you work on the declaration you see its use everywhere. i don't know if you have notice evidence third. but pursuit of happiness is used all over the place in ads. has become our basic way of talking about what it means to buy stuff. that is pursuing happiness, and, yet, that is absolutely a remarkably weakened sense of what happiness means. so, how does one rebuild an idea that happiness is about the flourishing of the whole person? mind and spirit? well beyond matters of material questions. and happiness is about being able by the end of your life to ask and satisfactorily answer the question, have i lived well? and to feel in your spirit that, yes, i can look back and say that the past that i've crafted -- the path i've crafted

is a life worth living. so takes a lot of work to start rebuilding our ability to understand what happiness con consists of. who was -- >> i appreciate you coming... it will by the end of my life be my best teaching experience. to date it certainly has been teaching the declaration and it was magical because it was attached the students did not think a bus belonging to bob or pertaining to don.

the centrality of the agency they were claiming over their own minds and the fact that is what the text was about crystallized and let them to say that text is mine. the declaration is mine. maybe i'll put in a new list of grievances but that declaration is mine. d.c. people come into a sense of their personal and political agency is a privilege and comparable to any other i can imagine. it was my students who inspired me and there is an article about the coors family's teaching in. the declaration as one of the favorite part spirit that is what inspired me to go ahead and put it on paper. >> wonderful it is your year. thank you so much.

i appreciate your comments about how some people today don't appreciate the relevance of the declaration of independence today appears i take that to mean some people just don't see it has necessarily a lot of value. it seems to me a significant contrast between the writers of the declaration of independence. the writers were revolutionaries though we feel impressed. they were looking for freedom from england. leaders in the united states are not in that position. if the u.s. elected officials today how closely they identify with the declaration of independence. they don't feel that oppression the american revolutionaries felt. i wonder whether you see that as an issue in terms of getting elected officials today to be

responsive to requirements. >> thanks for your question. politics compounded by a long list of problems and i would myself difficulties somewhat differently in the sense that i don't think need to be subject to depression or something like the british empire to understand the declaration and make use of it because the declaration charges us that there is possibility of surveying circumstances. when are the course of human events around now in what had be of events for the past 20 years bu us and what directions, i think responded to that question of how our world is changing around us is as relevant today as then. for me the greater concern is at

the end of the second sentence which i emphasize" in it when it's the responsibility of the people to continue government laying its foundation on such principle and organizing its powers in such form as it shall be the most likely to effect their safety and happiness. principle forms, what are these two things? the declaration of independence and the principle the articles of confederation was the first effort at reform and then we begin with the constitution. so what i'm most concerned about was referring to her contemporary leaders is there very poor i don't know how else to say a capacity to engage with principle and in a principled fashion. so that's where i would put my emphasis. [applause] >> thank you. >> my question professor and i

certainly appreciate your analysis of this, i would just suggest that perhaps it needs to go a tad bit further because the greatest challenge to this union occurred of course during the civil war when you had secession and then purportedly everybody everybody -- except for john wilkes-booth helping move forward once the gettysburg address was proclaimed and once you had general lee give general grant his sword and in my view from what the president who followed did i think should have been impeached. he should have been tried for treason and all of the northern troops the union troops out of the south and allowing the

rampage against the former slaves to take place and the horrors that took place for many years thereafter, i think there is a betrayal of these lofty statements that are contained in the forming of this union and the further portrayal happens to be what occurred at every war where african-americans were told he will be free and you will have equal rights and we have riots, murders etc. taking place thereafter. do you think that maybe the next step that's important would be to write the wrong maybe where a lot of folks who are in the confederacy just say that leigh just gave grant his sword and the president of the confederacy etc. or what would be your thoughts on that in terms of

next steps? >> thank you very much. that's a very challenging question. so for me it's very important to say that there were multiple political traditions that flowed out of the moment in 1776, so from the moment of the writing of the declaration beside the beginning of an abolition movements that use the language of the declaration to make its case and he saw abolition beginning to move forward in 1780 in pennsylvania massachusetts by 1782. in the south in the not-too-distant future you have the invention of the cotton gin which entrenches slavery. up until the point of the invention of the cotton gin it was reasonable for people to believe as george washington did that's labor was on its way out so it's important to recognize actually the politics of slavery in the century have not been

stable. it hasn't been one thing from the beginning all the way through so a there have been multiple conditions and the politics of slavery was powerfully affect did by the invention of the cotton gin lets change that direction. it looked like slavery was headed out and that made it durable so the story of the country is one about tradition contesting with each other struggling with each other. that's true from the beginning to the present day and i don't have a silver bullet to the answer to the question how do we take this struggle and move in the direction of peace and resolution? i think it continues to be hard work that i think we have to be committed to the idea of achieving peace and resolution. every multiple tradition in the country some are worthy and others are not. in that regard we have a hard challenge of helping ourselves to guard those of our traditions which are not worthy of us.

