I’m holding a copy of Dunlap’s Pennsylvania Packet; Daily Advertiser dated July 8th, 1776. Imagine being a farmer, merchant, or any regular colonists reading their Monday morning paper that day. The first story has this headline: "A Declaration by the Representatives of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA in General Congress Assembled." There had been news of uprisings, some battles lost in protest to the King’s taxing policies and general knowledge of discontent yet here was a full printing of a Declaration of Independence. For many living in their loyal colonies declaring independence was quite a shock, nearly laughable until they realized it was not satire they were reading. There it was in print, for the first time, on page one. The United States of America was a new name for them to attempt to absorb.

I know in 1775 each of the colonial governments were taken over by revolutionaries and a continental army had been formed as well as the gathering of the Second Continental Congress yet most British citizens still had not grasped the reality of what was happening around them. Now they fully understood the direction the colonies were heading and it was time to choose their true loyalty. Would they commit to being traitors to the crown or remain loyalist? This was a much different decision than most of us are facing in 2008.

In this year many voters must choose between status quo and change. The change is not a simple choice as the choices range from continuing our march toward a more socialized nationalist approach in the Federal Government as Obama and the Democrats propose or a beginning return toward the experiment of the Federalist Republic as outlined in a document adopted September 17^th, 1787, the U.S. Constitution, as proposed by Ron Paul. Status quo proposals can be found among most other Republican candidates still in the race.

Look at the time frame from the real beginnings of the American Revolution until the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. The years from 1775 to 1783, when the Treaty of Paris was finally signed and British troops were withdrawn, combined with an additional four years of gaining an understanding the initial Articles of Confederation were inadequate for maintaining the new country encompasses a truly long haul. It is estimated during the time of the warring 50,000 patriots became casualties, either through death or injury. We are not fighting with our lives on the line as many patriots did back then yet we are fighting a long haul battle to restore this nation to the Constitutional foundations of a Federalist Republic.

We shall see how well WY does on Saturday and focus on NH, SC, NV and the rest. This is not an easy task...this liberty revolution we've embraced in our hearts. Yet, no matter if Ron Paul wins or not we've won an awakening, lets celebrate the battles won, learn from those lost, and focus on winning this war ~ Iowa is merely one small battle, this is truly a long haul revolution! Our battle requires boots on the ground canvassing, talking with our neighbors, being positive about the changes future generations will enjoy, and staying the course in defense of liberty. We cannot see the headlines of tomorrow yet we can influence the direction of our future, stay focused and continue the long haul revolution!

©2008 by Gary Wood