Evaluating the Progressive Amendments

On the Rim of Insanity ^ | January 1, 2010 | Ben Oravetz

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

At around the turn of the century, before or just after World War I, the progressive amendments were passed. Not since the post Civil War era was there ever such a speedy passage of amendments to the Constitution or since. In a period of about 10 years or so, we saw four radical amendments passed and ratified into the Constitution. They are amendments 16, 17, 18, and 19.

The era in which they were passed was one of optimism among the American Left and many of the influential leaders. New areas of science were opening up as well as new technologies. The inventers Tesla and Edison were bringing us into a new era of technological advancement. The Industrial Age had brought about a higher standard of living for everyone. Things were looking up for humanity and especially America.

The American Left, despite never really gaining much traction in popularity, was able to pass four amendments, all of them of questionable benefit. Now that it has been almost a century since their passage, I think it is time to re-evaluate them all:

1. The 16th Amendment reads, “The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.” This is the income tax amendment. Originally, it was an amendment that was touted as one that would affect only the super-wealthy (sound familiar?). In fact, for a long time it did just that. If you made above a certain amount, you’d get taxed. But the percentage wasn’t all that high either, at around 2 or 3 percent. These days just about everyone pays the income tax in the form of withholding, even if you get it all back. Books have been written about the injustice behind it, but I think this amendment is a great example of the government getting it’s foot in the door and subsequently sneaking in all its friends uninvited. In short, this amendment contradicts the 4th amendment, which I believe trumps the 16th. It should be repealed.

2. The 17th Amendment reads, in part, “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote.” What this changed was that Senators were originally elected by the state legislatures. It meant that a whole house of Congress was not held accountable to the whims of the dumb masses and required voters to focus just as much attention on their state officials as much as their federal ones. These days, Senators act against the will of the people and do so without regard for their constituents because they know that voters have short memories. After all, if you spend four or fives voting against the interests of the people and spend the election year voting in pet projects, you can do almost anything. This amendment needs to be repealed in order to remove much of the corruption that currently plagues DC. While there will probably be corruption in another form, at least it will be a different kind from the House and may actually run counter to it. Sometimes two wrongs do make a right, especially in politics.

3. The 18th Amendment reads, in part, “After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.” This was the prohibition amendment and it brought us the rise of organized crime, the rise of the FBI in power, a precedent for Federal involvement in the substances we take, and the Kennedy dynasty. Even when it was properly repealed, the damage was already done to the political culture of America.

4. The 19th Amendment reads, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.” This secured women’s right to vote across all states. One of the dirty secrets about this amendment, though, is that there were states that already allowed women to vote. You see, the Constitution didn’t prevent women from voting, it just never required them to do so. The states were given a lot of authority and say in the matter of determining who had the right to vote. To some extent, they still do, but the Federal government has since taken over much of that authority without regard for the spirit of Federalism. If the women’s suffrage movement really wanted the right to vote, going about it state-by-state should have been the proper role, not forcing it through via the amendment process. However, since the amendment has passed and since I cannot blame women for the expansion of the Federal government since I am a believer in individualism over collectivism, I don’t think it should be repealed.

So that about sums my attitude about the progressive amendments. Really I think they’ve done more than good as they were originally intended. I doubt that the progressives could have really conceived of the long-term dangers involved in the passage of these amendments. For the most part, they were just a collection of people with good intentions and a complete lack of foresight.

This should be a lesson we all learn when it comes to the current administration. Obama is a deluded fool who probably doesn’t believe half the stuff he says in public and thoroughly believes in the goodness of his private goals, whatever they truly are. But make no mistake, this will end badly for us if we fail to remain vigilant and prevent him from causing as much harm as we can.

[rae4palin]

Good post.

[redpoll]

At least the Progressives had enough respect for the Constitution to put their changes through in the form of an amendment. The current bunch of leftists are acting as if the document doesn’t even exist.

[JillValentine]

So, Mr. American Taliban, do you still beat your wife? In this case, it’s a legitimate question.

[Politicalmom]

Oh, yay. Another “Wimmin ur evil” thread.

