As mentioned in related threads, we can probably ultimately blame the widespread uncertainty with how pro-gay activist justices are going to decide gay marriage on the ill-conceived 17th Amendment (17A), state lawmakers foolishly giving up the voices of state lawmakers by ratifying that amendment.
Please bear with the following analysis of gay marriage and 17A.
With all due respect to mom & pop, as a consequence of her parents likely not making sure that she was taught about 10th Amendment-protected state powers versus constitutionally unprotected “rights,” the religious broadcaster is seemingly going into a panic mode with respect to pro-gay activist justices wrongy politically “amending” the so-called right to gay marriage to the Constitution from the bench.
More specifically, she probably does not know that activist judges have been wrongly ignoring that the states have never amended the Constitution to expressly protect gay marriage. So since judges and justices actually have no constitutionally enumerated gay rights to throw at the states via the 14th Amendment, the states are free to do the following.
The states are free to make laws which discriminate against constitutionally unprotected gay marriage, as long as such laws don’t also unreasonably abridge constitutionally enumerated rights.
And a hopefully growing number of partriots who are wising up to judicial corruption at least now have some hope that the Supreme Court’s decision about gay marriage is not necessarily going to be the final word on that issue.
Regarding 17A and gay marriage, if the states legislatures still controlled the Senate then there would probably be all different faces on the Supreme Court right now, justices more protective of 10th Amendment-protected state sovereignty, including the constitutionally unchecked power of the states to prohibit gay marriage.
In the meanwhile, patriots have a lot of work to do to restore the constitutional republic, making 17A disappear hopefully towards the top of the list.
Best post of the evening. You are dead on target about the maliciousness of the 17thAmd ... Unfortunately it was a Nebraskan who screwed over the nation with that lame-brained scheme - U.S. Senator George Norris, and turd-packer Ben Nelson was made from the same mold. Seems Nebraskans have done much to destroy the Constitution, and not much of a damn thing to preserve and protect it. No, I am not from Nebraska - but I’m stuck living in this EBFNW sh*t hole.
If no one upholds the Constitution - then the Constitution is moot and irrelevant. We can scream about it all the day long - and it does not matter.
Power resides where people believe it resides, and those with the greatest willpower to either create the impression they have all authority - or those who SHOW that they have the authority - wield power and the force of law, whether it be righteous or tyrannical.
Case-In-Point - the IRS, also in charge of ObamaCare I might add.
If Obama suspends suspends the Constitution by default, and no one in the authority of checks and balances holds him to account - then he gets away with lawlessness and it becomes permissible, precedent and ‘lawful’ should he decree it.
All our crowing about the 10th Amendment, 17th, 1st, 2nd, 4th and so on - is meaningless when the rulers have decided that the document we think they are subject to, is irrelevant and subject to their ‘interpretation’ regardless however ridiculous it may seem.
We are past the point of reining in this tyranny via civil means. The corrupt and the usurping have successfully created the impression that all legal authority begins and ends with them, and therefore power resides where the populace believe it resides.
Where this goes now, is use of force. Either to force subjugation to the new interpretations of law and policy - or to force compliance with what was legally ratified.
That is now all that remains - excepting massive events that will take everything into a different paradigm.