I agree. Pledging allegiance is a sham. The only reason folks are so enamored with the our republic is because it was wrought out of the last frontier, by a bun

I agree. Pledging allegiance is a sham. The only reason folks are so enamored with the our republic is because it was wrought out of the last frontier, by a bunch of non-conformist misfits, who, guided by Jefferson and other folks, like Lafayette implemented a radical form of government which attempted to really treat folks as free (slaves are another issue). That lasted for about 140 years. Now our content with the government should be commensurate with the degree in which it steps out of the way, and does not simply exist to support the status quo. That was what was so special about America to begin with: there was no status quo!