[applause] >> i was intrigued. i just finished reading your book on our declaration and i'm trying to -- a book i read a while back american ethic were similar method was used for explicating the for explicating the tax verbose on trying to tie the two and i'm thinking the linkage between the catalog of grievances against the king and how would that fit in with another words no longer were they going to try to ratify the constitution. they wanted to have rights not just implied by the enumerated so that's why the bill of rights , almost like several

things were listed in that list of grievances showed up in the bill of rights. >> that's exactly right in that very well put. if you want to make a list of grievances heck of a lot more fun to read as it often is for people notice simply the fact that it actually contains a constitutional theory. the first few complaints or complaints of the legislative branch of government and then you get complaints about the judicial branch of government and then you get complaints of the executive power of government and then you get a long list of stumps stuck in by jefferson that are his pet peeves. and at the very end you get planes and violations of the law war. that constitutional structure and those grievances comes from adams. thought some government from the québec act is stuck in the middle and you can see the two hands working together. and yes the best of bill of

rights is an enumeration of what they put in the negative form and the complaints declaration which means of course importantly that it's not the case that the declaration was about equality and then we have a constitution that was about liberty and those are different things. the documents belong together. they shared the same constitutional theory. they are about the union of equality and liberty. thank you. we are out of time? thank you so much. appreciate it. [applause] [inaudible conversations]

>> and it's the truth. this is all a result of me being a black conservative, someone who is an independent thinker. there are people out there who don't like my message of liberty and personal responsibility so they attack me versus having a discussion with me in terms of what my views are and where i stand on certain issues.

>> host: when you google your name, what do you think? >> guest: my name is getting out there. when people attack you, they tried to discredit you by calling you names and that is something that will not doubt me from delivering my message. i am able to tell my story in my book "blacklash" of how i got off the sidelines have been a citizen to an activist for liberty. i also think my book is great for people to have a conversation in terms of what you can do to play a role in terms of rating and the government that is more wild in our country. >> host: where did you come up with the name? >> guest: i was trying to be creative and clever and get people to attention but also been a mysterious anonymous because people are curious. that also brings them in to find out where i'm coming from and what the book is all about.

>> host: most negative comments come from african-americans are white people? >> guest: i think at columns from african-americans. people call me a sellout seems i can't even say. there's also threats i received, next time i see you i am going to eat you that have up. it is not going to stop me from delivering the message of liberty. >> host: more from her book, why people commit liberal or conservatives. they are free to flirt with communism or socialism, too. why is that they seem to have more choices than i'm supposed to have? why can't the black woman questioning outrageous spending of government. >> guest: we should all question it. i think when i wrote my book or that was about 16 or 15 trillion now it's over 18 trillion. we have government spending out

of control and that is something american need to recognize because we are in bed. we have to pay that money back. this is a burden on our children and grandchildren of future generations. >> host: why do you say you don't have the option? >> guest: i do have the option. all americans should have the option of whatever they believe then, but to be afraid of criticized their names or because with the views aren't personal beliefs are. postcode in her book your take on jesse jackson, al sharpton and charlie rangel in particular. why? >> guest: growing up there was the same message i heard throughout different publications in the black community. black americans need special treatment because of skin color. the three individuals you mention are still selling the same message today, the message of the imitation.

my book tells people how i came from working numerous jobs undertaken in a match of all kinds of opportunities in advancing myself because that is what i wanted to do for myself. i never fell for the blame game of blaming white americans for example because of failures happening in the black community. i think my story is a great story for young people to see if i can do it and i can achieve success, you can do it no matter what your circumstances are or your family situation happens to be. >> host: how did you come to your political view? >> guest: growing up i was a democrat because of how my parents voted tell us otherwise. i didn't do research or a lot of reading. once i left home and started reading different things experience in situations and

meeting a number of people who had various backgrounds and different political views is when i realized i was even lied to for many, many years, especially the big imitation line. if you work hard and persevere, take risk, doors will open for you. i went from jobs i was wasn't thrilled about but i always made the best of each opportunity any circumstance. i'm someone who is able to work in a corporate company for 20 years in manhattan, went to school for 11 years at night while working full time because that is what i have to do to get my college degree the first college graduate in my family which i'm very proud of. things are not instead. people have to be patient. doors will open in the opportunities are out there. i can't say enough how exceptional our country is but

it's important for people to take advantage of the opportunities available for them. >> host: who are your parents? ask of my parents instilled in me a great work ethic to respect other individuals and basically stay out of trouble because when you make certain decisions and choices they will follow you throughout your life and i thank god for my parents every day. >> host: what kind of work they do? ask of my father was in correction guest :-colon-mark -- i saw how we got up early and we wouldn't see him until later in the day or evening for dinner time and i admire my parent to match for making sure we got her education and also watching how they went about their daily life to keep a roof over our head.

