You are preaching to the choir with that excellently written article. Thank you for directing me to it. I would add:
From the Deceleration of Independence. “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
I understand that is not a constitutional document however it shows how far we have veered from the concepts of Liberty that birthed us.
I always want to puke on my shoes every time I hear “This Country Tis of Thee” and the phrase “this land of liberty, to thee I sing.”
Liberty is not even on the Radar in this country! Has not been for a very, very long time. So I say, quit singing the damn song!
My problem is that years ago I bought into Jefferson, Adams, Locke, Blackstone. I wish I hadn’t. I wish I had never philosophically tasted the sweet fruits. I would by far be happier if I just went along with the program. Add a double dose of Globull Warming to boot! Why the hell not? I could enjoy Low blood pressure and only just the vague and ill defined malaise associated with collective self delusion and collective shame.
So you wish you had taken the blue pill. :)
You took the red pill, became self-aware and now are miserable. If you had taken the blue pill, you would have remained a happy idiot. Bummer!