The Declaration of Independence: guidelines for recognizing a tyrant

W
e spend a lot of time here at This Book is Banned talking about reading deeply. And that begins with reading works in their entirety – rather than the common educational practice of reading abridged versions or a handful of selections from a given work.[1]

Reading texts completely is especially important when it comes to sources pertaining to historical events that have shaped our country. Having knowledge about the historic moment that produced a given work or document is equally critical. And, The Declaration of Independence is a more-relevant-than-ever example of why it's downright consequential to do so.

When we're familiar with the entire Declaration in the historical context it emerged from, we realize that it's more than simply a documentation of past events. We see that it also contains guidelines for what we should be on the alert for if we want to continue living in a democratic society.

We all learned about The Declaration of Independence in school. And, what's the first thing that comes to mind about this consequential document? "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," right?

What else were we taught? That it was written to notify King George of the colonies' intention to sever political ties with England.

Why were we fed up with being under England's thumb? — "taxation without representation."

And who was The Declaration's intended audience? King George, of course.

While these take-aways are technically accurate, this abbreviated understanding of The Declaration limits its future significance to that of an aspirational document suggesting what our country should strive to be.

That's clearly important. But reading the entire Declaration of Independence (especially in the context of the historical moment that produced it) gives us a more complete understanding of what this document was meant to be, what it was intended to accomplish. And this understanding is immensely relevant to our current political moment.

A fundamental misconception defining the typical understanding of The Declaration of Independence is that it was intended for King George's eyes alone. But that wasn't exactly the case.

After being at war with Britain for more than a year, the Continental Congress voted to declare independence on July 2, 1776. And, The Declaration of Independence (dated two days later to allow for the ratification of its text) serves as the formal explanation for that vote – to the colonists the Congress represented, as well as King George.

The founding fathers immediately disseminated about 200 copies of The Declaration (known as the Dunlop Broadsides after the printer who set The Declaration in type and printed them).

As a result, The Declaration of Independence was published in newspapers, delivered via horseback and ship, read aloud to troops in the Continental Army, and spread by word of mouth. And, one copy was sent to King George, reaching him several months later. [2]

Though The Declaration of Independence opens with the aspirational language we know so well, it's largely a list of grievances. This catalog of 27 injustices was designed to mount a cast iron indictment of King George, proving he was a tyrant.

It was circulated around the colonies, in an effort to motivate colonists to stand up to this tyrant and rally around the idea of establishing a new nation. And during the time it took for King George's copy to make its way across the Atlantic, The Declaration did just that.

A revolutionary war and two hundred & forty-nine years later, a surprising number of these grievances apply to Donald Trump. Take a look at how he compares to Mad King George.

But before we even get to the specific grievances listed within The Declaration of Independence…   it's clear that Trump's actions fly in the face of the fundamental principle upon which this document, and therefore America itself, is founded.

As noted above, it's the first thing, that comes to mind when we think about The Declaration, the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."[3]

The importance of familiarizing ourselves with the historical and culture context that works emerge from is something we talk about often. It's particularly important here, and it has to do with what is meant by "Happiness."

In the eighteenth century when The Declaration was written, this term conveyed the concept of human flourishing rather than the shallow "you do you" idea of happiness we have today.  More importantly, it was understood not only as a private right, but as a public duty to ensure that all members of society are able to thrive.[4]

One of Donald Trump's first actions upon his return to the White House was to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Diversity, equity and inclusion is a conceptual framework that promotes full participation and fair treatment of all people. This includes populations that have historically been underrepresented, or have been the subject of discrimination due to their background, identity, disability, etc.[5]

Such programs are clearly a practical fulfillment of the "pursuit of Happiness" that the signers of The Declaration set forth as one of our unalienable Rights. But Trump decried DEI programs as "woke," and wielded the power of the Oval Office to squash them.

And he didn't stop at programs within the federal government. Trump also threatened to withhold billions of dollars in grants and federal funding from universities across the nation unless they come to heel.[6]

Taking matters even further, references to women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community have been scrubbed from government agency websites.

Doing so erases acknowledgement of the contributions these groups have made to our country. But more importantly, it disregards the fact that they are citizens with as much right to the flourishing The Declaration considers just that… a Right, as anyone else in the United States of America.[7]

It's important to realize that the concept of being "woke" has been hijacked. Over the past several years, "woke" has been distorted, perverted and re-branded as a sarcastic, pejorative term used to disparage initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

But, where did the idea of being "woke" originally come from, and what does it really mean?  As professor of Literacy Studies Elaine Richardson tells us, being "woke" comes out of the experience of Black people.

