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July 4th (Thomas Sowell)
Creators Syndicate ^ | June 28, 2011 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 06/27/2011 12:06:44 PM PDT by jazusamo

 

The Fourth of July may be just a holiday for fireworks to some people. But it was a momentous day for the history of this country and the history of the world.

Not only did July 4, 1776 mark American independence from England, it marked a radically different kind of government from the governments that prevailed around the world at the time — and the kinds of governments that had prevailed for thousands of years before.

The American Revolution was not simply a rebellion against the King of England, it was a rebellion against being ruled by kings in general. That is why the opening salvo of the American Revolution was called "the shot heard round the world."

Autocratic rulers and their subjects heard that shot — and things that had not been questioned for millennia were now open to challenge. As the generations went by, more and more autocratic governments around the world proved unable to meet that challenge.

Some clever people today ask whether the United States has really been "exceptional." You couldn't be more exceptional in the 18th century than to create your fundamental document — the Constitution of the United States — by opening with the momentous words, "We the people..."

Those three words were a slap in the face to those who thought themselves entitled to rule, and who regarded the people as if they were simply human livestock, destined to be herded and shepherded by their betters. Indeed, to this very day, elites who think that way — and that includes many among the intelligentsia, as well as political messiahs — find the Constitution of the United States a real pain because it stands in the way of their imposing their will and their presumptions on the rest of us.

More than a hundred years ago, so-called "Progressives" began a campaign to undermine the Constitution's strict limitations on government, which stood in the way of self-anointed political crusaders imposing their grand schemes on all the rest of us. That effort to discredit the Constitution continues to this day, and the arguments haven't really changed much in a hundred years.

The cover story in the July 4th issue of Time magazine is a classic example of this arrogance. It asks of the Constitution: "Does it still matter?"

A long and rambling essay by Time magazine's managing editor, Richard Stengel, manages to create a toxic blend of the irrelevant and the erroneous.

The irrelevant comes first, pointing out in big letters that those who wrote the Constitution "did not know about" all sorts of things in the world today, including airplanes, television, computers and DNA.

This may seem like a clever new gambit but, like many clever new gambits, it is a rehash of arguments made long ago. Back in 1908, Woodrow Wilson said, "When the Constitution was framed there were no railways, there was no telegraph, there was no telephone,"

In Mr. Stengel's rehash of this argument, he declares: "People on the right and left constantly ask what the framers would say about some event that is happening today."

Maybe that kind of talk goes on where he hangs out. But most people have enough common sense to know that a constitution does not exist to micro-manage particular "events" or express opinions about the passing scene.

A constitution exists to create a framework for government — and the Constitution of the United States tries to keep the government inside that framework.

From the irrelevant to the erroneous is a short step for Mr. Stengel. He says, "If the Constitution was intended to limit the federal government, it certainly doesn't say so."

Apparently Mr. Stengel has not read the Tenth Amendment: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

Perhaps Richard Stengel should follow the advice of another Stengel — Casey Stengel, who said on a number of occasions, "You could look it up."

Does the Constitution matter? If it doesn't, then your Freedom doesn't matter.



TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial
KEYWORDS: sowell; thomassowell; usconstitution
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1 posted on 06/27/2011 12:06:52 PM PDT by jazusamo
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To: abigail2; Amalie; American Quilter; arthurus; awelliott; Bahbah; bamahead; Battle Axe; ...
*PING*
Thomas Sowell

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Please FReepmail me if you would like to be added to or removed from the Thomas Sowell ping list…

2 posted on 06/27/2011 12:10:09 PM PDT by jazusamo (His [Obama's] political base---the young, the left and the thoughtless: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

“Does the Constitution matter? If it doesn’t, then your Freedom doesn’t matter.”

Mr. Sowell shows how to identify an example of the general failure of leftist thinking.


3 posted on 06/27/2011 12:23:36 PM PDT by reasonisfaith (Pray for Israel.)
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To: jazusamo
Thanks for posting this. A very powerful essay, one of his best. You can sense the righteous anger he feels towards the "elites" that wish to rule over us.

I have a few of Mr Sowell's books. He is truly a national treasure. We are blessed to have his insights.

4 posted on 06/27/2011 12:25:34 PM PDT by sand88 (Sarah Palin announces her run: August 12, 2011 11:10am ET)
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To: jazusamo
“Does it still matter?”

What a thought. This is just another reason (if another reason is needed) to ignore the MSM. Even supposing the Constitution is WHOLLY flawed...that it was not written to serve all America and has not been effective in the process, WHO could replace it and with WHAT??? The statement ‘Does it still matter?’ is asinine and was made by asinine, malicious and ill-informed people. I am sick of this!!!

