that epithet thrown at me before, so I guess I can take it! (sigh) Barbara -- Actually, I have always felt a bit uncomfortable with that phrase of the Declaration of Independence, as well, for the same reasons. Interestingly, it appears the founding fathers struggled with this phrase, themselves, as this was one of the most edited phrases of the document. At one point, it was worded, "life, liberty, and happiness," but was changed a couple of times before winding up, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The final version is definitely better than the original draft, but still doesn't quite hit the mark, in my view. Isn't that funny. I never even thought of the Declaration of Independence going through many drafts, like any other piece of good writing. How dumb of me! Really interesting what you said about how they were tinkering with the wording. I guess because it is such an iconic and venerated document, I don't think of it having been subject to debate or editing. The adulation that Americans are taught to have for The Declaration of Independence is extraordinary (from my naive viewpoint as one down-under). I think they may have clarified the pursuit of happiness issue in the Constitution's preamble with "establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity." I think your concern about the common good would have been understood in "promote the general