Posted on 08/29/2012 7:42:49 PM PDT by johnkpiper
Two visions: A highly amended current Constitution, or a new alternative US Constitution. Both ensure the intent of the founders to protect Individual Rights and limit the Powers of the Federal and State Governments, but are updated with 224 years of hindsight since the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Why do that? Because we have to! We are broker than we have ever been: $15 trillion in debt…that’s $15,000,000,000,000.00… 100% of GDP… for a sense of perspective, that is bigger than ELEVEN Canadas.
(Excerpt) Read more at pipe-dream-constitution.info ...
Nope. The 1787 version is fine. We just need to live by it..
The US Constitution failed to stop us from drifting toward a socialistic servile state. On paper, it reads pretty well, but after 200+ years of practice, we've ended up in a bad place.
I'd like a reset, because I don't like where we are.
You get what you vote for.
If you cannot elect the Goverment you want, why in the world would you think you can elect the Constituional Convention you want? It stupidity in voting that is the problem, not the Constitution.
Not a snowball's chance....
But are you suggesting that we try to "fix" 300 million Americans as a more achievable goal?
Or are you suggesting that we accept the status quo of $1.5T annual deficits and rampant government corruption, because, hey, people are flawed and you can't really fix that?
In short: what's your plan?
Not really a 1st amendment problem; Islam is not a religion, but a political, and legal, system with the trappings of a religion.
I have problems with the second amendment -- I think it needs to be more clear that I can carry concealed anywhere at any time.
I'm not sure it's a problem. Just needs a second section: "It is the right of every Citizen to keep and bear arms; no law or tradition withstanding, any government officer, official, or judge attempting to abridge this amendment shall forfeit all enrollments, pensions, and retirement benefits."
I have problems with the 16th amendment -- income tax is wrong.
I would actually rather an income tax than a property tax; the latter means that you can never, never own your own land and become independent of the government.
I have problems with the 17th -- direct election of senators is wrong.
Agreed; the States themselves [as entities] have no representation in the federal government.
The US Constitution failed to stop us from drifting toward a socialistic servile state. On paper, it reads pretty well, but after 200+ years of practice, we've ended up in a bad place.
I lay much of the blame on the judiciary: precedent is a horrible, horrible thing, it is nothing less than judges playing the children's game of 'telephone' with your [legal] rights.
I'd like a reset, because I don't like where we are.
What we need as-a-country is real, moral, righteous life... the kind that only God gives.
NO!
Today’s leaders are not the best and brightest. There are no James Monroes, Thomas Jeffersons, Sam Adams, or Benjamin Franklins in our government. I doubt if most of them that are there have read Locke, Rousseau, or Hobbs. Or even the Federalist Papers for that matter. The best minds of the twenty first century are not attracted to Washington.
They need to keep their hands OFF the Constitution.
I'm not entirely certain that such minutiae as plastic surgery and the ingestion of intoxicating substances really belong in such a source document. Rather, I would submit that these are to be governed under a broader principle that would be equally applicable to topics not so specifically delineated - the Constitution is, after all, supposed to be a framework for future legislation.
It may be that I have misinterpreted your intentions here and if so I apologize, but it appears to me that the proper focus of the body of your text ought to be on the Bill of Rights exclusively. Whether I've missed the point or not (and that is quite likely), thanks for an interesting read.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Honestly, I think the Antifederalist Papersare a bit more relevant and insightful.
Many living Americans have fought in wars and been permanently scarred because of it. Many other Americans have lossed loved ones. Many Americans have died in such wars.
The common denominator for all:
They swore an oath to defend the Constitution. As did I.
No one in their right mind would want to get rid of it.
Maybe he means a new constitution with a new Qualifications Test for the Presidency (like, “Citizen of Kenya, Indonesia, Pakistan, or Transylvania?”). Well, that would at least clean things up a bit...
I vote for keeping (and honoring) the old one...
Changing the 'old' language in the Bibles for the lazy and calling that modernizing....2+2=5 if it makes the child less fearsome of math; changing the rules in some sports so there are no winners or losers and on and on. The United States Constitution is one of the most admired documents in the world....Leave It Alone.
That is because we have a Post-Constitutional government like Mark Levin states.
So many current laws should be Null and Void because they conflict with the Supreme Law of the Land. They are provable UNCONSTITUTIONAL. We The People have to make sure the judges quit twisting and warping our Constitution into Marx’s Manifesto.
If we were following the Constitution—Muslims wouldn’t be allowed to become citizens, because they believe in another political system and want to overthrow the Constitution, and polygamy denies equality under their law to women. Polygamy is illegal here.
We need to return to laws prior to Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. who removed God’s laws from our legal system. We have one standard —where our Rights are from-—not from Satan—or Barney Frank. God=Given Rights are the only one compatible with our Constitution.
All laws giving special rights to any group-—including special health care for Congressmen-—and DOE are UNCONSTITUTIONAL-—as is Obamacare.
We have to impeach judges and get them to quit being activist judges and acting like a ruling elite. This is not an oligarchy and the judges are ignoring the Supreme Law of the Land.
The Constitution—as it is— is near perfect.
Hello, ClearChase
I agree on most everything you say (except that Islam should be outlawed - only the intolerant/violent type should be), and lay out specifics in the pipe dream constitution.
Your Loyal Servant,
JKP
Hello, Minnesota Johnnie
I agree with your sentiment, but not the conclusion. We vote for the lesser of the evils, and a careless vote between a skunk and a rat is still a vote for a skunk or a rat. The system is rigged, and most people can be accused of careless votes with these conditions. I address some of this in my fantasy constitution.
Hello, Wings and Wind,
I agree, not even a little snowball’s chance...
But they said that in 1787, too. I daresay we should consider our alternatives, as limited as they are, though.
Your Loyal Servant,
JKP
Hello, Lrdg,
I agree completely that the best and brightest are not attracted to D.C.
Which is probably the way it should be...they should be members of the civil society, making their mark as businesspeople, scientists, and (commonsensical) thinkers, not rulers.
BUT a few should want to do a term of service as a Representative the same as people do an enlistment in the Army...but they are not attracted to D.C. because it is such a den of vile vultures, elected with the aid of slanderers like David Axelrod, who could turn Mother Teresa into a demon.
It requires a few believers in constitutional principles to go to D.C. to ensure the Constitution is upheld...and pry the hands of the scoundrels off of it.
My point is: this noble document has been so adulterated by people who lack honor and virtue that its principles need to be reaffirmed in a stronger document...or we are doomed as a Free people.
Your Loyal Servant,
JKP
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