The supposed "independence" noted and celebrated is recorded in the document known as The Declaration of Independence.  Those enslaved by a king at that time, declared themselves subjects instead to some, as yet, undefined government master (later to be defined as a "republic"). The document rails about such worthy goals as equality among men, inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and government operating only at the consent of the governed.

But when present day loyalists view their present day reality through their star spangled eyes, do they see the ultimate achievement of these documented goals?

Once the hot dogs and beer are digested and the fireworks smoke clears, what do they have? Freedom? Independence? Liberty? Quite the contrary.