Posted on 12/28/2008 12:28:37 PM PST by Congressman Billybob
The end of the year is traditionally a time of appraising the last year, and estimating what the next will bring. I’ll skip my personal history and my estimates for my family. Instead, the subject is what I have done for almost 40 years, now.
I’ve spent those years primarily in research, writing, teaching, and practicing constitutional law. At this time, I conclude that the Constitution is in serious trouble.
The idea of creating a democratic republic was extremely rare in 1776 when the intent was stated in the Declaration, as in 1787 when the Constitution was written. The irony is that our nation under that document has prospered mightily, and has survived longer than any other government under any other written constitution in the history of the world.
This success is understood even by barely literate peasants in third-world nations, who risk their lives to enter the US illegally. It is the opposite of most of the world’s nations, where beleaguered peasants risk their lives to escape their own nations.
And yet, and yet....
In the teeth of this success, an operative majority of Americans are now engaged in the death of the Constitution, some intending its murder, many more just acquiescing in its suicide.
The far left, some of whom have nested at places like MoveOn.org and the Daily Kos – not to mention the old standbys, the Communist Party, the Socialist Workers, the “Progressives” – want the American government to fall. It should be replaced by a “better” government.
Of course, the better government these political fools prefer has been tried repeatedly. It has failed repeatedly, at the cost more than a hundred million lives. These hard-core enemies are few, and would have no chance of success without the willing help of those participating in the suicide of the Constitution.
Read the website of the National Education (?) Association and you will see that the Constitution as a law to be understood and respected, is dead as a matter of knowledge in the next generation of public school students, Read the catalogs of most universities, and sadly, of most law schools, You will see that the Constitution is dying there, too,
Most law schools are breeding lawyers, some of whom ultimately become judges, who think the Constitution is whatever the judges say it is, no more, no less. When you have judges who believe such perfidy, and citizens who don’t know any better, the Constitution’s days are numbered.
Thomas Jefferson, among other Founders, understood that America could only survive if her citizens were educated. Included in that was an understanding of what it meant to have limited government, and federalism which scattered both decisions and responsibility among all the states and local governments, now 50 states and about 250,000 local governments.
But the natural tendency of all governments is to accumulate power at the center. When the Constitution fails of its most basic purpose, to define and limit the power of the national government, then the United States will become no better than the majority of the governments in the United Nations, which are dictatorships of one description or another.
Will the Constitution be thrown away entirely? I don’t think so. The five-page parchment document will remain preserved in the National Archives. Four pages will be on daily display for citizens who still think it matters. The fifth page is displayed just on September 17th.
The Constitution will still be referred to as a talisman, like the Blarney Stone. But it will be an empty husk with its vital purposes removed.
It is not too late for education concerning the Constitution to be turned around. The history and purposes for which it was written are easily stated, and easily understood between any competent teacher and competent student.
Still at this year-end assessment, I am pessimistic, I don’t think the Constitution will survive as anything other than a failed symbol beyond the end of my life. At least I’m doing what I can to avoid that. My latest book is not about Tom Paine, as intended. It’s about the fate of the Constitution,
The title is, “America’s Owner’s Manual.” Details are here: www.AmericasOwnersManual.com
I am, in the words of John the Baptist, “a voice crying out in the wilderness.” Whether it is, or isn’t, enough, it is a task which must be done.
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About the Author: John Armor practiced law in the Supreme Court for 33 years. He now lives on the Eastern Continental Divide in the Blue Ridge of North Carolina. John_Armor@aya.yale.edu
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John / Billybob
Tough news, but I think you are "spot on". I'm also a lone voice crying out the same, and nobody seems to listen. The Sheeple are too far gone.
Short of an armed rebellion, I don't see how Constitutional rule can be restored. The success of such a rebellion is also in question, since The Sheeple are those who brought this about in the first place.
I lose a lot of sleep over this CB. I also don't think this Republic will live much beyond my own life, and I'm 59 already.
It was a Republic, if we could keep it. We could not......
Some liberal-Democrats think the Constitution is a living document, mostly out dated and inconsequential. They would like to kill it off, once and for all.
The good news is, America isn’t dead yet.
Have you hatched an “escape plan”? I don’t really think there is any place to go where the situation could be improved.
The last great hero of the Constitution was Reagan. He was elected by a landslide.
I believe there are more true patriots than slaves in our country. The patriots, however, will not vote for slave holders of either the Obama or the McCain ilk.
Give us a true patriot for POTUS and we will give this nation another great president.
Sadly, I concur with what you are saying...
The idea of creating a democratic republic was extremely rare in 1776 . . . .
.. and keeping it was recognized as a problem.
Some say that a democracy lasts until the poor realize that they can vote themselves a share of the property of the wealthy. Beyond respect for our Constitution questions what about our republic?
A citizen starts out with one representative and two senators -- and ends up with one representative and two senators.
Foreign countries and their diasporas residing here start out with and keep 435 representatives and 100 senators. Ditto powerful domestic organizations, they too each have 435 representatives and 100 senators. It's not hard figuring out why we have problems keeping our republic.
Thanks
What is your take on the Obama birth certificate?
We are grossly under-represented.
This is an accurate summary of what is going on right now.
Those who recognize the problem can see the solution clearly, but alas, they are rapidly becoming the minority.
My concerns are on how to survive in the new nation being created for us. What advice do I give my kids and grandkids?
I didn't enjoy it, but it's the truth. Unfortunately, my children attend public schools. At home, I still teach them about what the constitution and living in a free country means. I know they don't teach such things in schools anymore, which is obvious given the result of the recent presidential election. I hate to be pessimistic, but any freedom loving citizen can only conclude our country as we know it is lost. With the invasion from across our southern border, our country could be lost forever.
Under a worst case scenario, the best hope could be if a "New America" could be created and established somewhere. Use your imagination as to where.
Yes it is. I believe there will come a time that the nonsayers will be exposed and banished. When, I don’t know; butit will happen.
bttt
On September 6, 1819, Thomas Jefferson wrote:
“The constitution is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any form they please.”
That almost sends chills down my back how true it is (and how much we see it today happening)
Agreed.
However, I think the result of the meeting with Apophis could establish conditions for parts of the country to re-establish a Constitutional Republic.
You should be able to hang in there long enough for that. I'm pointing to it and I'm in my mid-70's.
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