of the people, by the people, for the people

     In his "Gettysburg Address", Lincoln described America as a "government of the people, by the people, for the people". This is still a revolutionary notion to people who insist that the only legitimate government is underwritten by God. It is the great political dividing line, perhaps begun by Henry VIII.  Do people, as mere human beings, have the right to institute governments?  This blogger insists, and ever will, that they do, and for the same reasons stated in the U.S. Declaration of Independence--to secure the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  To ensure our own rights, we get to say "hey, don't do that" to our neighbors and fellow citizens, people to people, if you will. We don't need to invoke God or gods to legitimize our right to do this. It's what we have a right to do as human beings.