>> host: what do they think of you being a tea party are? >> guest: my parents are very open-minded and where i stand and what my views are. it's a treat for them treat for them to see me on fox news. i happen to be a contributor and they get a kick out of seeing me on television because that is a huge audience for people and they also know the challenges i'm up against because of my views. but they understand where i came from, growing up as a little kid they know what i was like, a very determined child and had my own views and opinions early on, with a little stubborn now and then. i don't think they had to worry about me because they knew i would make my way. >> host: deneen borelli, you compare your college experience to barack obama's. >> guest: aye parent has a lot of comments i've heard and read about her that she can claim

about black americans going to different universities and how they were targeted and and a tell you it is about hard work. if you are able to get into school or not able to go to college, utilize the opportunity but don't blame others to consider knotted fans the way you think you should be. it's up to the individual to be sure whatever plans sure whatever plans you set forth are the plans you follow and take advantage of opportunity. >> host: why do you include the track story? >> guest: first of all, that was my first love, track and field to iran for events and i was in high school print long jump, high jump, 440 and 100-yard dash. i loved every minute of that. as a true tomboy, love sports. i thought to mention that is

something for young people to look at to try to think about what you can do for your future that is some thing you love and unfortunately i was unable to utilize the scholarship to go to college because my senior year in high school i worked half a day and i went to school have today. another great errands for me but i wasn't able to go to college right away. that is okay because i appreciate what i had to go through because i went to school at night for 11 years i didn't squander or wait for the opportunity. i utilized every moment, every second i could. >> host: subtitle of your book, "blacklash: how obama and the left are driving americans to the government plantation" what you mean by government plantation? >> guest: i mean when they are way too many individuals relying on government for everyday wants and needs. with the current of, there are

record numbers of individuals relying on the government whether it's energy assistance, housing assistance, food stamps, the numbers go up because the policies are harming hard-working americans. if you look at obamacare, people could keep their plan but that's not what happened. it was the absolute opposite. i've met people who lost their health insurance and were happy and they are experiencing record rate for premiums. my heart goes out to individuals. they are hard-working people. i see a lot of people in circumstances they don't want to be in because of the failure of government here in >> host: what made you attend your first tea party meeting? that's a real commitment.

>> guest: was a great experience to be a primetime speaker in 2009. prior to that is going to local meetings. i don't want higher taxes because that's more money i could use for other things. i got involved because you're sick or was it someone focused on politics and look at the situation we are in with spending and government encroachment in everyday lives whether the light bulb use or the car you drive and i got tired of it. i started to get involved. it's a wonderful thing to see americans across the country get involved in grassroots activism because it is up to citizens to play a role in what politicians are doing and saying and they

understand they work for us. that's why it's important for people to recognize what's going on and have a voice. >> host: when you saw what happened in baltimore, what would you have liked to have seen? >> guest: i found that to be very heartbreaking. citizens burning down their own neighborhoods. i also find a lot of decision-making that came from the mayor and local establishment in the government really didn't have a handle on the situation. it blew out of control. unfortunately the situation turned into citizens pitted against the belief of law enforcement. it was a local issue, should have been held on a local level but we had outside external influences who came into the

community and inflated the situation and made it much worse. >> host: have you experienced racism? >> guest: to tell you the truth, i don't believe i have. i tell you that because i'm sitting here with you today on this national network and neck taking advantage of opportunities that someone told me whatever color they were i didn't take it personally. i look for another opportunity to advance by: agenda to get ahead. for me to sit here and say have i been targeted racially i can't say i have. >> host: on our morning show "washington journal" we hear from viewers if you are opposed to obama, it is because of racism. >> guest: the left, the progressives realize they have the bases covered.

if you're a black such as myself traitor, sellout. they have all the bases covered. what they are not looking not at what the facts are with all of the spending and debt. if you look what happened in the black community, just one example. president obama opposes a program that would help disadvantaged children get out of this cycle they are in terms of a broken household or a parent who may be incarcerated or a single parent household, a neighborhood with gains trying to initiate children. you want children to be empowered so they can think for themselves, be well-educated students in our community and support themselves once they get older.

that is just one example. there are policies harming americans and especially those in communities when it comes to education or job opportunities as people need to recognize what is going on in their communities but also that they can do to turn the situations around. >> host: are charter schools popular african-american households? >> guest: i was a former board member several years ago and the children i met and interacted with me where they came from from a public school that there is no control, the kids were in accountable, teachers are accountable. they put them in a learning environment where they feel like they are being looked after and they have an opportunity. charter schools are huge. there is a cap for the number of charter schools available and

parents have come out to demand more opportunities for children because they know the dynamics to the opportunities because there weren't enough seats. you have a lottery where parents are praying their name or number is called so they can have a hopeful future and get a quality education. it is a shame how that is not some thing front and center for people to understand and recognize the importance of a quality education. >> host: deneen borelli, is the tea party movement sustainable? >> i think grassroots movement across the country. i've traveled the country substantially the last several years and i was recently in

illinois, decatur illinois. we are talking about a week night that over hundred people were out to hear me talk about my book, my story, but to empower individuals for what they can do because they are concerned about the direction our country is going and am people are coming out on the weekends and evenings in bringing children out because they want to know what they can do to play a role. it is a wonderful thing. >> host: out of the 200, how many were black? >> guest: that there were me. that wasn't actually. there are situations where there may not be any black individuals they are. they go to churches, let the black church is no way you're invited, you're welc