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Happy Independence Day

July 4, 2016
E-Newsletters

Thomas Jefferson is arguably the most important person in American history.

He helped shape some of our nation's most influential documents, executed one of the biggest land deals ever in North America, and forged relationships with foreign allies when the success and stability of our country was far from guaranteed.

But of all his accomplishments, perhaps his most consequential came when he put down these 55 words in the Declaration Independence.

"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."

On this, the anniversary of our Independence, Jefferson's words ring as true today as they did 240 years ago. The guiding principle of the representative Democracy that blossomed into the most prosperous nation the world has ever known is that our government derives its powers from those it governs.

To this day, we still hold onto the belief that all men are created equal. Regardless of our occupation, wealth, background or origin, we are all equal, and the decisions of those in government can never change that.

But from Thomas Jefferson to Ronald Reagan, the greatest political minds in our country have held onto the belief that nothing is guaranteed, that we are promised nothing if the people do not stand up and force its government to uphold that principle.

In his address to the 1964 Republican National Convention, Ronald Reagan famously reminded us that "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction."

On this July 4th, we must remember the role we all have to play in preserving our freedoms. Otherwise, as President Reagan said, "One day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."

Sincerely,

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Signature of Congressman Sam Graves

Sam Graves