“Our Constitution was not written in the sands to be washed away by each wave of new judges blown in by each successive political wind.” Hugo Black

5 posted on 06/27/2011 12:28:07 PM PDT by SMARTY ("Educate men without religion and you make of them but clever devils. " Arthur Wellesley)
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To: jazusamo

bttt


6 posted on 06/27/2011 12:31:01 PM PDT by NEWwoman (God Bless America)
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To: jazusamo

Such a great, brief article with a point.

Why isn’t this man President?


7 posted on 06/27/2011 12:33:13 PM PDT by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: SMARTY

Well said. That is not surprising coming from the enemedia and especially Time mag.


8 posted on 06/27/2011 12:51:47 PM PDT by jazusamo (His [Obama's] political base---the young, the left and the thoughtless: Thomas Sowell)
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To: SMARTY
I believe it was Justice Scalia who put made the (sarcastic) comment to Breyer that if the Constitution was to be regularly re-interpreted to fit contemporary society, Oprah would be a better pick for the SCOTUS than a judge.

Of course, 0 has taken the lean that way by plopping an activist lawyer with no judicial experience on the court.

When it is established that 0 was not qualified to be president, does that mean that his SCOTUS picks can go away, too?

With a Republican president and congress, will the seals finally be ripped off all the national security secrets which protect 0's background?

One can only hope.

9 posted on 06/27/2011 1:01:18 PM PDT by Quiller (When you're fighting to survive, there is no "try" -- there is only do, or do not.)
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To: jazusamo
Picking a nit...

The Continental Congress voted to declare our independence on July 2nd. The specific wording of the Declaration to be sent to the King was voted on and approved two days later.

Do we celebrate the deed or the parchment?

Something to ponder...

10 posted on 06/27/2011 1:26:24 PM PDT by Dead Corpse (explosive bolts, ten thousand volts at a million miles an hour)
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To: jazusamo

Sure is irritating to have someone like Stengel lecturing from a position of being high-paid and either illiterate or purposely obtuse. Guess that’s how the world wags though. Bet Roman middle class folk felt just the same way (with probably just as good cause).


11 posted on 06/27/2011 1:29:30 PM PDT by BelegStrongbow (St. Joseph, patron of fathers, pray for us!)
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To: jazusamo

Thank you for posting this thread, Jaz. Dr. Sowell is one of my favorite thinkers.


12 posted on 06/27/2011 1:43:08 PM PDT by Paperdoll (NO MORE BUSHS!)
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To: jazusamo

Thanks for the ping jaz. Amazing the 4th of July is coming along soon now. This year has shot by like a bullet IMO. Wasn’t that long ago we were stowing Christmas away in the rafters of the barn. The next thing we know it’ll be time to vote out Obama.

NUTS! That’s next year siiiiiiiiiigh.

Isn’t it telling to watch as each year goes by, and more, and more reasons are found by communities all over the country to NOT celebrate the 4th with the traditional fireworks displays? Seems everything that’s America is under assault.


13 posted on 06/27/2011 2:02:06 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists, call 'em what you will, they ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.)
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To: jazusamo

Thank you, Mr. Sowell.


14 posted on 06/27/2011 3:15:25 PM PDT by fightinJAG (I am sick of people adding their comments to titles in the title box. Thank you.)
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To: rockinqsranch

I agree, rqsr. It always raises my ire when seeing communities cease their July 4th celebrations, especially those where it’s been a traditon for decades.


15 posted on 06/27/2011 4:14:51 PM PDT by jazusamo (His [Obama's] political base---the young, the left and the thoughtless: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

16 posted on 06/27/2011 4:24:46 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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To: jazusamo

Just 15 replies, That really sucks. I’ll save this for my 8 year old daughter.


17 posted on 06/27/2011 11:22:08 PM PDT by Haddit
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To: jazusamo

Great article. Speaks directly to the issue that’s holding the Country hostage.


18 posted on 06/27/2011 11:35:12 PM PDT by Gene Eric (*** Jesus ***)
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To: IncPen

Wrong question is being asked.
It is not does it matter?
It is who benefits?


19 posted on 06/28/2011 2:00:46 AM PDT by Nailbiter
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To: jazusamo

Big Bump

“But most people have enough common sense to know that a constitution does not exist to micro-manage particular “events” or express opinions about the passing scene.

A constitution exists to create a framework for government — and the Constitution of the United States tries to keep the government inside that framework.”


20 posted on 06/28/2011 6:33:39 AM PDT by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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