You have sat in meetings. You have most assuredly sat in meetings that lasted longer than your attention span. You've probably never endured a 19-day meeting. But that's exactly what elected representatives from some of the British colonies in North America did in New York City back in October of 1765.
It was called the Stamp Act Congress. A foreign government was about to start taxing them on their own paper the next month and the heads of state decided to get together to figure out what the heck they were going to do about it. They were armed not with rifles but with enlightenment from modern philosophers who peddled the radical notion that all humans were created equally free and governments therefore required the "consent of the governed." And as such, free people retain the right to overthrow their leaders if those leaders betray those natural rights.
On the 13th day of the Congress, the delegates adopted the Declaration of Rights and Grievances. This original - and significantly less famous - Declaration included 14 statements. The sixth statement asserted that only representatives elected by the colonies can levy taxes. (You're familiar with the phrase, "No taxation without representation," right?)
We all know what happened next.
19 days well spent.
Happy Independence Day, America.
