

Please consider: A list of 27 complaints against the King means absolutely nothing if the King is the supreme lawgiver. Indeed, if the King’s word is the law, then wouldn’t a list of one thousand and twenty-seven complaints be just as meaningless?

This is why the founders of America began the Declaration with three sentences brilliantly setting forth the presuppositions of The American View of law and government and providing the rationale for resistance to the tyranny of the King.

These presuppositions provide the basis for the protection of individual liberty. They declare that the king is NOT the Supreme Lawgiver. They declare that there is a Source of Authority above the King and to which the King must also answer. If we abandon this necessary pretext, liberty cannot be maintained in principle or in practice.

It comes down to this:
1 - God exists.
2 – He is the Creator of all there is, including our right to life, liberty, and property.
3 – The sole purpose of civil government is to protect these God-given rights.

This is The American View. It is our heritage. It is our blessing. We have an obligation to study, maintain, and secure it for our posterity.