It emerged from knowing you have to be conscious of the politics of race, gender, class, and systemic racism – the ways in which society is stratified and not equal. You know, societal issues that thwart the human flourishing The Declaration of Independence deems an unalienable Right.

Being "woke" has a long history, first used in Black protest songs during the early 20^th century (like Lead Belly's Scottsboro Boys). And simply put, it means being politically conscious and aware.[8]  

No wonder someone who tramples fundamental rights established in The Declaration has twisted being woke into something you don't want to be. An uninformed and unengaged public makes it easier for him to stay in power and advance his tyrannical regime.

The Declaration of Independence contains 27 grievances against King George III. We'll go grievance by grievance in this indictment of "Mad" King George and call out how many of these injustices also apply to Donald Trump. Grab a cool drink, find a comfortable chair and settle in, it's going to be a long ride.

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1) He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

Assent is to express acceptance, as of a proposal – or in this case, a law. Trump consistently exhibits disregard for existing laws.

For example, DOGE's (Department of Government Efficiency) plundering of citizen's personal information by private-sector employees violates a number of laws governing privacy and data.[9]

Trump threatened the Governor of Maine, stating he would withhold federal funds from her state if it did not ban transgender girls from participating in women's sports. As Governor Janet Mills pointed out, this would mean violating existing state law.[10]

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2) He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He wasn't event in office yet, when during the 2024 campaign Trump strong-armed Republican members of congress into rejecting a bi-partisan immigration bill, while he used immigration as a campaign issue. The thwarted deal would have addressed structural change necessary to our decades-old immigration system.[11]

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3) He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

Trump threatened to deny disaster relief to California unless it abandoned its legislative independence and changed its water policies to suit him. 

He also threatened to cut off federal funding to New York City if Democrat Zohran Mamdani were to win the city's mayoral race and enact policies or laws Trump opposes.[12]

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4) He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

Part of DOGE's plan to slash spending and shrink the government's workforce is to "boost attrition by depressing morale." They're accomplishing that by relocating agencies and making civil servants' commutes so long, and the buildings "so crappy that people will leave."[13]

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5) He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

Though Trump hasn't made active moves to dissolve any local governments, his threat to New York City about cutting off federal funding if Zohran Mamdani wins and enacts policies or laws he doesn't like comes pretty darn close.

Not to mention Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem's statement that the purpose of sending Marines and National Guard troops to Los Angeles was to "liberate this city" from its duly elected mayor and governor.[14]

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6) He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

This grievance builds upon the previous one. Sometimes royal governors would suspend the legislature in an effort to force them into compliance, since no internal governing could be carried out while the legislature was suspended.[15]

So far, so good on this one. Trump hasn't tried to cancel elections – yet.

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7) He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

Donald Trump has definitely obstructed the laws for naturalization. Immigrants across the country have been arrested by masked ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents while attending routine immigration check-ins.[16]

Immigrants who have already received a letter of approval for green cards have been detained at their interviews and taken to detention centers.[17] These were all people who were lawfully in the immigration system. And ICE arrested them at their citizenship appointments. These arrests are a direct obstruction of this nation's established immigration system and naturalization process.

And then there's his executive order upending the birthright citizenship explicitly enshrined in The Constitution.

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8) He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

Special counsel Robert Mueller produced a 187-page volume delineating Trump's efforts to obstruct justice during the Russia investigation.[18]

When Attorney General Sessions carried out his legal duty to recuse himself from the Russia investigation, Trump demanded his resignation for failure to contain the investigation before ultimately dismissing it. To say nothing of dictating a false account for a key witness in the investigation.[19]

Trump's "Hidden Documents Case" is another example. It's the case about him unlawfully retaining documents after leaving the White House following his first term. Not only did Trump have 30 of the 64 boxes hidden from his own lawyer. With full knowledge, he allowed his lawyers to submit a false certification to the FBI and grand jury stating that "any and all responsive documents" had been found and returned to federal officials, when they hadn't been.[20]

There are more instances of Trump obstructing the laws he is sworn to uphold, but this is enough to fulfill the parallel to "tyrant" King George.

The second part of this grievance is continued in the next one. So, we'll address it there as well.

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9) He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan followed the letter of the law, and refused to let ICE agents arrest a defendant appearing in her courtroom. Now, Trump has fired 17 immigration judges from ten different states.

