The country and the government are two separate things — confusing them to be the same is a collectivist fallacy.  What is the government?  The Constitution is NOT the government but the rules for the government.  What if the government does not follow the rules and oppresses the people?  I do not hate the Constitution because the government is corrupt, I hate the corruption!  The hypocrisy of the current US government in comparison to its founding charters of government is immense — to ignore it is to further it.  SO yes, I can hate the government and love the country!

When the politically correct term 'African-Americans' was pushed, I thought it kind of strange since all the black friends I had felt no connection to Africa in any way — but all were proud to be from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and yes, even Westchester.  I do not consider myself a European-American.  Somehow an African-American is not quite a whole American.  Even more intriguing is that almost no blacks want to move 'back' to Africa, those countries being among the most poor and war torn in the world.  SO what is the real intention of all this?  Division.  Identity politics.  Class warfare.

"Those are evident Branches of, rather than Deductions from, the Duty of Self-Preservation, commonly called the first Law of Nature."

Right on!  The nation was built upon these principles.  To alter them is to remove the foundation.  There are still too many people who wish to rule the world — ignoring this simple fact people can become apathetic and lazy in their 'Duty of Self-Preservation.'  The mistake is delegating personal responsibility to the community/state, and that only happens when someone tries to become the authority to which all must obey.  Why is there a Duty of Self-Preservation?  Because we live in a dog-eat-dog world, and that will NEVER change.  Every animal is responsible for protecting itself, and most are ever wary for predators.  The denial of predators in the human world is an ignorance one cannot afford.

Antiquated sentiment?  Because it is old?  It is the very foundation of community association in which the rights of the people are respected.  Trust in authoritarianism is the 'pitch' of those that wish to rule the people, for their own good.  It doesn't work, it just centralizes wealth and power — it's true intent.

Calm is the Zen of Action.  ;-)  Cats gotta scratch and dogs gotta dog, what do humans gotta do?

John, which of those oaths are you referring to?  Cursing in the ranks wasn't one of them.  Are you saying that during your service, you were required to violate any of the above under orders?

Holgar, You are describing the results of the Civil War, not the American Revolution.  And as a result, the same grievances that sparked American independence are held now against a rogue and illegitimate government that has used every trick in the lawyers' book to reinvent the meanings of words to suit their power grabs. 

How has world socialism made such strides in the last 100 years?  When the Western world agreed to turn government debt into currency, replacing real capital as the backing, the ultimate power was transferred to the money-making authority.  All the nations of the world (via the UN) were roped into this con — it is the racket of rulers.  With this system of money, all are perpetually in debt.  Banks are the shadow government, determining who shall get the power.  Nothing is built without 'credit' — whoever has the power to create billions with the click of a mouse has the power to buy up the world.  They succeeded, and the Monopoly game continues, we are but pawns, and in the end, it all goes back in the box.  If/When a global currency backed by real-commodities becomes popular, nations can rebuild with fair trade.  Economic servitude is how socialism/fascism/communism (i.e. dictatorship) keeps its power.  Return that power to the people!

The spark of Liberty has been spread around the world.  The battle continues.  We must remind those other failing nations that the solution is not to immigrate to America but embrace a republican form of government in their own country that recognizes the inherent rights of the people as supreme. Meanwhile at home, every effort is being made to reduce us to socialist progressive authoritarianism in denial of each person's life, liberty, and property.  The American Revolution continues!

Damage control.  Sycophants agree.  We see the same thing today every time some nation tries to exercise their sovereignty against the will of a council that lays claim to regulate them.

Brilliant! Here's the thing, ultimately, the rest of the civilized world must come to the same conclusions and embrace Liberty above 'authority.'  America is supposed to export the concepts of Liberty, not import the concepts of totalitarianism.

It seems clear to me that the 'occupying statist theocracy' is demanding tribute from the People for their 'security.'  That is war — will we ever fight?  

Seems to be an eternal truth.  Perhaps the people are ready for another renaissance?