[JillValentine]

You woman-hating freaks are just as evil as the Islamonazis who flew planes into buildings. I’ve fought for conservative causes all my life while liberal males have voted straight D like sheep. Yet you want to take away MY right to vote. What’s next, banning women from owning guns? Legalizing rape?

You want to take away my guns? Come and get them, you Taliban-worshipping asswipe.

[CIDKauf]

Its unrealistic to repeal the 19th and will never happen, but not the 16th amendment. Tax reform is the biggest issue to me. The 16th amendment was passed to primarily fund WW I. Just look at how they use it today.

[pelican001]

Chill out. You may not like it but a strong majority of women vote progressive. If not for the 19th Ammendment, Obama wouldn’t have been elected. Now go ahead and continue shooting the messengers.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I tried to read Lott’s analysis of government growth corresponding with women’s suffrage, but it was basically written in over-my-head terms that only other stat geeks could understand.

I have no idea whether government growth actually took place because the new women’s voting bloc supported said growth, or because government simply took advantage of the new voting bloc.

[Politicalmom]

So that’s a reason to reduce women to the status of children or slaves? So what about all the flaming leftist MEN?

[JillValentine]

Since when is 53% a strong majority? Anyway, why should conservative women be punished for the sins of liberal women? We don’t blame you for the sins of liberal men like Carter or Clinton or Obama. I thought conservatives were supposed to judge people as individuals, not collectively. Guess you’re no conservative.

Now go ahead and keep spitting on conservative women, while giving liberal males a pass. And keep fantasizing about denying us the right to own guns. Fantasizing is as close as you’ll ever get.

[pelican001]

It’s all academic anyway. CIDKauf is right to say that the 19th will never be repealed.

[ROTB]

>So, Mr. American Taliban, do you still beat your wife? In this case, it’s a legitimate question.

*******************************

So, Ms. Gaia-Demo-Lite, so you appreciate the scourge of Communism foisted on us c/o the plethora of silly chicks who vote for Democrats?

Given Democrats wouldn’t have this country in a bind were it not for all the easy liberal chicks who vote, it’s a legitimate question.

Please do not give me how you’re this great Conservative/Christian, and you blah blah blah blah. Bottom line, women pick badly as a group.

I am a tax-payer. Only people who have paid taxes for 7 years should vote. This eliminates college students (Obama constituency), and welfare recipients (another Obama constituency). This alone would do much to not have politicians reminiscent of vaudeville acts.

However, I am confident if I belonged to a group of people who OVERWHELMINGLY pick the wrong people, I would be the first to say, “They should not vote”.

In fact, I do belong to such a group. I am a renter. Despite being a renter, I say, “Only land owners should vote.” I would be much happier with the voting system if only land owners voted, even as a tax-payer.

In fact, I take it even further. I am not military. Yet despite this shortcoming, I say, “Beyond landowners, only present and ex-military should vote.”

Do you see your own limitations? Or are you like all typical people, and think that you are great, and it’s all the other people that are the problem? Would you take a step back, so that this country could take 10 steps forward?

How far are you from being a holier than thou, finger wagging self-righteous liberal?

[Cherokee Conservative]

A larger percentage of blacks vote Democrat than the percentage of women. So, why aren’t you clamoring for the black vote to be taken away? If that dang civil rights movement hadn’t happened, Obama wouldn’t have gotten elected, right? For chauvinist, women hating pigs, this comparison probably won’t show them the depth of their hypocrisy and stupidity, unfortunately. To them, women really are subhuman. Losers.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Geez, should I have popped some popcorn when I posted this thread?

(And how “overwhelmingly” do women vote the “wrong” way, anyway? I heard one thing about how Al Gore would have won easily (perhaps with 320 electoral votes) if only women had voted, but besides that, I’m not sure. And if an all-male electorate had picked W with 320 EVs, I’m not sure if that’s much better, as you can see what he helped to do to the country prior to the reign of 0b0z0.)

[Admin Moderator]

Discussion is fine. Let’s keep it at that and avoid personal abuse.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

What bugs ME even more is somebody who hits the abuse button because somebody else got angry and hurt his/her widdle feewings.