The USA Constitution

[Peter Parka]

Yeah, I realise this is somewhat controversial but please dont just dismiss my opinion with the "you're not from here, you have no right talking about it" stuff. If I'm being in someway naive, please tell me how.
I think it should be scrapped. It was a good idea at the time and very noble but was in no way written with future situations which the founding fathers had no way of having the slightest idea about. The fact there have been so many ammendments shows it isn't the holy grail that many Americans think it is. It holds back updating laws because people still go back to the "its against the constitution" stuff. Did the founding fathers have any idea whatsoever about the birth of the internet? No. When they wrote about guns, were they talking about a time when the USA was free from the threat of invasion? No.
It should be held up as a great thing for the time but part of history to be proud of but really dosen't deserve its power in the modern world.

 

[Panacea]

It's sort of a cultural phenomenon, and the end all be all of right versus wrong. It's something a lot of people here hold very very close to their heart, and you're about to see the magnitude of rage some will fly into in order to protect it

 

[Tim]

Yeah, I realise this is somewhat controversial but please dont just dismiss my opinion with the "you're not from here, you have no right talking about it" stuff. If I'm being in someway naive, please tell me how.
I think it should be scrapped. It was a good idea at the time and very noble but was in no way written with future situations which the founding fathers had no way of having the slightest idea about. The fact there have been so many ammendments shows it isn't the holy grail that many Americans think it is. It holds back updating laws because people still go back to the "its against the constitution" stuff. Did the founding fathers have any idea whatsoever about the birth of the internet? No. When they wrote about guns, were they talking about a time when the USA was free from the threat of invasion? No.
It should be held up as a great thing for the time but part of history to be proud of but really dosen't deserve its power in the modern world.

The constitution as written is outdated. It does not cover nearly as much as it should in today's society.

But you need to understand that it is used as a basis for all of our laws but that does not mean it covers all of our laws. It only means that our new laws must not violate the base rule of law (the constitution)

The law of the land is made up not only of the constitution, but every supreme court ruling since it started hearing cases. So even though you think that the constitution is outdated, it has allowed for changes and interpretations through amendments and supreme court interpretations...

 

[pjbleek]

Founding fathers had a good idea until modern society stepped in and the views of the Constitution allow it to be bent/shaped. True, they really had the worries of War and taking care of its own, but I think that history teaches us a lesson in the fact that by eminent domain the United States does what it does. I think if you read into some of the United States political thinkers of the hundred years after the constitution had been ratified (of its original amendments) and see what had to be put in because of the society and a civil war I might agree/disagree.
It should be torn up at times, but at times it stands as a benchmark into history (term limits on presidents and not Congressmen/Senators)
it is a great piece of history for sure.

 

[Kyle B]

That's pretty much the purpose of amendments. If we feel one part is grossly outdated, we'll amend it. Add ontop of that the fact that you can interpret it differently as time goes on. The whole thing almost seems like a paradox, but you need some basis/legitimacy for the government that you can turn to.

 

[satinbutterfly]

When they wrote about guns, were they talking about a time when the USA was free from the threat of invasion? No.

This confuses me. Do you really think the 2nd amendment was only because we feared being invaded?

We have that amendment to protect our right to protect ourselves. Quite simple, and not outdated.

 

[darkcgi]

simple put it is outdated
the amendments is adjust for its outdatedness
we still keep it as a historical symbol dipicting the birth of a time when we decided to get organized and lay down guidlines to keep our people safe
it would be nice to have a new one that was more helpfull for modern times
however I dont trust the people that are in charge of this country to make one that will be solid enough to protect us as much as the one we already have

 

[Peter Parka]

This confuses me. Do you really think the 2nd amendment was only because we feared being invaded?

We have that amendment to protect our right to protect ourselves. Quite simple, and not outdated.

What do you need to protect yourself from now that you didn't 300 odd years ago?

 

[Kyle B]

What do you need to protect yourself from now that you didn't 300 odd years ago?

Some things that come to mind: home intruders and bears.

 

[Peter Parka]

Some things that come to mind: home intruders and bears.

Pretty sure both were around 300 odd years ago with the added risk there were no locks and hi tech security on the doors and windows.

 

[Accountable]

Yeah, I realise this is somewhat controversial but please dont just dismiss my opinion with the "you're not from here, you have no right talking about it" stuff. If I'm being in someway naive, please tell me how.
I think it should be scrapped. It was a good idea at the time and very noble but was in no way written with future situations which the founding fathers had no way of having the slightest idea about. The fact there have been so many ammendments shows it isn't the holy grail that many Americans think it is. It holds back updating laws because people still go back to the "its against the constitution" stuff. Did the founding fathers have any idea whatsoever about the birth of the internet? No. When they wrote about guns, were they talking about a time when the USA was free from the threat of invasion? No.
It should be held up as a great thing for the time but part of history to be proud of but really dosen't deserve its power in the modern world.

Our Constitution is the basis of our rule of law. Your disrespecting it means nothing (relatively speaking. No offense). American legislators' disrespecting it means that the rule of law no longer holds a position in our government. Yes, it really is that serious.

