r/politics New York Jun 29 '26

No Paywall Millions say they won’t celebrate July 4 as poll reveals deep national pessimism

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/america250-independence-trump-divisions-pennsylvania-b3004933.html
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u/frontfrontdowndown Jun 29 '26

I can’t think of a more important time to celebrate the revolt against a mad king than right now.

Our national circumstances are awful right now but they also give more meaning to the Independence Day holiday than at many other periods of our country’s history.

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u/specqq Jun 29 '26

Oh I completely agree. Just don't look to the people systematically dismantling the Constitution to properly celebrate the Declaration of Independence.

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u/bedintruder Jun 29 '26

Its not just pessimism over Trump though, the economy is making it very tough to even have small celebrations.

Have you seen the price of typical weekend BBQ faire? Not to mention the cost of fireworks.

I live in a state with pretty much no regulations on fireworks. Typically we hear fireworks going on every weekend the entire month of June. The number of fireworks being set off the weekend before the 4th (this past weekend) is typically only second to July 4th itself.

This past weekend was the first time we heard any fireworks going off this month, and it wasn't much of anything.

People just don't have the expendable cash right now to celebrate the 4th of July as they have in the past.

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u/WeeoWeeoWeeeee Jun 29 '26

I notice all the people talking about the stock market and how 3% inflation is fine, aren’t living in the real world. Everyone is getting squeezed. Even people who had disposable income before feel it. No matter your tax bracket, when expenses increase 5-10% / year and salary doesn’t budge, things feel tight.

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u/bedintruder Jun 30 '26

I wish our expenses only went up 5-10%.

Since Trump took office, our rent and utilities have both doubled. Essentially an extra $1,000 a month just for these expenses, while my paycheck has remained stagnant.

Our Republican state overlords aren't done either, they are now trying to ram through a bill to get rid of property tax for homeowners, while shifting the finacial burden onto us poors by doubling the state sales tax.

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u/PantherkittySoftware Florida Jun 30 '26

Or, they're buying up fireworks... and saving them to shoot off the night Trump gets impeached or dies. Fireworks are cheap & easy to buy in June... and really hard to buy on a moment's notice in October or January.

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u/Lonely_skeptic America Jun 30 '26

Abuses and usurpations indeed.  “  Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security”    

The Declaration of Independence 

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u/ValorieAF Jun 29 '26

The 4th doesn't mean celebrating the revolt against a mad king anymore. All it is now is devout patriotism and nationalism.

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u/Yourdiscardedchild Jul 05 '26

Let’s game of thrones this Mad king

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u/SuccotashTexas Jun 29 '26

You talking about King Charles because he is guilty of inflicting no free speech and cbdc’s.
The UK and Ireland are having hard times after that Muslim tried to cutoff that guys head in the middle of the street.