“I pledge to be a servant to our President.” – adorable couple, Ashton & Demi

Yes, a whole gaggle of millionaires have gotten together to make a cult-like video pledging themselves to the service of Barry.  They also want you to make a pledge, promising that you’ll help change America.

To be fair, there are a few nice platitudes here, but the idea that anyone should pledge their fealty to a President is fairly disturbing.  A president, as the root of the word implies, presides.  Nothing more, nothing less.  He’s just a citizen like everyone else, and his station is temporary.  He is not a goal, not a symbol, and certainly not some sort of an ideal to which any American should be pledging.  He’s a steward.

The thing you shoud be pledging to?  Well, you may have learned that in grade school.

That said, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore want to know what my pledge is and I’m not about to upset a Hollywood power couple.  So here’s a list of promises.

1.  I pledge to question authority, and promise to examine the motives of those who seek and achieve such power. 

2.  I pledge that I will not overlook hypocrisy in my public officials, even if doing so may expedite the achievement of my goals. 

3.  I pledge to do my best to hold my government to its Constitution.

4.  I pledge to uphold the laws of the nation I serve, not use my station as a means to subvert them.

5.  I pledge to protect my personal freedom, and the freedoms of those around me, as they are our most precious possessions.

6.  I pledge that I will no longer remain silent about my beliefs, for my silence grants power to those above me.

7.  I pledge that I will not let those in office intimidate me.

8.  I pledge that I will not take from my fellow American what is rightfully his, either by force, or via legislation that forces redistribution.

9.  I pledge to look to the lessons of history, as today’s mistakes are likely repetitions of previous failures.

10. I pledge that, before pledging to change America, I will ask “change it to what?”

Those are my ten.  Oh, and of course, the one you may have heard before.

11.  I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States of America, and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands.

- Robert Laurie