My little sister was born in El Paso in the mid 50s. I worked in Dallas at a short-term job the late 70s. It was so hot that year people were collapsing on the street. My boss took us to an all you can eat place that was the fanciest I’ve ever seen. Food and variety was great. Looked like a really expensive place. Had the best BBQ I’ve ever had there. Place called East Texas BBQ. We got it to go, because we didn’t want to fight the roaches. Texas is an interesting place.
There is always a lot of talk about ways to “fix” the Constitution. I’ve always thought that Bill Whittle had the best answer to that: “We don’t need to fix the Constitution, we need to follow it”. He’s exactly right, but only if we are dealing with the same quality of men as the founders. I think history easily demonstrates that we’re not. We now have 230 years of experience with the document in practice, we’ve seen the loopholes and machinations used to subvert the intent of the founders. The purpose of this thread is to discuss what changes we can make to bring it back in line with what the founders intended.
Things I’d clean up
There’s nothing wrong with the wording of the 2nd Amendment at all, but the preamble gives room for all kinds of mischief from activists. I’d get rid of it.
The 17th has to go.
The 14th needs to be clarified that just being born on US soil doesn’t give you citizenship. I’m not sure how the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” could be any clearer, but we need to make it so.
The last three words of Section 1 of the 24th should be dropped.
Things I’d add
Term limits for Congress. No person shall serve more than 4 terms in the house and 2 in the Senate. 20 years in DC is more than enough, go get a real job.
Congress shall pass no bill of more than 4500 words. That was enough for the Constitution itself, it’s plenty for any laws.
Any regulations proposed by any agency of the U.S. Government must be individually passed by a 60% majority of both houses of Congress before it goes into effect.
The SCOTUS may only issue a ruling of “yes” or “no” regarding the constitutionality of any law. No dissent. No commentary. No anything, just yes or no. If the ruling is no, it’s up to Congress to rewrite the law. If the SCOTUS doesn’t like it, they can strike it down again.
All laws expire after 5 years. If it’s a good law, you can pass it again for another 5, and so on.
The 16th Amendment shall be changed so that it allows only a flat tax, applicable to EVERY citizen or legal resident and business with no deductions allowed. Whatever the rate is (I’m thinking 15%), it takes a 4/5th vote of both houses of Congress to raise it. It can be lowered with a simple majority vote.
Laws can only bear on the actions of an individual, not on his or her thought process. No such thing as a hate crime.
A person’s race cannot be used as any type of qualification, positively or negatively, for any position in government.
Clarify that the Constitution prohibits the establishment of a state religion. It does not prohibit religious expression by public officials or entities.
Things I’m thinking about
Term limits for SCOTUS.
A third branch of Congress whose sole job is to repeal any legislation or regulation it desires.
An exclusion of religious entities promoting violence or crime from 1st Amendment protections.
Giving Congress the power to vote to overturn court decisions.
What would you add?
Edited to add I forgot to say no withholding of taxes from the paycheck. Everyone has to write a check for their 15% every month.
Except for questions of constitutionality, Congress already has the “power to vote to overturn court decisions,” by passing a law. For example, their second bite at Gun Free School Zones. They could have written a federal law authorizing abortions, but they thought Roe was in the bag. THen surprise, it wasn’t, and they got caught with their pants down. And they could still do it, but the fact that they aren’t tells you how important it really isn’t to them.
And the answer is the same now as it was ten years ago and a hundred years ago…leave the Constitution the fuck alone. Period.
There are faults and failures of clarity and intent there? Good. We can debate and defend it until the cows come home. But your opinion and that of Bill Whittle and Ace and even Chris are all in the moment and in your own mind, but the document has outlived many campaigners (well-intended and otherwise) and prayers to God it will outlive them all and us all.
10 Comments
To be fair, many parts of Texas are dusty. lol
They very best parts.
They tend not to be attractive to locusts.
Of any sort.
Texas. The greatest country on Earth.
No argument here.
Amen!
