Occupation of Independence

The best place to be on Independence Day, now mis-labeled 'The Fourth', is in a small city or big town.  There, they celebrate the holiday in traditional ways that I and many people consider nostalgic and pleasant. The holiday would be even better if it were a real celebration of independence, not the independence from British king George III, 250 years ago.  Independence should be concerned about the present, not the past.  Today we need our independence from the idea of an American Empire, from a foreign policy subservient to Israel, and from the industry of China.  The list is longer than that, actually. Perhaps independence is not something that the average peasant yearns for in most countries, most of the time.  I wonder what causes the yearning to arise here and there, now and then?