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Last post 3 years ago by RayR. 34 replies replies.
Commentary: We must defend Constitution like never before
rfenst Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,112
By Kay C. James
The Heritage Foundation


Recently, a group of college students challenged me, asking, "Why are you conservatives so into the Constitution and all this 'originalist' stuff?"

In all the decades I've been involved in education, government, and public policy, I never thought that I'd have to make the case for keeping the U.S. Constitution. Sadly, I recognize that I do. Between the lack of civics education in our schools and the outright promotion of Marxist propaganda in our universities, younger generations have lost sight of just how important our Constitution truly is.

Sept. 17 is Constitution Day and commemorates its signing in 1787. It's a perfect time to share with young people why the Constitution is so critical to their existence as free people.

It's not just that students aren't taught much about the Constitution anymore. It's that they're often taught to despise it and to despise America's entire founding through propaganda like the 1619 Project.

Leftist professors, media organizations and politicians have tried to change the image of America from the most successful experiment in self-government in the history of the world to an evil, self-serving nation that's caused most of the world's major problems, from poverty to wars. They preach that socialism is good and that freedoms must be subordinated to the collective.

The real-world result of this indoctrination? Some polls show as many as 70% of young people say they prefer socialism to free markets. Earlier this month, hundreds of rioters rampaged through Oakland, Calif., chanting "Death to America." And a task force recently commissioned by Washington, D.C.'s mayor recommended the unbelievable idea of removing the Washington Monument and other memorials to our founders.

This kind of thinking bodes disaster for the future of our country.

Yet we still can save many of our young people from the siren song of socialism and help them understand that the Constitution ensures the very way of life that they enjoy. Here are some of the basics they need to know: The Constitution is a contract between the people and their government. It reflects that the government only derives its power from the people. It lays out the framework for the federal government and limits it to certain powers, so that it never becomes so powerful it threatens the freedoms it was instituted to protect. It divides power among the three branches of government to ensure that no branch becomes too powerful.

It divides power between the federal government and the states so that power isn't solely vested in a national government and so most decisions can be made by state governments that are closer and more responsive to the people. It includes in the Bill of Rights specific rights of the people that the government must respect. We also have to counter the popular notion that the Constitution is acceptable as long as it's a "living, breathing" document where, rather than keeping their original meaning, words can be reinterpreted to "fit" changing conditions.

To put it simply, a living, breathing Constitution is a threat to our liberty. Imagine if 15 years into your mortgage, your lender decided it needed more money and could reinterpret the terms at will, tripling your interest rate or doubling your monthly payment. How about not just your mortgage, but your car loan, your will, or any other contract?
When the terms can be changed by one side, it's no longer a contract, and your rights under that contract are as thin as the paper they're written on.

Interpreting the Constitution from an "originalist" perspective protects our rights by requiring the government to abide by the original terms of the agreement. Originalism doesn't allow new powers to be created out of thin air because some judge decides that words can be reinterpreted to make it so.

What we see happening in our country today shows us why we can't neglect teaching younger generations about the Constitution and why we can't just leave it in the hands of others to do.

For those who need a resource to help educate your young people about the Constitution, The Heritage Foundation has created a free online guide to help make the Constitution understandable and readily available to every American. The interactive guide, available at Heritage.org/constitution , provides clause-by-clause explanations from over 100 legal scholars committed to an originalist reading of the language.

The observance of Constitution Day gives us an opportunity to fight the fiction of those trying to rewrite our history. It gives us the opportunity to rededicate ourselves to educating future generations how our limited form of government protects their precious freedoms, creates unparalleled prosperity, and provides unprecedented opportunity for all citizens.

We must do all we can to protect our Constitution... so that it can continue to protect all of us.
___
ABOUT THE WRITER
Kay C. James is president of The Heritage Foundation ( heritage.org ).
DrafterX Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,508
very true about lack of education for the young.... My son's girlfriend has a 9 yr old daughter that can't recite the pledge of allegiance... d'oh!
Gene363 Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 01-24-2003
Posts: 30,680
True.

