So...today is "Presidents' Day." Though it really isn't Presidents' Day...it's George Washington and Abraham Lincoln day. Last I checked, there have been 58 US presidents. That's right, 58. There were fifteen different presidents before George Washington. Peyton Randolph served nonconsecutive terms, Henry Middleton, John Hancock, Charles Thomson, Henry Laurens, John Jay, Samuel Huntington, Thomas McKean, John Hanson, Elias Boudinot, Thomas Mifflin, Richard Henry Lee, Nathaniel Gorham, Arthur St. Clair and Cyrus Griffin. It is staggering the number of people, citizens of this country, that do not even know their own history. Aren't you all tired of having everyone else tell you who your heroes ought to be? Who you ought to be celebrating? Giving you inaccurate history? Leading you to believe nonsense like this country was founded on a particular religion's tenets? Getting away with unconstitutional drivel like Federal income tax, the Federal Reserve and the Internal Revenue Service...getting away with plastering "In God We Trust" under the picture of Washington especially...given that he was DEIST, on the currency that represents the ENTIRE country...and not just those with religious leanings? 

Here's a little bit of a history lesson for you. Your "founding fathers"... John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington, didn't GIVE a SHIT about individual freedoms and rights...as evidenced by the original draft of the Constitution which did NOT contain the Bill of Rights and which DID sanction slavery. We were founded by a group of aristocratic, WHITE MALES...who owned slaves and land and thought VERY ARROGANTLY that their kind should be the only ones allowed to VOTE. Really? Are these pricks really worthy of celebration? 

I'm not going to tell you who your heroes ought to be, because that would be presumptuous of me...but I'll tell you who MY heroes are...MY American heroes... The Anti-Federalists. Patrick Henry, Mercy Otis Warren, James Monroe (who might be the only President we REALLY ever had worth a shit), George Mason, Melancton Smith, James Winthrop, Richard Henry Lee, Robert Yates, George Clinton, Arthur Fenner and Luther Martin. These men are the ones responsible for YOU having YOUR beloved individual freedoms in this country. They are responsible for the Bill of Rights that ALL Americans cherish and should very much appreciate. Your freedoms of speech, expression, right to bear arms, right to a speedy trial, freedom to assemble, et cetera...the Anti-Federalists were the REAL patriots....they ADAMANTLY REFUSED to ratify a Constitution which gave the federal government ALL of the power and eschewed individual freedoms. I for one will NOT be celebrating Presidents' Day today. I refuse to celebrate those who have ruled over this country...those who really gave a damn less about freedom. 

I will celebrate the Anti-Federalists on this day. I will celebrate those who pushed so hard for the guaranteed personal freedoms I am fortunate to have. People need to wake up...the Federalists are back...they absolutely are back...and they are trying to eliminate those freedoms and rights one at a time...it's time for those of us who recognize that the federal government indeed has too much power...to revamp the Anti-Federalist attitude...stand up and say "Enough is enough"...and stop contributing to the problem. We need to rise up, against this corrupt and despicable government..use our STRENGTH in numbers...and actively work for REAL change...we need to put our vote where our mouth is, and we need to educate the ones who are in the dark, blinded by nationalism and the status quo...claiming things will never change...that this is the way it's always been. 

There CAN be change if enough people WANT it. Wake up, realize BOTH parties are completely full of shit, and vote out the stupid...it's the only way to get rid of it now...this mess is entirely too convoluted to fix otherwise. The debt is imaginary, the money is worthless paper, and if WE all decided...for 24 hours...to stay home, not go to work, not go out to eat, not spend ANY money...the ones running this country depend SO MUCH on capitalism...that it would take a major hit overnight. I wish that there were more that understood what the hell's going on...and I wish there were more who gave a shit about it enough to do something about it. As Patrick Henry said, "Give me liberty or give me death". It's quite clear, at least to me, that the liberties and freedoms in the Constitution pertain to ALL citizens of this country....not some...not most...all. 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people

None of these freedoms and rights would exist if not for concerned, courageous, "treasonous", "Anti-Americans" who balked at the original draft of the Constitution.

 Happy Anti-Federalists Day, My fellow Americans.