The amendment process was put in place precisely because the authors understood that times would change and call for changes in the constitution. Unfortunately, today's legislators can't be arsed to go to the trouble of amending, so they simply ignore it and do whatever the fuck they please. Sometimes they make gestures toward making weak links between the Constitution and usurping more and more of our liberty, but it's only for show.

But, to support your point: I forget which of the founders said it, but one of them suggested that the entire Constitution should be rewritten every 7 years or so.

 

[Minor Axis]

Yeah, I realise this is somewhat controversial but please dont just dismiss my opinion with the "you're not from here, you have no right talking about it" stuff. If I'm being in someway naive, please tell me how.
I think it should be scrapped. It was a good idea at the time and very noble but was in no way written with future situations which the founding fathers had no way of having the slightest idea about. The fact there have been so many ammendments shows it isn't the holy grail that many Americans think it is. It holds back updating laws because people still go back to the "its against the constitution" stuff. Did the founding fathers have any idea whatsoever about the birth of the internet? No. When they wrote about guns, were they talking about a time when the USA was free from the threat of invasion? No.
It should be held up as a great thing for the time but part of history to be proud of but really dosen't deserve its power in the modern world.

It's an incredible document written when Europe had nothing like it. That said, there are people in this country who want to change it in their favor, and people who think that if was strictly followed, we'd solve all our problems. In some ways it really needs to be updated to address social issues, the fabric of our society. But with the way our country currently functions, I'd be scared shitless if currently leaders of the GOP or Neocons were allowed to change it to suit themselves. Maybe our Founding Fathers knew this and made it difficult to update, not impossible, just difficult.

 

[af12]

Some parts of it seem to be ignored these days.

 

[retro]

It's an incredible document written when Europe had nothing like it. That said, there are people in this country who want to change it in their favor, and people who think that if was strictly followed, we'd solve all our problems. In some ways it really needs to be updated to address social issues, the fabric of our society. But with the way our country currently functions, I'd be scared shitless if currently leaders of the GOP or Neocons were allowed to change it to suit themselves. Maybe our Founding Fathers knew this and made it difficult to update, not impossible, just difficult.

and I'd be scared if the Democrats or the GOP had the power to change the Constitution to suit themselves.

That being said, that's why there are checks and balances built into our government and the Constitution itself. The chances of one side being able to pass amendments that they alone agree with are slim to none. If it did happen, it would mean that a 2/3 majority of the country had shifted that way as well.

 

[Codrus]

and I'd be scared if the Democrats or the GOP had the power to change the Constitution to suit themselves.

:willy_nilly::willy_nilly::willy_nilly:...retro!!!!!????

 

[Accountable]

Can you imagine what a constitution written by the corporate clowns we have in Washington would look like? The Bill of Rights would be an actual bill, with gratuity already figured in!

 

[Joe the meek]

When they wrote about guns, were they talking about a time when the USA was free from the threat of invasion? No.

Funny, I never realized ANY country was free from the threat of invasion.

Nice to know we now live in a peace loving world.

That said, was it possible for the founding fathers to see all the technological advances in the world? No. However, I do believe that the founding fathers were smart enough to realize that although society may change due to those technological advances, the hearts and minds of men would not.

 

[Peter Parka]

You seriously think there is even a remote likelyhood that the USA could be invaded? Please tell me you're joking.

 

[Pat1]

Can you imagine what a constitution written by the corporate clowns we have in Washington would look like? The Bill of Rights would be an actual bill, with gratuity already figured in!

hehehe! So true.

 

[Stone]

Yeah, I realise this is somewhat controversial but please dont just dismiss my opinion with the "you're not from here, you have no right talking about it" stuff. If I'm being in someway naive, please tell me how.
I think it should be scrapped. It was a good idea at the time and very noble but was in no way written with future situations which the founding fathers had no way of having the slightest idea about. The fact there have been so many ammendments shows it isn't the holy grail that many Americans think it is. It holds back updating laws because people still go back to the "its against the constitution" stuff. Did the founding fathers have any idea whatsoever about the birth of the internet? No. When they wrote about guns, were they talking about a time when the USA was free from the threat of invasion? No.
It should be held up as a great thing for the time but part of history to be proud of but really dosen't deserve its power in the modern world.

It should be held up as a great thing for the time but part of history to be proud of but really dosen't deserve its power in the modern world.

Nonsense.....the Constitution is only recognized as the foundation of our own government.

As to the rest.....the Constitution was designed to evolve through amendments.
The complexity and interpretations are a result of the legislative and judicial process which will likely exist under any constitution man can devise.

The fact there have been so many ammendments shows it isn't the holy grail that many Americans think it is.

Sounds like envy
The fact it can be amended detracts from your claim that the Constitution .... holds back updating laws .
It does detract from making poorly written laws and it's even self-correcting. But that's a court process and flawed in itself.

Essentially your arguing for perfection, but the process is flawed from the start because it's man made and can only be corrected by the will of man.
Which is one reason a Constitutional Convention likely won't work.
IMO....our society is currently so polarized from economics to politics to religion, I doubt there would/could be a consensus that could successfully rewrite a new version.
From a practical standpoint, it seems better to work with what has served us well.

I think it should be scrapped.

Since you aren't a citizen and live elsewhere, how does the US Constitution negatively affect your life? ( not the politicians of our government.....the document itself )