We need more civics classes:

https://www.heritage.org/the-constitution/commentary/politicians-need-refresher-course-how-government-works

frankj1 Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
more civility too
rfenst Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,112
DrafterX wrote:
very true about lack of education for the young.... My son's girlfriend has a 9 yr old daughter that can't recite the pledge of allegiance... d'oh!

WTF?
frankj1 Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
rfenst wrote:
WTF?

not sure who is being blamed.
Wouldn't bother me if we did away with it in schools. Is a nine year old even able to understand this oath and what they are really agreeing to do?
Makes me think of old black and white commercials on TV in the late 50's/early 60's showing "brain washed" Russian children chanting similar words by rote.
HockeyDad Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 09-20-2000
Posts: 46,069
9 years old? Of course they can understand. If they were in the right part of Africa they would already be carrying an AK-47 in a rebellion. If they were in China they would be making Nikes.
DrafterX Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,508
Pretty sure we recited the pledge, to the flag, in the first grade... I'm not sure when I stopped.. I don't remember doing it in middle school or high school.. Mellow
delta1 Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,754
Constitution will get a breather by January 2021...
frankj1 Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
DrafterX wrote:
Pretty sure we recited the pledge, to the flag, in the first grade... I'm not sure when I stopped.. I don't remember doing it in middle school or high school.. Mellow

same here
ZRX1200 Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,477
Is Cheeto gonna get some lying commies lock up in January Al?
Speyside Offline
#12 Posted:
Joined: 03-16-2015
Posts: 13,106
Delta, the constitution will not get help. The attacks on it will simply be different. Moving from totalitarianism to socialism solves nothing. It just changes the subset of problems. Anyone who thinks Trump or Biden is the answer is wrong. The majority of voters will choose based on who is less evil.
RayR Offline
#13 Posted:
Joined: 07-20-2020
Posts: 8,802
DrafterX wrote:
Pretty sure we recited the pledge, to the flag, in the first grade... I'm not sure when I stopped.. I don't remember doing it in middle school or high school.. Mellow


The original Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy, a Christian socialist.
I remember being forced to recite the updated version of it in school, the words always felt creepy. I later learned why.
Here's a good explaination...
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2003/03/james-perry/what-i-expect-my-child-to-learn-from-not-saying-the-pledge-of-allegiance/#_edn16
Buckwheat Offline
#14 Posted:
Joined: 04-15-2004
Posts: 12,251
Remember that the Constitution of the United States is an unchangeable document chiseled in stone for the duration of our country... except for the 27 amendments to it. fog
tailgater Offline
#15 Posted:
Joined: 06-01-2000
Posts: 26,185
frankj1 wrote:
not sure who is being blamed.
Wouldn't bother me if we did away with it in schools. Is a nine year old even able to understand this oath and what they are really agreeing to do?
Makes me think of old black and white commercials on TV in the late 50's/early 60's showing "brain washed" Russian children chanting similar words by rote.


So reciting the Pledge is like an indoctrination?

I remember with great fondness the veteran day celebrations at school. We would all sit on the gymnasium floor and the old coots would bugle and salute and we'd recite the pledge and other things.

Never considered being patriotic or learning patriotic pledges as being brain washed.

But that's me.

Now our kids are told our Flag represents oppression and racism. that the Pledge need not be learned at all.
Next thing you know our kids won't be able to name all 57 states.

RayR Offline
#16 Posted:
Joined: 07-20-2020
Posts: 8,802
Buckwheat wrote:
Remember that the Constitution of the United States is an unchangeable document chiseled in stone for the duration of our country... except for the 27 amendments to it. fog


They don't bother with amendments anymore, the process is too hard, you know all that debating and ratifying stuff. So they just ignore the Constitution altogether and just do what they damn well please. As long they keep the proles not knowing what the Constitution was about, they won't raise hell.
DrafterX Offline
#17 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,508
Speaking of da Constitution...

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, in an apparent shift, now says his legal team believes he would have the authority to advance a federal mask mandate through an executive order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus should he be elected.

