Deus ex machina and Independence Day

I've bashed David Brooks plenty over the years, but he and I are on the same page here:

Democracy is a contest between alternatives, not a deus ex machina stroke from the lords in black robes.

Which is the same point I made last week:

If we have learned nothing more from cases like Raich, or Kelo,  it's this:  you cannot rely on the Supreme Court to be a personal deus ex machina and save your ass from tyranny. You have to do it yourself, with the tools you have, which include your voice and your ballot. It's up to us to have our say. And you can do that in November. We have a Republic, if you can keep it. And one way to keep it is to go to the ballot box. So get to it.

We celebrate Independence Day because it was the formal beginning of our nation. The Founders didn't wait for someone else to solve their problems or to redress their grievances, let alone 9 people in black robes. We declared our independence, but only the sustained effort of many people guaranteed our independence. The job doesn't end when the declaration is signed. It only begins. And 236 years on, it continues.