Thursday, November 17, 2011

The Constitution is Not Enough

The Constitution is Not Enough

The Soviet Union had a fine constitution. Their version of the Bill of Rights was quite a bit better (or at least stronger) as a guarantor of rights to the common people than our measly ten amendments. The constitution DOES NOT MATTER when you have a government that is bound and determined to take our rights away, as a natural consequence of seizing more power for themselves. Our government has been doing this from the very start. In 1803, Marbury vs Madison, the Supreme Court seized power from congress and the president, declaring itself the supreme power over the other branches. The federals have not stopped taking power in unconstitutional ways since then.

Our only bulwark against tyranny is to make sure that the would-be dictator is afraid to take power. That is why the 1st and 2nd amendments were written, and why they have pride of place right in the beginning of the list of rights. Read them in order - the 2nd guarantees the 1st. Our power to speak and publish and worship and assemble and complain - and shoot - guarantee that no president will try to put a crown upon his head. So they have been smarter than to do that - they take our rights and add to their power in little ways, all the time, bit by bit. It is death by a thousand cuts. That is why we need to elect principled supporters of constitutional limited government. Not necessarily to roll things back to the 18th century, but to hold the line, and maybe even roll the power of the overweening state back a bit. That is the best we can hope for.


Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.