Liberty Toastmasters Day: The Declaration of Indepenence

On June 27, 2024, Carol Baker, Carol VanLandingham, Rick Rome, Fred Clifford, Mizo Mirzoya, Bennett Rutledge, Ross Klopf, Josh Lallement, Dave Walden, Jay Davidson, and Lauren Fix joined the show. Led Liberty Toastmasters discussion on the Declaration of Independence, framing it as a ‘breakup letter’ to King George with 27 grievances that the Constitution was designed to address Shared how Boulder County’s excessive regulations prevent her real estate clients from purchasing land, requiring thousands of dollars and months of bureaucratic.

The Declaration as America’s Founding Source Document

Start listening at 2:32 – Hour 1

Carol Baker, newly elected president of Liberty Toastmasters Denver, set the stage for a wide-ranging discussion on the Declaration of Independence. She noted that once you understand the Declaration as a “breakup letter” to King George listing 27 grievances, the Constitution makes sense as the document designed to prevent those tyrannies from recurring. The conversation highlighted how separation of powers has eroded in modern Washington.

“Once you see it that way, it makes so much sense.”

Carol Baker, President, Liberty Toastmasters Denver

Property Rights and the Pursuit of Happiness

Start listening at 19:58 – Hour 1

Carol VanLandingham from Liberty Toastmasters North shared how Boulder County’s excessive regulations are preventing her real estate clients from purchasing land to build a second home. She explained that the couple must spend several thousand dollars and wait a month just to navigate the approval process before even purchasing the lot. Kim connected this to the founders’ understanding that property ownership is inherent to a free society.

“I feel like sometimes the county is a little bit overzealous in all of the requirements that they take or make us go through in order to be able to simply purchase a piece of land for our family.”

Carol VanLandingham, Liberty Toastmasters North

The Spirit of Mentorship and Sacred Honor

Start listening at 23:20 – Hour 1

Rick Rome drew parallels between the founders’ pledge of their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor and the mentorship culture within Toastmasters. He emphasized that defending liberty requires preparation in spirit, heart, and being right with each other. Rome sees America facing a similar situation to 1776, though not necessarily calling for revolution, but for citizens to step up and fulfill their civic obligations.

“Part of that preparation comes in getting right with our spirit, getting right in our hearts, and being right with each other so that we can make that pledge of sacred honor.”

Rick Rome, Liberty Toastmasters Denver

Government’s Sole Purpose: Securing Natural Rights

Start listening at 26:44 – Hour 1

Fred Clifford, a newer Liberty Toastmasters member, zeroed in on the Declaration’s definition of government’s proper role. He quoted the passage stating that governments are instituted among men to secure certain unalienable rights, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Clifford stressed that government did not create these rights and did not grant them, but merely recognizes rights given naturally by God.

“The government didn’t create those rights. The government did not grant us those rights. It recognizes those rights that are given to us naturally by God.”

Fred Clifford, Liberty Toastmasters Denver

An Immigrant’s Appreciation for American Freedom

Start listening at 33:59 – Hour 1

Mizo Mirzoya, who came to America at age 20 with a master’s degree in diplomacy, offered a perspective on the Declaration that only someone who chose American citizenship can provide. He quoted the passage about the people’s right to alter or abolish destructive government, connecting it to contemporary concerns about rising crime, homelessness, and foreign wars funded without taxpayer consent.

“Declaration of Independence are just not powerful words. These are the rights that was given to us by Almighty.”

Mizo Mirzoya, Liberty Toastmasters Denver

The Declaration as Legislative Intent

Start listening at 35:59 – Hour 1

Bennett Rutledge, a self-described recovering bureaucrat with nearly a quarter century at the Federal Highway Administration, offered a unique perspective on the Declaration. He noted that while it may technically be a “PR puff” showing decent respect for the opinions of mankind, its real value lies in revealing legislative intent since many Declaration authors also attended the Constitutional Convention. This makes it essential reading for understanding what the founders were thinking.

“This is one of the reasons why the Declaration of Independence still needs to be studied, and one of the reasons that people do homeschooling is so that they can make sure that the Declaration, the Constitution and other key pieces of America’s heritage get studied.”

Bennett Rutledge, Liberty Toastmasters Denver

Unjust Tariffs: A Continuing Grievance

Start listening at 38:43 – Hour 1

Ross Klopf connected one of the Declaration’s original grievances about unjust taxes without consent to modern trade tariffs. He cited specific examples: 14.9% to 17.5% tariffs on baby formula, 28% on wool clothing, and the inequity of 16.7% tariffs on women’s clothing versus 13.6% on men’s clothing. Klopf noted that lumber tariffs were doubled during a housing shortage under the Biden administration.

“Almost 250 years later, we still have a whole host of unjust tariffs.”

Ross Klopf, Liberty Toastmasters Denver

Reading History to Understand Today

Start listening at 47:09 – Hour 1

Josh Lallement, a former club president, emphasized the importance of reading more about America’s founding history. He observed that while interest in the Declaration peaks around July 4th, Americans should study it year-round. Lallement drew connections between the American Revolution and contemporary global struggles for freedom.

“For us to remember what our founding time frame was like and what they were fighting for and fight for freedom is so important.”

Josh Lallement, Liberty Toastmasters Denver

The Declaration: America’s True Source Document

Start listening at 50:40 – Hour 1

Dave Walden from Liberty Toastmasters North argued that the Declaration is more important than the Constitution because it serves as the “source document” for American political philosophy. Drawing on his finance background, Walden explained that just as financial statements cannot be trusted without verifying source documents, the Constitution cannot be properly interpreted without understanding the moral ideals Jefferson articulated in the Declaration. He criticized Supreme Court rulings for interpreting constitutional law without reference to this foundational document.

“It is not an accident that the word rights does not appear in the Constitution anywhere, except in the Bill of Rights, which were added as an afterthought. But the whole idea of rights, life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, and your individual right to do so is profoundly and proudly stated in the Declaration of Independence.”

Dave Walden, Liberty Toastmasters North

Progressive Taxation: The Top 1% Pay Nearly Half

Start listening at 70:24 – Hour 2

Jay Davidson, founder and CEO of First American State Bank, presented data showing that the top 1% of wage earners pay 45.8% of all federal income taxes while over 50% of taxpayers pay almost nothing. Davidson connected this to Jefferson’s original Declaration language about property ownership being essential to freedom. He argued that any entity taking property away is acting against the will of the Almighty and the Constitution. Davidson urged voters to support candidates who promise to reduce government rather than pass more laws.

“If you are allowed, not allowed to own property, your real property that you’ve worked for, paid for, then you own nothing. And in effect, you’re a slave. So the essence of freedom is the ownership of property.”

Jay Davidson, Founder and CEO, First American State Bank

Cyber Attack Cripples Auto Dealerships Nationwide

Start listening at 101:27 – Hour 2

Lauren Fix, known as “The Car Coach,” reported on a massive cyber attack against CDK Global that shut down approximately 16,000 car dealerships across the country. The hackers gained access through outdated COBOL and FORTRAN systems, then returned two hours later posing as CDK support to steal payroll information through ADP. Fix warned that the breach likely extends to banking and insurance systems. She recommended changing passwords every three months and noted she purchased a satellite phone for emergency communication.

“There is no firewall, not even the federal government, that cannot be hacked. And it’s happening all the time.”

Lauren Fix, The Car Coach