Independence Day has been a bitter-sweet day for me for the past several years (say, since July 4th, 2002). On the one hand, we, as a country, have overcome countless, seemingly-insurmountable challenges to become the great nation that we are today. We defeated the then-strongest military in the world to gain our independence from an Empire. We split our nation in two and then reassembled it to form a more perfect union. We were integral to the success of the WWII campaigns, helping to defeat the Nazi threat in Germany. We lead the world in technological feats, both terrifying and astounding, landing first on the moon, being first to harness the power of the atom, elevating a standard of living for our nation above all others.

But, there’s the dirty other side that has always been there and has, over recent history, become ever-more prevalent. The seedier element, the black-suited criminals who seek to strip away our rights with each new piece of legislation.

So, on July 4th, I wake up thanking those who came before for crafting this nation that I cherish. And by the end of the day, I’m cursing the men and women tasked with its protection today. And I’m not talking about just the legislators, bureaucrats, lawyers, and ironically-named “justices” entrusted with the nation’s care, but also America’s citizenry, myself included.

George Washington, when asked to become King of America, said that he didn’t fight to defeat King George III just so he could become King George I. But this president, this administration, this Republican party in ruin and this Democratic party in confusion, seem to want a king.

I’m with Will Rogers. I bet after seeing us, George Washington would sue us for calling him “father.”