Not only that, Judge Dugan has herself been arrested.[21]

And, it's clear that those who serve Trump's will are more likely be nominated to the federal bench. Case in point… Emil Bove's nomination to the lifetime seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Granted, any president is more likely to nominate someone to the federal bench whose views align with their won. It's the personal relationship between Trump and Bove that makes this nomination something different. Bove was Trump's defense attorney, most significantly for the election obstruction case. You know, the one about the January 6^th assault on the U.S. Capitol.

And, though this grievance has to do with judges, consider the fact that under Trump's hiring process, new questions have been added to federal job vacancy announcements at GS5 or higher, queries that constitute a loyalty test. [22]

Candidates for top U.S. national security and law enforcement positions are specifically being asked, for example, whether the 2020 election was stolen. Applicants whose answer was not a resounding "yes" were passed over for the position.[23]

Just as a reminder…  oaths for all of these government positions are to "defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic," not have loyalty to a President or his policies.

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10) He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

Trump's implementation of DOGE clearly fits this description. And, their plundering of citizens' personal information by private-sector employees is nothing short of eating out our substance.

Then there's the fact that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has been turbo-charged if you will, in other words, militarized. Agents are now masked and wear tactical gear as they roll up in unmarked SUVs, literally snatching people off the streets and disappearing them.[24]

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11) He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

Trump sent Marines and National Guard troops into Los Angeles – when there was no insurrection or war – without the consent of the legislature, and over the objection of the Governor.[25]

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12) He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

Trump hasn't removed the military from civilian and congressional oversight… yet. But he's spoken openly about invoking The Insurrection Act since his campaign.

This 1792 law was written at a time when there was little if any local law enforcement. It would give him power to use the military for domestic policing –with him at the helm, rather than law enforcement being answerable to oversight boards established by the localities they serve.[26]

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13) He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving
his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation.

On February 15, 2025 Trump posted on Truth Social that "He who saves his Country does not violate any Law." This post makes it pretty clear that he's putting his authority above that or the Constitution. And White House staff joined with him by sharing the statement from its official X account. [27]

Trump has deported people to a mega-prison in El Salvador, then claimed they were under the jurisdiction of El Salvador when pressured to effectuate their return.

As noted above, many of these deportees were within the immigration system and arrested at routine court check-ins. (One of the deportees, however, was eventually returned after consistent public pressure to do so.)[28]

These folks are not only being sent to El Salvador. Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, South Sudan, Eswatini, Uzbekistan have all received deportation flights.[29]

That's a lot of jurisdictions foreign to our own constitution.

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14) For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us.

Here's another one where we can say "so far, so good."

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15) For protecting them [aforementioned armed troops], by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States.

Thankfully, we aren't at the point where trials for the murder of American citizens by armed troops have become necessary. But statements like the one Trump made during his first term put us frighteningly close.

During his first term, when protests over the death of George Floyd escalated, Trump posted a Tweet that closed with "when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!"[30]

Within hours of returning to the White House for his second term, Trump pardoned, commuted the prison sentences, or vowed to dismiss the cases of the more than 1,500 people charged with crimes in the U.S. Capitol riot that occurred on January 6, 2021.[31]

Approximately 140 members of law enforcement were assaulted on that day. This figure includes 80 from the U.S. Capitol Police, and 60 from the D.C. Metropolitan Police officers. There was one death – that of Brian Sicknick – who died the following day as a result of the chemical substance he was sprayed with during the assault.[32]

Granted, this is not an "apples to apples" example, as the saying goes. But, it's definitely an analogous situation.

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16) For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world.

Trump has proposed heavy-handed global tariffs, sending letters to over 27 world leaders informing them of the tariff rates he plans to impose on their countries' goods. In many cases this would bring trade to a halt, including with some of our largest trading partners.[33]

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17) For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent.

Tariffs are a tax. They're a tax on imports. These taxes are paid by importers, in this case American companies who use or sell these imported goods. And here's the thing… these companies almost universally pass their higher costs on to their customers. So yeah, tariffs are ultimately a tax on the American people.

Under the Constitution, it's Congress who has "the power to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations" – that is, impose tariffs.[34] And if that were the case here, our consent would have been given via our duly-elected members of Congress.

But, that isn't the case. Congress didn't vote to for these tariffs. Trump issued them unilaterally. All while trying to gaslight us into believing that we won't ultimately be paying these import taxes.

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18) For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury.

