Treason and Revolution

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.

I don't care for this anaylitical critique of a these living documents.  The above quote from The Declaration of Independence basically states that all forms of government are inherently corrupt.  It is the Duty of "We The People" to do whatever it takes to correct the corruption.

The philosophy behind this is that polar opposite forms of corruption will play to control each other.  Although it is the people that government is responsible to appease.  The document was voted on and signed by a group of men from all social standings.  Many of these men were considered smugglers prior and after they risked suffering the penalties reserved for TREASON against the crown.

This great debate formed by our documents allows freedom of speach in order to keep opposition hopefully away from bloodshed.  Although it is Bloodshed that it speaks to when it talks of the peoples duty to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. 

by Sleeper (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 272 comments) on Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 3:13:57 PM
 

Have we tried it yet?

I love the promise of our constitution.In college I was lucky to have a professor who put it simply.After watching history run by imbiciles (may-be through in breeding) this document was meant to be a bright line of the power allowed the goverment by the governed.this far and not an inch further.

by tjb (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 202 comments) on Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 11:07:36 PM
 

"Yes, for multiples of 10 years."

The US Constitution is not a theoretical proposition, an idea being worked out on paper for proposed implementation. It was written in 1787 and the Bill of Rights (first 10 ammendments) added in 1789. This last completed ratification by the states' legislatures in 1791. It became the *law* of the land under jurisdiction of those united states at that point. It was not and has not been a theory yet to be tried for all those years. It has been lived for many multiples of 10 years.

The fact that the intentions of some, or even all, of the writers of the Constitution (or even all the Founding Fathers) did not remain is strong evidence that the mechanism has basic flaws. Actually the flaw is government itself - but the Founding Fathers themselves did not understand that, more understandable then than now. Simply going back to a much reduced government no larger than it was in the late 18th century with the US Constitution as it was then - even allowing for no slavery and women's suffrage actually enacted later - the results would be little different than they are now in regards to size and interference by government. Actually it would likely happen even faster and the interference would be even more severe. There is nothing within the Constitution that can prevent it from happening, and government run schools has assured that the majority of the populace looks to the government for the solutions to all problems.

It does not appear to me that you actually read the full reasoned critique of the US Constitution Preamble and Bill of Rights. My piece above is but a brief introduction to the idea that this revered document is in need of thorough examination for its flaws rather than wishful thinking over what it has become. So the very short answer to your question is an obvious "Yes". The US Constitution has been tried, and found wanting.

 **Kitty Antonik Wakfer

by Kitty Antonik Wakfer (14 articles, 3 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 100 comments) on Sunday, July 29, 2007 at 1:15:34 PM
 

All Forms of Government are wanting

The Declaration sets forth reasons for a revolution.  It Declares that all Governments are wanting an that it is best to suffer mild injustices as the pendulum of power swings.  The middle is best served riding the tide.  Our Constitution sets up a form of government that has been altered since.  The Senate are now elected by the people of their states not the state legislatures, but the rights of Corporations have been increased.  They have since been granted Personhood and can also own other Corporations.  They are know able to inject every race with enough money to render the opinions coming from "We The Pepole" virtually useless.  The media take their money and hynotises the masses with a fairy tale that utilizes fear to escape being held to account.

by Sleeper (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 272 comments) on Saturday, August 4, 2007 at 9:00:41 AM
 

True, All Forms of Government are Wanting

The Declaration of Independence states reasons why the authors (claiming to speak for everybody in the American colonies at the time) wanted to sever relations with England. While there is much that is good in that document, there is also much that is poor. Even with the knowledge of that time the document could have been better written and thereby avoided the pitfalls that resulted and misinterpretations that have occurred. I suggest that you read a full critique of the document which takes into consideration also the over 200 years of thought and experience that has occurred since that time.

The phrase "We the People" is meaningless - unless the group of people is defined and all those referred to are in agreement with what follows that phrase. Even just the word "we" is far too often used with the speaker/writer not defining to whom s/he is referring, and when s/he does, cannot in truth speak/write for all those in that group. For a greater understanding of the distortions in thinking that this word can bring with it when used improperly, I recommend reading "Collectivism in Language: Its Effects on Valid Reasoning".

As for the "Constitution sets up a form of government that has been altered since", it is the Constitution itself that has made those alterations possible. It is the self-contradictory flaws within the Constitution and its lack of the correct philosophical basis that is responsible for most of the problems of today within the US. It does not sound as though you actually read the full critique of the Constitution Preamble and Bill of Rights for which my article was merely to wet one's appetite. When you have done so (and any of the other essays to which I've linked), if you have comments or questions, bring them forward in the Web searchable forum linked at the bottom of each website page - or some other public forum where discussion can take place.

So yes, all forms of government are wanting - they lack the philosophical basis for a society of minimally restricted individuals interacting to mutual benefit each for the purpose of optimizing his/her own lifetime happiness.

**Kitty

by Kitty Antonik Wakfer (14 articles, 3 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 100 comments) on Saturday, August 4, 2007 at 7:44:26 PM