Let’s talk about Independence Day and atrophy. Hang in there with me for a minute or two and I’ll make the connection.

To start with, atrophy is a type of physical justice. If we have a healthy muscle, we can keep it healthy by providing suitable nutrition and exercise. If we want to make it stronger, we pay attention to superior nutrition and we stimulate it by exposing it to rigorous exercise. If we are indifferent to nutrition and exercise, the muscle will deteriorate. It will shrink and grow weak. It will decline to the point that, when challenged, it will fail.

If a previously strong flexible muscle stops working for us because we neglect to take the steps we know are required to keep it in shape, whose fault is it? It’s hard to argue that this is an unjust result. We have the power to keep it strong, but there’s a cost. We have to deny ourselves some aspects of an unhealthy diet and we have to discipline ourselves to work that muscle. If we choose not to, who do we blame when that wonderful muscle atrophies? The justice of the situation is summed up in the phrase, “Use it or lose it.”

Now to Independence Day. This nation was born with a powerful political, social, philosophical muscle. The shorthand way to put it is to say this: The authority of the government springs from the power of the people to control that government. The United States was born with a fully developed system of isometric exercises that, if conscientiously utilized, would keep this nation strong and flexible.

There’s a built-in tension between the two houses of a bicameral Legislature. There’s a built-in tension between the legislative and executive branches of government. There’s a built-in tension between the fickle designs of the group in power and the abiding principles on which this country was founded. There’s a built-in tension between the powers conferred on the federal government and the powers reserved to the states.

These various tensions were anticipated, allowed for and harnessed by the founders so they would work as a cohesive system to maintain a powerful balance; the healthy balance between the government and those governed.

But once the founders completed the crafting of this inspired arrangement, they issued a series of warnings. If those governed neglected to nourish and exercise their rights and responsibilities under this system, something vital would atrophy. Now, one of the insidious things about atrophy is this: It has the potential to creep over time. Its effects can be so subtle that they pass unnoticed. That’s why on Independence Day, it’s a good thing to take stock of where we are and compare with where we should be if our inspired system of government was nourished and exercised.

Let me offer a personal observation on where we have atrophied. We have surrendered our political responsibilities to a couple of insatiable parties. Note that neither Democrats nor Republicans are mentioned in our founding documents. And yet, does anyone deny that these parties are the real rulers of this nation? They decide who will run and who will not. They decide who will win and who will not. This corrupting arrangement has reached the tipping point now that these parties are shamelessly subordinating the interests of the country to the narrow, selfish thirst for power and graft.

Moreover, we have passively allowed our government to indulge in monumental financial irresponsibility. The mounting debts and endless commitments of our government are forging shackles that will choke the financial hopes of our children and grandchildren for decades to come. We have grown to tolerate blatant lies, corruption, graft and hypocrisy and naively returned the same perpetrators to power year after year.

We have, gradually, come to tolerate government intrusion into every aspect of our private affairs. There is now, virtually, no exchange between citizens that does not, somehow, concern the government. The sheer magnitude of this creeping strangulation would be appalling to our founding fathers.

Finally, we have virtually surrendered to the authorities of governmental bureaus. It is astounding to realize how many times citizens must seek the approval of some state, local or federal agency before they can act in regard to their own affairs and property.

But here’s the majesty of our system. We can shake off our apathy. We can defy the parties. We can look for an outlet for our justifiable anger and frustration. This Independence Day, let’s dedicate ourselves to reversing the atrophy of our political muscles. Let’s get ourselves ready to vote for some changes.

I’m Hink and I’ll see ya.