That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government," This is a quote from the Declaration of Independence. What do you think about it, especially given the current political climate?

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1j6lsk3/that_whenever_any_form_of_government_becomes/

created by I_AM_VENNLIG on 08/03/2025 at 17:13 UTC

1442 upvotes, 127 top-level comments (showing 25)

Comments

Comment by gentlechin at 08/03/2025 at 17:27 UTC

375 upvotes, 6 direct replies

"When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty."

Comment by WhenTardigradesFly at 08/03/2025 at 17:23 UTC

405 upvotes, 9 direct replies

eloquent but irrelevant today. revolutions are not fought and won by people who are as addicted to comfort and convenience as the vast majority of americans are, regardless of how pissed off they may claim to be.

Comment by HotSpicedChai at 08/03/2025 at 17:25 UTC

74 upvotes, 4 direct replies

I think the general sentiment is that the bulk of Americans are aligned in those feelings. However, obviously there’s a large chunk of Americans that want this government. So I don’t think it applies at all in this current political climate.

Comment by SkisaurusRex at 08/03/2025 at 17:33 UTC

8 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Easier written than executed

Comment by Falcon3492 at 08/03/2025 at 17:35 UTC

7 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Those that signed the Declaration of Independence put that in the document but when it came to signing the Constitution they left out the provision for a no confidence vote to remove a destructive or dysfunctional government.

Comment by jaxxxxxson at 08/03/2025 at 17:49 UTC

25 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Washington’s address argued for a careful foreign policy of friendly neutrality that would avoid creating implacable enemies or international friendships of dubious value, nor entangle the United States in foreign alliances. Washington had initially considered retiring from the presidency after his first term in office. Therefore, in 1792, he asked James Madison to compose a valedictory address to be delivered at the end of the first term. However, Washington was persuaded by Hamilton, former Secretary of State Edmund Randolph, and other political leaders to remain in office for a second term, and so the draft remained unused. When Washington neared the completion of his second term, he turned to Alexander Hamilton to edit Madison’s draft. Hamilton enlarged the portion relating to foreign affairs, and updated it to reflect the Washington Administration’s revised neutrality policy. Washington then amended Hamilton’s version, and also asked Secretary of State Timothy Pickering for his opinions on the address. Washington then arranged for the address to be published in a Claypool’s American Daily Advertiser, a Philadelphia newspaper, on September 19, 1796. The address was widely reprinted in newspapers throughout the country. Although the address also dealt with domestic issues, Washington was also interested in outlining future U.S. foreign policy. Washington expressed his views on foreign relations with a warning against "permanent inveterate antipathies against particular Nations," as well as "a passionate attachment of one Nation for another." The first, he argued, would lead to unnecessary war, while the second would result in unwise treaty concessions, which could arouse the ill-will of other countries expecting fair treatment. Washington counseled the public to be wary of foreign influence. He argued for impartial commercial treaties, but against treaties of permanent alliance, although the United States should fulfill any existing agreements "with perfect good faith." Temporary alliances would be acceptable in "extraordinary emergencies".

Feel this is more relevent to today than that nonsense about revolution today.

Comment by Mister_Goldenfold at 08/03/2025 at 17:31 UTC

11 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Ok, well originally the government *Didnt* have weapons capable of microwaving your intestinal tract inside of you…..

Comment by Harbinger2001 at 08/03/2025 at 17:33 UTC

15 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I think you guys really need to get on with it already. You’ve been talking about this threat since 2016.

Comment by Terrariola at 09/03/2025 at 00:58 UTC

9 upvotes, 3 direct replies

Americans, for the love of God, stop LARPing as revolutionaries and wait for the bloody midterms. I'm European-Canadian, I fucking hate the current administration in the US with a *passion*, but insurgencies against an elected government rarely end well for democracy or yourself.

If you're going to disrupt the current administration, drag them through the courts and kick out their supporters in local elections. Protest too. Call a general strike. **DO NOT** start *shooting people*. It's a terrible idea for everyone involved.

Comment by MaxwellPillMill at 08/03/2025 at 17:38 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

We should have listened to the antifederalists.

Comment by Lokarin at 08/03/2025 at 22:28 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Well, it's not like there will be forced imports of tariffed goods requiring people to dress up as government officials to dump Teaslas into the Boston harbour or anything

Comment by EvenSpoonier at 08/03/2025 at 22:59 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I think the world would be a better place if Moscow and Beijing practiced what they preach in their psyops, rather than trying to manipulate everyone else into doing it while they continue to abuse their people and their neighbors.

Comment by 16Willie at 09/03/2025 at 03:16 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Long overdue! Too many people find security letting someone else make decisions. I say vote the bums out regardless of their party.

Comment by SophocleanWit at 08/03/2025 at 17:39 UTC

5 upvotes, 0 direct replies

It may be a right, but that right is pretty abstract in opposition to the military and technological advantages of that government.

Comment by [deleted] at 08/03/2025 at 17:25 UTC

11 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I think all of the bots posting this over and over proves how desperate China is.

Comment by IiI1I1iIiI1iIi1 at 08/03/2025 at 21:15 UTC

6 upvotes, 0 direct replies

You lot aren't going to do shit other than bitch on the internet.

Comment by hadawayandshite at 08/03/2025 at 17:30 UTC

9 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Isn’t this how MAGA feels about the current status quo?

Comment by windowman7676 at 08/03/2025 at 17:50 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Unfortunately, the wealthy control the written word by way of slowly dying newspapers. They control the on air words by way of television and radion. And they control most of the news and social content via computer technology. The actual content control is being controled by fewer and fewer people. The influence the top dozen or so Republicans have is millions and even billions of dollars. Their direct influence is in the millions of voters. It will get harder and harder to know what is true and what is propoganda. We are slowly becoming a nation of dictators and a number fastly approaching a majority are ok with that.

Comment by Diligent_Map9734 at 08/03/2025 at 17:37 UTC

9 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Guns, you are going to need a bunch of guns....

Comment by SprinklesMore8471 at 08/03/2025 at 18:04 UTC

6 upvotes, 2 direct replies

I think you spend way too much time on reddit if you think America is even remotely close to needing this.

Comment by braumbles at 08/03/2025 at 17:31 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Who authorizes this?

Comment by petrusferricalloy at 08/03/2025 at 17:57 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

yes that's relevant when there's no Constitution ratified by the people.

Do you really need historical context to understand why the declaration of independence doesn't apply to a society that is already independent?

There's a reason we have section 2(1)(a) of the Constitution: overthrowing/reforming the government is absolutely allowed, just not if done through violence and sedition. The Constitution establishes the means by which we regularly "overthrow" the government: through elections and, as of 1951, a two-term Presidency.