Trump has been rushing people onto planes headed to third party prisons without due process. And there are a couple of previously noted problems with this turn of events. One of which is the fact that many of these individuals were detained when appearing for routine immigration appointments.[35]

So far, people in these circumstances have been immigrants. But the constitution doesn't limit due process to citizens. The sixth amendment states "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial…  "[36]

However, as a result of this disregard for due process, American citizens are also being scooped up in ICE raids. You heard that right… American citizens.[37]

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19) For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended off.

As noted in a related grievance, Trump has transported people to other countries without due process. And they don't receive trials – not even for trumped–up, pretend offenses. Deportees sent to El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison are but one example.[38]

Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, South Sudan, Eswatini, Uzbekistan have all received deportation flights.[39]

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20) For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and

enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies.

This grievance was a reference to the Quebec Act of 1774, which extended Quebec's border southward into territory claimed by American colonies. It also established an appointed council rather than an elected body to govern Quebec. This tactic freaked out colonists, because they saw it as a prelude to King George imposing the same form of government on the colonies.[40]

Trump has made a similar move regarding Canada. He has stated that he doesn't recognize the US–Canada border, and has threatened to use "economic force" to annex and abolish the free system of laws in our neighboring country.[41]

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21) For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments.

Trump severely watered down the Americans with Disabilities Act, to say nothing of his attempts to nullify the Affordable Care Act.[42] He's decimated the Civil Rights Act that's been in place since 1964, and undercut the Voting Rights Act.[43]

Trump also gutted the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act that have protected public health and the environment for decades.[44]

He has undermined the independence of the Justice Department, as well as attacked the courts.[45] And, Trump has threatened and bullied one political party to the point that the legislative branch has effectively been neutered.

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22) For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

Trump has not suspended Congress – at least not yet. He hasn't needed to… see above.

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23) He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

Trump has abdicated his responsibility to protect the American people by denying disaster relief in several states. These states include: Oregon (Severe Storms, Flooding), Tennessee (Severe Storms), Hawaii (Severe Storms and Flooding), Kentucky (Severe Winter Storm), Washington (Severe Storms, Flooding),
California (Wildfires).[46]

When it comes to "declaring us out of his Protection," it's especially important to note that Trump refused to give California aid following a wildfire until one of his told him how many people there voted for him.[47]

Regarding waging war, as mentioned above Trump's Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem threatened to use federal troops to take over the city of Los Angeles. To say nothing of ICE agents terrorizing communities across the nation.

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24) He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

This may not be what Thomas Jefferson had in mind, but the modern version of this grievance would be Trump's repeals of climate change laws and regulations. These reversals will lead to rising seas, erosion of our coasts, not to mention more wildfires. All of which will clearly threaten the lives of American people.[48]

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25) He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

So far so good on this one. However…  Trump has indicated that he "wouldn't be opposed" to the idea of using private military forces for his mass-deportation crusade.[49]

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26) He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

Trump is all clear on this one.

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27) He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

Journalist David Corn has a point, the second part of this grievance sounds like something Trump might post on social media.[50]

But the first part…  that's something Trump actually did – on January 6, 2021. And, them he pardoned the insurrectionists.

In one form or another, Donald Trump has committed 22 of the 27 grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence, injustices that defined King George as a tyrant.

What was it Benjamin Franklin said when Elizabeth Willing Powel inquired about the new government the Founding Fathers had created?

A republic, if you can keep it.[51]

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Given the number of tyrant-defining injustices Trump has committed, we're definitely at an "if you can keep it" moment. But if you don't understand the Declaration's entire purpose, you may not realize it.

And then there's Trump's threats to terminate the Constitution. As Fox News journalist Howard Kurtz noted:

Trump didn't fudge or imply; he explicitly said, 'termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.'

This is not a leak from a meeting or liberals saying the ex-president has no respect for the Constitution. These are Trump's own words."[52]

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Moments like these are why it's important to understand texts in their entirety. And, why being "woke" in its original, unadulterated sense of the term (which is to say politically conscious and aware) is crucial.

Because if you're not, it's easy to be fooled by the divisive rhetoric that's designed to keep us distracted and fighting each other rather than working together to keep our democracy strong, and tyrants at bay.

When it comes to America's "if we can keep it" moments, more than a cursory understanding of world history is also essential. Because world history is more than who won which battles, and what new weapons were introduced in which wars.

For example, those who were aware that Mussolini's pet slogan was "make Italy great again" understood that Trump's "make America great again" is a direct lift.[53] And they could see the red flags a mile away. But most of us were taught history in the victories and weapons method mentioned above… so an awful lot of us missed those warning signs.

