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 creat...