“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”—Declaration of Independence of the United States of America, July 4, 1776
On Independence Day in the United States, I invite the reader to see my blog posts from November 1 to November 14, 2013 on the American Revolution. These posts maintain that a movement in opposition to British commercial policies initiated by the American elite in the 1760s had come under the control of popular sectors during the period 1775-77; and that the elite forged a counterrevolution that culminated in the Constitution of 1787, which eliminated structures of popular participation and popular control that had been developed by the people and permitted by the Articles of Confederation. Thus, the US Constitution of 1787 was limited, not only with respect to its exclusion of blacks and women, but also in regard to its establishment of structures for limiting popular participation and with respect to its ignoring issues of social and economic rights. US political culture subsequently developed with a limited understanding of democracy that does not include the social and economic rights of the people or the right of the people to form popular assemblies. Nor does US public discourse meaningfully address the right of nations to self-determination and sovereignty, a democratic concept that would emerge during the world-wide anti-colonial struggles of the twentieth century. The blog posts on American democracy conclude by calling upon the people of the United States to renew its tradition of popular revolution, which expressed itself in three historic moments, with the intention of replacing rule by corporate interests with rule by delegates of the people, and with the purpose of seeking to establish a government that acts in accordance with universal human values.
The blog posts on the American Revolution are as follows: “The US popular movement of 1775-77” 11/1/13; “American counterrevolution, 1777-87” 11/4/13; “Balance of power” 11/5/13; “Popular democracy” 11/6/13; “Social and economic rights” 11/7/13; “Right of nations to self-determination” 11/8/13; “The rights of women” 11/11/13; “Sustainable development” 11/12/13; “The limitations of American democracy” 11/13/13; “What is revolution?” 11/14/13. Scroll down to find them.
Also relevant to our understanding of the limitations of American democracy is the fact that, since the beginning of the twentieth century, US foreign policy has been imperialist, seeking to promote the economic, commercial, and financial penetration by US corporations and banks, in violation of the rights of nations to self-determination and true independence. A renewed American popular revolution would have to include an anti-imperialist dimension, substituting imperialist foreign policy with a policy of North-South cooperation. For documentation of the imperialist character to US foreign policy, even under progressive presidents, see: “The origin of US imperialist policies” 9/18/2013; “US Imperialism, 1903-1932” 9/19/2013; “Imperialism and the FDR New Deal” 9/20/2013; “The Cold War and Imperialism” 9/24/2013; “Kennedy and the Third World” 9/25/2013; “The Alliance for Progress” 9/26/2013; “US Imperialism in Latin America, 1963-76” 9/27/2013; “Imperialism falters in Vietnam” 9/30/2013; “Jimmy Carter” 10/1/2013; “Reaganism” 10/4/2013; “Imperialism as neoliberalism” 10/7/2013; “The “neocons” take control” 10/8/2013; “Obama: More continuity than change” 10/9/2013; “Imperialism as basic to foreign policy” 10/10/2013.
To my compatriots in the United States, enjoy the hot dogs and beer. Here in Cuba, the Fourth of July is not celebrated, but it is acknowledged, out of respect for the traditions of the people of the United States, and in recognition of a day of historic significance in the democratic struggles of the peoples of the earth.
The blog posts on the American Revolution are as follows: “The US popular movement of 1775-77” 11/1/13; “American counterrevolution, 1777-87” 11/4/13; “Balance of power” 11/5/13; “Popular democracy” 11/6/13; “Social and economic rights” 11/7/13; “Right of nations to self-determination” 11/8/13; “The rights of women” 11/11/13; “Sustainable development” 11/12/13; “The limitations of American democracy” 11/13/13; “What is revolution?” 11/14/13. Scroll down to find them.
Also relevant to our understanding of the limitations of American democracy is the fact that, since the beginning of the twentieth century, US foreign policy has been imperialist, seeking to promote the economic, commercial, and financial penetration by US corporations and banks, in violation of the rights of nations to self-determination and true independence. A renewed American popular revolution would have to include an anti-imperialist dimension, substituting imperialist foreign policy with a policy of North-South cooperation. For documentation of the imperialist character to US foreign policy, even under progressive presidents, see: “The origin of US imperialist policies” 9/18/2013; “US Imperialism, 1903-1932” 9/19/2013; “Imperialism and the FDR New Deal” 9/20/2013; “The Cold War and Imperialism” 9/24/2013; “Kennedy and the Third World” 9/25/2013; “The Alliance for Progress” 9/26/2013; “US Imperialism in Latin America, 1963-76” 9/27/2013; “Imperialism falters in Vietnam” 9/30/2013; “Jimmy Carter” 10/1/2013; “Reaganism” 10/4/2013; “Imperialism as neoliberalism” 10/7/2013; “The “neocons” take control” 10/8/2013; “Obama: More continuity than change” 10/9/2013; “Imperialism as basic to foreign policy” 10/10/2013.
To my compatriots in the United States, enjoy the hot dogs and beer. Here in Cuba, the Fourth of July is not celebrated, but it is acknowledged, out of respect for the traditions of the people of the United States, and in recognition of a day of historic significance in the democratic struggles of the peoples of the earth.
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