Being knowledgeable about Hitler's use of language like "vermin" to describe a particular group of people would have given more of us pause when we heard Trump use it in the same fashion – even those concerned about our immigration system.[54] Because we would remember the horror and the atrocities that resulted from such language. And, from sentiments like immigrants "poisoning the blood of our country" – not all that long ago, either. [55]

But way too many of us have only been taught the zero sum, shoot 'em up version of history, so that dangerous language failed to ring alarm bells.

And if more Americans knew that Hitler took control of Germany's cultural institutions and turned them into propaganda centers, Trump's take-over of the Kennedy Center and edict to purge the Smithsonian Institute of what he deems "improper ideology" would be met with more than silence. Not to mention the fact that references to Trump's two impeachments were removed from an exhibit on impeachment at the Smithsonian – he's literally erasing history.[56]

More importantly, a nuanced understanding of world history enables us to see through the slight-of-hand tactics being used to fool us, gin up hatred, and keep us pitted against each other. And ultimately, disrupt the community of common interest necessary for us to "keep" the democratic republic our Founding Fathers created.

As indicated by the number of tyrant-defining grievances Trump fulfills, as well as the language and branding-related red flags mentioned above, we're clearly in an "if you can keep it" moment. But, what can we do about it?

The last thing we want to do is succumb to the devices intended to overload our nervous systems with chaos, and desensitize us to the point of inaction.[57] As Margaret Atwood put it in The Handmaid's Tale, "don't let the bastards grind you down." [58] Because complacency has proven to be the greatest danger for the survival of government by the people.[59]

The most patriotic thing we can do right now, as Senator Tammy Duckworth recently pointed out, is to speak our minds, exercise our First Amendment rights, and call out the tyranny for what it is.[60]

Bruce Springsteen has been doing just that during his recent European tour, launching it with a statement that addresses our current political moment:

The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock 'n' roll in dangerous times.

In my home, the America I love, the America I've written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration.[61]

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We can't all be Bruce Springsteen, but we can heed his reminder about what the Founding Fathers intended us to be. Which is…

The last check on power, after the checks and balances of government have failed, are the people, you and me. It's in the union of people around a common set of values. Now that's all that stands between democracy and authoritarianism.[62]

This photo of The Liberty Bell is a perfect metaphor for Springsteen's reminder of what we can be, and how to proceed in this political moment. Because this image is comprised of 25,000 people standing together to form a fundamental symbol of American democracy.[63] And, so must we stand united — around the unalienable rights and values that allow all people within our borders to thrive and flourish.

The chair George Washington sat in while presiding over the 1787 Constitutional Convention has come to be known as The Rising Sun Armchair. The name refers to a sentiment expressed by Benjamin Franklin at the close of the constitutional convention, which was written into the federal record by James Madison:

I have said he, often and often in the course of the Session, and the vicissitudes of my hopes and fears as to its issue, looked at that behind the President without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting: But now at length I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting Sun.[64]

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Let's do everything we can to ensure that our current "if we can keep it" moment doesn't turn it into a setting Sun. The first of which is to remain hopeful. As James Baldwin pointed out:

There may not be as much humanity in the world as one would like to see. But there is some. There's more than one would think.[65]

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Then, we must stand together, stay engaged, and continue to strive toward living up to the aspirational language immortalized in The Declaration of Independence.

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Pair this with:
Leaves of Grass: A celebration of American democracy,
and What does democracy look like?

#Fascist Buster                 #The American Experience

Endnotes:

[1] Horowitz, Rose. "The Elite College Students Who Can't Read Books." The Atlantic, October 1, 2024. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/11/the-elite-college-students-who-cant-read-books/679945/

[2] "The Declaration of Independence: How did it happen?" National Archive. https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration/how-did-it-happen

[3] The Declaration of Independence.