Classic!!  This is the very basis of the founding of America.  When the rest of the political world starts to embrace this fundamental truth, then you will see a real 'transformation.'

Absolutely!  It is a great con that we are duty-bound to contribute a third to a half of our property every year to the government.  In the only country where land can be owned outright without any liens and encumbrances, the process has long been buried in order to obligate everyone to 'pay their fair share' of property and income taxes every year — essentially renting their own property forever.  The US has re-adopted most of the British system of property taxation.  Read the fine print, you don't own anything, but merely are liable for your property.  It's the State's property, you are the designated caretaker and 'beneficiary', must raise revenue to pay the Crown for the 'title' — if you don't, the Crown takes it back — after all, it is the property of the Crown, you only have title to it.  Americans are not taught about their real rights and obligations to the free American republic.  But people are awakening, and educating themselves -— which has always been our responsibility.  I don't put myself in a school where I am taught to be an obedient worker, but learn how to be self-sufficient and live an honorable life.  To do that, I have to ask my own questions and discern the possibilities.  A good teacher is hard to find. ;-)

The blame is not just reserved for the Governors who usurp power, but rests mostly with the People who demand from their Governors actions they have no Constitutional power to do.  Most are elected on promises they are not authorized to make or keep.  This is the fatal tendency of a limitless democracy — people voting for the fruits of their neighbors, simple mob rule.  'Governing' is a racket, and while America may not have a king, now all want to live like kings — on the backs of the governed.   Only it doesn't work out that way...

Beautiful!  I like:

Nor can Mortals assume a Prerogative not only too high for Men but for Angels, and therefore reserv’d for the Exercise of the Deity alone.

The regulations are designed to funnel wealth to themselves and keep the producers in debt.  Dependency is encouraged in order to promote the police welfare/warfare state.

Pretty much.  America was one of the only nations in the world that recognized private ownership of land by the common man, but the process has been hijacked by a fiat money system.  The Queen of England owns all the land of the British Commonwealth countries in the world — she is the largest land holder in the world.  To live on the land, one must submit to being taxed on the fruits of the land and labor.  Servitude is still the number one racket in the world.

Ah yes, the Art of Folly.  ;-)  Yes, intent is integral — what are we laboring for?  We are in a constant process of growing, and our wants grow with us.  Do we ever wise up?  None-the-less, honest, diligent labor is honorable work, even if the laborer is narrow-sighted and even foolish.  The intent is as important as the labor, but intent without diligent labor is irresponsible and furthers delusion.

I like it.  The world works because of the sum total of everyone's labor — the 'government' does not produce at all, it merely attempts to control, usually to fix the game in their favor.  Trying to control masses of humanity is the goal of totalitarians — as soon as that is accomplished, most 'good fortune' is stopped and funneled to the top of the pyramid.

Labor is the exercise of Life.  That inherent power is a gift, prized above all -— it is the source of 'value' and 'worth' in the material world.  All value is determined by the effort and the labor required.  But what is the Life of a man/woman worth?  Is the apple in the tree worth the effort to harvest it?  Unless the fruit drops from the tree into my hands, labor will be required.  Systems have been put in place to attempt to 'cheat' these natural laws, but all they have done is put a lien upon the labors of the People perpetually, indebted forever.  The command of labor is the goal of all would-be rulers.

Yes! Love it.

I heartily agree!

I agree. The 'classic' liberals were 'libertarian' in nature; today's liberals are 'statist' in nature.  The word 'equality' has different contexts to both.  What does today's liberal mean by 'equality?'  For the most part the Statist is a ruler that dictates what can and can't be done with the threat of force always present.  The classical liberal is not to be commanded — he commands himself and takes responsibility for it.  The classic liberals formed republican forms of government at all levels — county, state, and nation to protect the equal rights of all, not to engineer society, picking winners and losers, 'leveling the playing field' to junior varsity league.  The two mindsets couldn't be more different.