My little sister was born in El Paso in the mid 50s. I worked in Dallas at a short-term job the late 70s. It was so hot that year people were collapsing on the street. My boss took us to an all you can eat place that was the fanciest I’ve ever seen. Food and variety was great. Looked like a really expensive place. Had the best BBQ I’ve ever had there. Place called East Texas BBQ. We got it to go, because we didn’t want to fight the roaches. Texas is an interesting place.
Chris posted this on Facebook, ten years ago, today. Unfortunately, it’s all still relevant.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14ZDn8Xtjr/
From Ace of Spades site: January 01, 2015
On The Constitution [Weirddave]
There is always a lot of talk about ways to “fix” the Constitution. I’ve always thought that Bill Whittle had the best answer to that: “We don’t need to fix the Constitution, we need to follow it”. He’s exactly right, but only if we are dealing with the same quality of men as the founders. I think history easily demonstrates that we’re not. We now have 230 years of experience with the document in practice, we’ve seen the loopholes and machinations used to subvert the intent of the founders. The purpose of this thread is to discuss what changes we can make to bring it back in line with what the founders intended.
Things I’d clean up
There’s nothing wrong with the wording of the 2nd Amendment at all, but the preamble gives room for all kinds of mischief from activists. I’d get rid of it.
The 17th has to go.
The 14th needs to be clarified that just being born on US soil doesn’t give you citizenship. I’m not sure how the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” could be any clearer, but we need to make it so.
The last three words of Section 1 of the 24th should be dropped.
Things I’d add
Term limits for Congress. No person shall serve more than 4 terms in the house and 2 in the Senate. 20 years in DC is more than enough, go get a real job.
Congress shall pass no bill of more than 4500 words. That was enough for the Constitution itself, it’s plenty for any laws.
Any regulations proposed by any agency of the U.S. Government must be individually passed by a 60% majority of both houses of Congress before it goes into effect.
The SCOTUS may only issue a ruling of “yes” or “no” regarding the constitutionality of any law. No dissent. No commentary. No anything, just yes or no. If the ruling is no, it’s up to Congress to rewrite the law. If the SCOTUS doesn’t like it, they can strike it down again.
All laws expire after 5 years. If it’s a good law, you can pass it again for another 5, and so on.
The 16th Amendment shall be changed so that it allows only a flat tax, applicable to EVERY citizen or legal resident and business with no deductions allowed. Whatever the rate is (I’m thinking 15%), it takes a 4/5th vote of both houses of Congress to raise it. It can be lowered with a simple majority vote.
Laws can only bear on the actions of an individual, not on his or her thought process. No such thing as a hate crime.
A person’s race cannot be used as any type of qualification, positively or negatively, for any position in government.
Clarify that the Constitution prohibits the establishment of a state religion. It does not prohibit religious expression by public officials or entities.
Things I’m thinking about
Term limits for SCOTUS.
A third branch of Congress whose sole job is to repeal any legislation or regulation it desires.
An exclusion of religious entities promoting violence or crime from 1st Amendment protections.
Giving Congress the power to vote to overturn court decisions.
What would you add?
Edited to add I forgot to say no withholding of taxes from the paycheck. Everyone has to write a check for their 15% every month.
Except for questions of constitutionality, Congress already has the “power to vote to overturn court decisions,” by passing a law. For example, their second bite at Gun Free School Zones. They could have written a federal law authorizing abortions, but they thought Roe was in the bag. THen surprise, it wasn’t, and they got caught with their pants down. And they could still do it, but the fact that they aren’t tells you how important it really isn’t to them.
And the answer is the same now as it was ten years ago and a hundred years ago…leave the Constitution the fuck alone. Period.
There are faults and failures of clarity and intent there? Good. We can debate and defend it until the cows come home. But your opinion and that of Bill Whittle and Ace and even Chris are all in the moment and in your own mind, but the document has outlived many campaigners (well-intended and otherwise) and prayers to God it will outlive them all and us all.
These bastids really do want civil war don’t they?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/judge-orders-trump-to-be-sentenced-on-jan-10-in-hush-money-case/ar-AA1wVD0A?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=a1921f1d28d74ea1978a0a87fd413a8d&ei=18