[4] Conklin, Carli N. "The Origins of the Pursuit of Happiness." Washington University Jurisprudence Review. Volume 7, Issue 2, 2015.
Available at: https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/law_jurisprudence/vol7/iss2/6

[5] Schneid, Rebecca. "What is DEI and What Challenges Does It Face Amid Trump's Executive Orders?" Time.com  https://time.com/7210039/what-is-dei-trump-executive-order-companies-diversity-efforts/

DEI: Dictionary.com  https://www.dictionary.com/browse/dei

[6] Hutchinson, Bill. "Trump's war on 'woke': Both sides say the issue is further dividing the country." ABCnews.com   https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-war-woke-sides-issue-dividing-country/story?id=121125797

[7] Huo JIngnan, Quil Lawrence. "Here are all the ways people are disappearing from government websites." NPR.org. March 19, 2025. https://www.npr.org/2025/03/19/nx-s1-5317567/federal-websites-lgbtq-diversity-erased

[8] Montanaro, Domenico. "What does the 'woke' really mean, and where does it come from?" NPR.org. July 19, 2023. https://www.npr.org/2023/07/19/1188543449/what-does-the-word-woke-really-mean-and-where-does-it-come-from

[9] David Corn and Tim Murphy. "Here are the Declaration of Independence's Grievances Against King George III. Many Apply to Trump." Mother Jones, July 3, 2025.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/07/declaration-of-independences-grievances-against-king-george-iii-many-apply-to-trump/

[10] Michelle L. Price and Patrick Whittle. "Trump threatens to withhold  federal funding from Maine after governor vows state will 'follow the law' on transgender athletes." Fortune.com  February 21, 2025. https://fortune.com/2025/02/21/trump-threatens-to-withhold-federal-funding-from-maine-governor-law-transgender-athletes-state/

[11] Sahil Kapur and Frank Thorp V. "Republicans kill border bill in a sign of Trump's strength and McConnell's waning influence." NBCnews.com  Feb 27, 2024. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republicans-kill-border-bill-sign-trumps-strength-mcconnells-waning-in-rcna137477

[12] David Corn and Tim Murphy. "Here are the Declaration of Independence's Grievances Against King George III. Many apply to Trump." Mother Jones.com  https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/07/declaration-of-independences-grievances-against-king-george-iii-many-apply-to-trump/

[13] Ma, Jason. "DOGE looks to shrink the federal workforce by making buildings and commutes 'so crappy' that employes will quit, report says."  Fortune.com February 9, 2025. https://fortune.com/2025/02/09/doge-elon-musk-federal-workforce-cuts-gsa-buildings-commutes-rto-mandate/

[14] Kristi Noem: We are staying in L.A. to 'Liberate the city from  the socialist and the burdensome leadership' of Mayor Bass and Gov. Newsom." Grabienews  Jun 12, 2025. https://news.grabien.com/story/kristi-noem-we-are-staying-in-la-to-liberate-the-city-from-the-sociali

[15] Ranger Val and Ranger Bill. "The Declaration of Independence: What Were They Thinking?" National Park Service. June 30, 2021. https://www.nps.gov/fost/blogs/the-declaration-of-independence-what-were-they-thinking.htm

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[18] Rahn, Will. "10 times Trump may have obstructed justice, according to Mueller." CBSnews.com July 23, 2019.

[19] Berke, Barry H. "Presidential obstruction of justice: The case of Donald J. Trump. 2^nd edition."  Brookings.edu  August 22, 2018.  https://www.brookings.edu/articles/presidential-obstruction-of-justice-the-case-of-donald-j-trump-2nd-edition/

[20] Hansen, Claire. "Classified Documents and Obstruction of Justice: Inside the 37 Felony Counts Against Trump." U.S.News.com   June 9, 2023. https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2023-06-09/trump-indicted-on-37-felony-counts-over-retention-of-classified-documents-obstruction

[21] Sobieski, Mitchell A. "Ice's Fake Warrant: Why Judge Hannah Dugan's arrest is a political stunt for Trump's autocratic agenda." Milwaukee Independent. April 26, 2025. https://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/articles/ices-fake-warrant-judge-hannah-dugans-arrest-political-stunt-trumps-autocratic-agenda/

Santana, Rebecca. "Trump administration fires 17 immigration court judges across ten states, union says." Apnews.com  July 15, 2025. https://apnews.com/article/immigration-court-judges-trump-ice-229830c0779857164a832793c2a8f3e4

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[26] Fields, Gary. "Trump hints at expanded role for the military within the US. A legacy law gives him few guardrails." APnews.com  November 26, 2023.  https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-insurrection-act-2024-election-03858b6291e4721991b5a18c2dfb3c36

[27] Rascouet-Paz, Anna.   "Trump repeats alleged Napoleon quote: "he who saves his Country does not violate any Law.'" Snopes.com  February 17, 2025. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-quotes-napoleon/

Hutzler, Alexandra. "Trump stokes alarm about vie of presidential power with apparent Napoleon reference." February 17, 2025.ABCnews.com  https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-stokes-alarm-view-presidential-power-apparent-napoleon/story?id=118898574