BIDEN CALLS FOR NATIONAL MASK MANDATE FOR ALL AMERICANS

Taking questions from reporters at a campaign event on Wednesday, Biden vowed that if elected, โ€œI would call all the governors to the White Houseโ€ to make the case on the necessity for implementing mask mandates.

Asked if heโ€™d use an executive order to enforce the wearing of masks if some governors refuse his request, Biden said โ€œthe question is whether I have the legal authority as president to sign an executive order. We think we do, but canโ€™t guarantee you that yet.โ€

"Our legal team thinks I can do that based upon the degree to which there's a crisis in those states, and how bad things are for the country, and if we don't do it, what happens," Biden explained, regarding his ability to federally act if some states decline to take action.

Biden then emphasized that if he did have the legal authority to sign an executive order on masks, โ€œI would.โ€



Think
HockeyDad Offline
#18 Posted:
Joined: 09-20-2000
Posts: 46,069
He will to get Kamalaโ€™s permission.
RayR Offline
#19 Posted:
Joined: 07-20-2020
Posts: 8,802
Obviously to anybody that ever studied The U.S. Constitution, there is no delegated power to the executive branch to do anything of the kind like mandating face masks.
It doesn't matter to the likes of wannabe dictator Biden or Trump even, the federal government has been in a virtual state of anarchy for a long time, if the Constitution doesn't specifically delegate the power to do the thing they want to do, they just fabricate the legal authority. The politicized courts most often rubber stamp anything the other branches do.. It all began with Alexander Hamilton with his imaginary doctrine of constitutional "implied powers" and grossly misinterpreting on purpose what "general welfare" and "necessary and proper" meant to the framers. The constitutional republic and federalism has been under attack by the nationalist centralizers from day one. The entire purpose of The U.S. Constitution has been lost as an instrument to limit the power of the general government and protect the rights of the individual and the states.
Smooth light Offline
#20 Posted:
Joined: 06-26-2020
Posts: 3,598
Constitution,constipation once a day clears the way. Duty calls have your daily Constitution.๐Ÿ’ฉ
Constipation leads to sh*t for brains.๐Ÿง 

Air freshener please! ๐Ÿ’
frankj1 Offline
#21 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
tailgater wrote:
So reciting the Pledge is like an indoctrination?

I remember with great fondness the veteran day celebrations at school. We would all sit on the gymnasium floor and the old coots would bugle and salute and we'd recite the pledge and other things.

Never considered being patriotic or learning patriotic pledges as being brain washed.

But that's me.

Now our kids are told our Flag represents oppression and racism. that the Pledge need not be learned at all.
Next thing you know our kids won't be able to name all 57 states.


I have the same warm memories.
But when I became old enough to understand I decided it was more about loving what my country stood for than a piece of cloth.
Smooth light Offline
#22 Posted:
Joined: 06-26-2020
Posts: 3,598
Oh so true!!!
frankj1 Offline
#23 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
really?
Smooth light Offline
#24 Posted:
Joined: 06-26-2020
Posts: 3,598
Especially when they spit on you when you come home from the war(Vietnam).
YOUR WELCOME
izonfire Offline
#25 Posted:
Joined: 12-09-2013
Posts: 8,642
rfenst wrote:
Commentary: We must defend Constitution like never before

Maybe you could have worded it so it didnโ€™t seem like it was written by a Ruskie...
izonfire Offline
#26 Posted:
Joined: 12-09-2013
Posts: 8,642
Smooth light wrote:
Especially when they spit on you when you come home from the war(Vietnam).
YOUR WELCOME

And you should just shut the fucque up!!!
Smooth light Offline
#27 Posted:
Joined: 06-26-2020
Posts: 3,598
Your why, thanks for your service, don't mean
S H I T .

YOUR UNGRATEFUL A-WIPE, JUST THE BENEFITS, NO GUTS.

PAY YOUR DUE'S ...or shut the fucque up ๐Ÿ–•.
ZRX1200 Offline
#28 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,477
โ€œYouโ€™reโ€
Smooth light Offline
#29 Posted:
Joined: 06-26-2020
Posts: 3,598
You got two middle fingers stick'em up you're azz and walk on your elbows .๐Ÿ’‹
rfenst Offline
#30 Posted:
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,112
Smooth light wrote:
Your why, thanks for your service, don't mean
S H I T .

