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, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

The equality of all citizens is the cornerstone of this declaration.  The country from which our forefathers were seeking relief, Great Britain, was governed by a King.  We do not believe in birthright privileges, in it’s purest  terms.  There is, of course, nepotism in many forms and manifestations.  However, our foundation is set in the idea that anyone can aspire to greatness through effort and talent.  Additionally, each person is valued equally – that is the intent of the document, if not the practice – and therefore enjoy all the rights and privileges of any citizen.  We are a representative democracy whose power lay with the members of the electorate.  Our system may not be perfect, but when compared, it reigns supreme.

This outtake was chosen for obvious reasons, it is our founding espousement.  Throughout our history, when times were most discouraging, it was the spirit of these words that encouraged and empowered.  Even today, the words retain power.  Our society is ripe with injustice and unfairness.  Our politics can be fairly judged as biased towards the ‘haves’.  Disparity is at an all-time high.  Citizens of a lessor nation would revolt in mass and act self destructively.  However, because we have inculcated the spirit of equality, we are able to withstand forces that may destroy others.  We live in a great nation – by no means perfect, but great nonetheless.  Much of our success is due to the wisdom of our founding fathers, and one of the most inspired expressions of the aforementioned fathers was the declaration which appears above.