[28] David Corn and Tim Murphy. "Here are the Declaration of Independence's Grievances Against King George III. Many apply to Trump." Mother Jones.com  https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/07/declaration-of-independences-grievances-against-king-george-iii-many-apply-to-trump/

[29] Roy, Diana. "Here's Where Trump's Deportations Are Sending Migrants." Council on Foreign Relations July 1, 2025. https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/heres-where-trumps-deportations-are-sending-migrants

Gooding, Dan. "Map Shows Third Countries Where Migrants Are Being Deported." Newsweek.com  July 16, 2025. https://www.newsweek.com/trump-administration-third-country-removals-immigrants-map-2099910

[30] Wilson, Christopher. "Twitter flags Trump tweet on Minneapolis protests for 'glorifying violence'." Yahoo!news. May 29, 2020. https://www.yahoo.com/news/twitter-flags-trump-tweet-glorifiying-violence-minneapolis-looting-shooting-114334538.html

[31] Alanna Durkin Richer and Michael Kunzelman. "Trump grants sweeping pardon of Jan. 6 defendants, including rioters who violently attacked police." APnews.com January 21, 2025.  https://apnews.com/article/capitol-jan-6-pardons-trump-justice-department-8ce8b2a8f8cb602d5eaf85ac7b969606

[32] Claire Hymes, Robert Legare, Eleanor Watson. "A year after January 6 Capitol riot, hundreds face charges but questions remain." January 5, 2022. CBSnews.com   https://www.cbsnews.com/news/january-6-capitol-riot-year-later-hundreds-face-charges-questions-remain/

[33] Kurzleben, Danielle. "Here's a list of Trump's tariff letters so far and the rates they threaten." NPR.org. July 15, 2025. https://www.npr.org/2025/07/12/nx-s1-5463818/trump-tariff-rate-letters

David Corn and Tim Murphy. "Here are the Declaration of Independence's Grievances Against King George III. Many apply to Trump." Mother Jones.com  https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/07/declaration-of-independences-grievances-against-king-george-iii-many-apply-to-trump/

[34] "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription." National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript

[35] Iorfida, Chris.  "Where in the world is the U.S. trying to deport 3^rd-country migrants?" CBCnews. May 14, 2025. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-deportations-country-agreements-1.7530868

Reichlin-Melnick, Aaron. "these Men Were Deported to El Salvador With No Due Process. Their Stories Show Why an Investigation Is Necessary." American Immigration Council. April 3, 2025. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/men-deported-el-salvador-stories-investigation/

[36] "The United States Constitution." National Constitution Center. https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/full-text

[37] Danner, Chas. "All the U.S. Citizens Who've Been Caught Up in Trump's Immigration Crackdown." Intelligencer. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/tracking-us-citizens-children-detained-deported-ice-trump-updates.html

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Suzanne Gamboa and Nicole Acevedo. "Trump immigration raids snag U.S. citizens, including Native Americans, raising racial profiling fears." NBCnews.com January 28, 2025. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/trump-immigration-raids-citizens-profiling-accusations-native-american-rcna189203

[38] David Corn and Tim Murphy. "Here are the Declaration of Independence's Grievances Against King George III. Many Apply to Trump." Mother Jones, July 3, 2025.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/07/declaration-of-independences-grievances-against-king-george-iii-many-apply-to-trump/

[39] Roy, Diana. "Here's Where Trump's Deportations Are Sending Migrants." Council on Foreign Relations July 1, 2025. https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/heres-where-trumps-deportations-are-sending-migrants

Gooding, Dan. "Map Shows Third Countries Where Migrants Are Being Deported." Newsweek.com  July 16, 2025. https://www.newsweek.com/trump-administration-third-country-removals-immigrants-map-2099910

[40] David Corn and Tim Murphy. "Here are the Declaration of Independence's Grievances Against King George III. Many Apply to Trump." Mother Jones, July 3, 2025.
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[41] Sutherland, Callum. "Does Trump Still Plan to Annex Canada and Make It the 51^st State? Here's What to Know." Time.com June 29, 2025. https://time.com/7297490/trump-plan-to-annex-canada-51st-state-mark-carney/

Vialko, Daryna. "Trump wants to renegotiate US-Canada border agreement-NYT. MSN.com https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/trump-wants-to-renegotiate-us-canada-border-agreement-nyt/ar-AA1AtdeQ