YOUR UNGRATEFUL A-WIPE, JUST THE BENEFITS, NO GUTS.

PAY YOUR DUE'S ...or shut the fucque up ๐Ÿ–•.

Your antics are getting very old. If you really want to be accepted around here you will need to stop $hitting on our friends.
delta1 Offline
#31 Posted:
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,754
ZRX1200 wrote:
Is Cheeto gonna get some lying commies lock up in January Al?



no...his authoritarian disdain and disregard for the Constitution will end then...and the process of locking him up, paused by his occupancy of the WH, will commence with alacrity in the SDNY...


by the way...all Americans should love the Constitution's brilliance, which has served us well for nearly 250 years...but the author of the op-ed misses the point of it, insisting that "originalism" is the key to our democracy...


that is not how the Constitution has come to serve us so well...as Buckwheat so aptly pointed out, they fashioned into the original a method for future generations to adapt it to their current needs...and it has been amended 27 times, more than an average of once every ten years of its existence...but it is a difficult process and requires the will of a good portion of the people, throughout the nation...

without the amendment process, we would still have slaves, only property owners could vote, the government could seize anyone and their property without due process, etc...tho I'm sure there are those among us who don't think those are positive changes...
frankj1 Offline
#32 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
[quote=Smooth light]Especially when they spit on you when you come home from the war(Vietnam).
YOUR WELCOME[/quote
you can't really know this and were undoubtedly being told quite a different story, but while you were there thousands and then millions of young people were being spit on and far worse while working legally to reverse America's policy and get you home safely.

Eventually their parents and those voted into power saw the benefit and ended the war, for the US anyway.

You are also welcome...welcome home.

And thank you for your service, too.
RobertHively Offline
#33 Posted:
Joined: 01-14-2015
Posts: 1,761


Ruth Bader Ginsburg died this evening. Should make it even more interesting if the selection er election is contested.

RayR Offline
#34 Posted:
Joined: 07-20-2020
Posts: 8,802
delta1 wrote:
no...his authoritarian disdain and disregard for the Constitution will end then...and the process of locking him up, paused by his occupancy of the WH, will commence with alacrity in the SDNY...


by the way...all Americans should love the Constitution's brilliance, which has served us well for nearly 250 years...but the author of the op-ed misses the point of it, insisting that "originalism" is the key to our democracy...


that is not how the Constitution has come to serve us so well...as Buckwheat so aptly pointed out, they fashioned into the original a method for future generations to adapt it to their current needs...and it has been amended 27 times, more than an average of once every ten years of its existence...but it is a difficult process and requires the will of a good portion of the people, throughout the nation...

without the amendment process, we would still have slaves, only property owners could vote, the government could seize anyone and their property without due process, etc...tho I'm sure there are those among us who don't think those are positive changes...


Obviously, you haven't noticed that most of what the federal government does is unconstitutional.
If you ever checked your state constitution you'd find the same about your state government.
That's what progressive proponents of the "living constitution" theory call serving the people well. After all, who needs to worry about written rules when you can just make them up on a whim as you go along? Sometimes all you've got to do is change the definition of a few words or phrases in the Constitution, get the courts to go along with a wink and a nod and you're good to go, instant tyranny! Who needs to know the original meaning or intent of the document when you can just make stuff up?
As far as seizing anyone and their property without due process, they've been doing that on an off since the Adams administration and the Alien and Sedition Acts. Lincoln was the worse with illegally suspending Habeas Corpus, arresting anybody who dared criticize his administration including sending federal goons to destroy the property and presses of opposition Northern newspapers and numerous other constitutional and civil liberties abuses. How about Woodrow Wilson's civil liberties abuses during World War I? What about FDR's shameful internment of the Japanese-American citizens? What about GWB's PATRIOT Act? I'm just scratching the surface.
I think you're in a fantasy world when it comes to those later amendments too.




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