[42] Hunter, Kenya. "The Trump administration withdrew 11 pieces of ADA guidance. How will it affect compliance?" APnews.com April 8, 2025. https://apnews.com/article/ada-guidance-disabilities-trump-ed2214921ac719b72b81d76c03e330c4

[43] Silverstein, Thomas. "Trump Just Issued an Executive Order Aimed at Decimating the Civil Rights Act of 1964." Slate.com may 4, 2025. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/05/trump-executive-order-civil-rights-act-lbj.html

Hasen, Richard L. "Two Supreme Court Justices Invited an All-Out Assault on the Voting Rights Act. Now It's Here." Slate.com May 14, 2025. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/05/supreme-court-justices-neil-gorsuch-clarence-thomas-voting-rights.html

[44] Fitzgerald, Erin. "Trump Halts Clean Air Laws For Most of the Country." Earthjustice.com. July 18, 2025. https://earthjustice.org/press/2025/trump-halts-clean-air-laws-for-most-of-the-country

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[45] Jurecic, Quinta. "Trump's Attacks on Justice Department Independence, Then and Now." Lawfare. March 27, 2025. https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/trump-s-attacks-on-justice-department-independence–then-and-now

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[46] Stancil, Kenny. "Map: Trump Has Often Delayed or Denied Disaster Aid." Revolving Door Project. July2, 2025. https://therevolvingdoorproject.org/trump-disaster-policy-tracker-map/

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[49] Ward, Myah. "Trump appears open to using private forces to help deport millions of undocumented immigrants." Politico.com February 27, 2025. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/27/trump-private-forces-immigration-00206560

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[53] Sharpe, Matthew. "Make Italy great again: Mussolini's rise and fall shows how democracy dies by a thousand cuts." The Conversation. May 5, 2025. https://scroll.in/article/1081753/make-italy-great-again-mussolinis-rise-and-fall-shows-how-democracy-dies-by-a-thousand-cuts

[54] Georgantopoulos, mary Ann. "Trump Referred To Immigrants As Vermin, Saying They Will 'Infest Our Country'" BuzzFeedNews.com  June 19, 2018.  https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/maryanngeorgantopoulos/trump-immigrants-vermin-infest

[55] Layne, Nathan. "Trump repeats 'poisoning the blood' anti-immigrant remark." Reuters.com December 16, 2023. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-repeats-poisoning-blood-anti-immigrant-remark-2023-12-16/

[56]  Venator, Melissa. "Modern Art in Nazi Germany." St. Louis Art Museum lecture. July 18, 2025.

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[57] Last, Jonathan V. "Biology Explains Why People Normalize Trump: How authoritarians hack our nervous systems to desensitize us to their assaults on democracy." TheBulwark.com October 9, 2024. https://www.thebulwark.com/p/biology-explains-why-people-normalize

[58] Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid's Tale.  New York: Vintage Books, 1998. Pg 225

[59]Qvortrup, Matt. Death by a thousand cuts: the slow demise of democracy. Berlin  : DeGruyter, 2019.

[60] Tammy Duckworth. "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. https://www.facebook.com/reel/2281477962281717

[61] Springsteen, Bruce. "Land of Hope and Dreams." Brucespringsteen.net   May 14, 2025. https://brucespringsteen.net/news/2025/land-of-hope-and-dreams/

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[63] Mole and Thomas photographer. The Human Liberty Bell; 25000 officers and men at Camp Dix, New Jersey; General Hugh L. Scott, commander. 1918. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print

[64] "The Rising Sun Armchair (George Washington's Chair)." UShistory.org https://www.ushistory.org/more/sun.htm

[65] James Baldwin quotes. Goodreads.com https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/11764275-there-may-not-be-as-much-humanity-in-the-world

.
Images:

The Declaration of Independence.

What did we learn about The Declaration in school:  Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash

A fundamental misconception: Trumbull, John. Declaration of Independence. 1819. (Public Domain).

The Declaration of Independence is more relevant than ever: nokings.org

On the subject of being "woke":  Photo by Danny Burke on Unsplash

The Declaration's list of grievances: Boston Public Library Tichnor Brothers collection (Public Domain).

So, what's the score and what does that mean: National Constitution Center (Public Domain)

More than a "victories and weapons" understanding of world history is also essential: Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash

The most patriotic thing we can do: Photo by benjamin lehman on Unsplash

Human Liberty Bell: Mole & Thomas, 915 Medinah Blvd., Chicago, Ill.  Library of Congress

George Washington's Rising Sun Armchair: National Park Services.