Do You Know What the Constitution Really Says?

Townhall.com ^ | September 14, 2011 | Rebecca Hagelin

[Wolfie]

Do You Know What the Constitution Really Says?

Whatever 9 lifetime political appointees say it says.

[al baby]

It is a real simple document the problem is too many people over think it

[Tublecane]

All this Constitution stuff is interesting, but since it hasn’t really been in effect in my lifetime, or for half a decade beforehand, it sounds a little to me like arguing over how much we know about the Magna Carta.

[C210N]

There are a few 'dems that understand the Constitution, and a few republicans that don't. But, generally one main party, the 'rat party, wants to demolish the Constitution, while the other main party, the republicans, want to maintain it.

Happy Constitution Week! (Sept 17 - 23)

Happy Constitution Day! (Sept 17)

[Durus]

The magna carta is not and has never been the supreme law of the land nor is it the foundation of conservatism.

Perhaps your comment was intended as humor, or even black humor, but there are those of us that take the Constitution very seriously. We have a lot of problems facing us, including the government usurping powers that were never granted to them by the constitution, but saying the constitution "isn't in effect" because of this is false. Anyone can break any law, that doesn't invalidate the law...it simply means that the law breaker must face justice.

[RipSawyer]

Actually it means what FIVE lifetime political appointees say it says.

[MamaTexan]

Only 28%knew that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land

I wonder how many knew it was the 'supreme law of the land', not for the American People, but for the entity of the federal government, and in specific instances, the States.

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Oh, that's right...most people don't.

[rightly_dividing]

I can’t say that I remember every last detail in it, but I did read every word of it a while back.

[appalachian_dweller]

I've been asking folks this simple question:

What are the 5 freedoms guaranteed by the 1st Amendment.

I've been asking this for over 6 months. I have yet to find one person who can correctly answer it.

The Republic is DONE.

[cc2k]

C210N wrote:

There are a few 'dems that understand the Constitution, and a few republicans that don't.

Your statement is pure Barbara Streisand. I see no evidence of this. There are very few ruling class politicians who respect the constitution.

I'm also fairly certain that many of the Dems choose to willfully ignore the Constitution and the limits it places on their power. To them, the ends justify the means, and ignoring the Constitution is acceptable if it's for "the greater good," as long as they get to define "the greater good."

Now, as for Republicans, I'm not sure if they understand it, and choose to ignore the limitations laid out in the document, or whether they just don't understand it. Either way, there is very little respect for the constitution from the Republican party at any level.

It's important that the voters of this country wake up and start paying attention to the Constitution. I'm making it my personal goal to hand a copy of the United States Constitution (one of the pocket editions) to every voter in my own precinct, and our local TEA Party and 9-12 groups are filled with people who are all doing the same thing. In my state, Florida, voters swear an oath to protect and defend the constitution. It's on the voter registration form. Here's the oath:

Oath from the Florida Voter Registration Application:

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Oath: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Florida, that I am qualified to register as an elector under the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida, and that all information provided in this application is true.

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BTW, in my area, we also regularly question our local officials on issues of constitutionality when they are spending, or especially when they are requesting some kind of "Federal Grant." When that topic comes up, you can count on someone at the meeting asking the questions, "Commissioner, didn't you swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States as part of your oath of office?" (the answer is yes), followed up by: "Where in the Constitution of the United States does our federal Congress get the authority to tax the people of North Dakota and Michigan to pay for a school (or library, or bus service, or whatever is being discussed) here in Florida?" That second question is usually never actually answered.

This country is lost if officials at all levels don't start respecting the Constitution, and insisting that the rest of their "political ruling class" friends and "higher ups" abide by it. That won't happen until , the voters of this country start insisting on it and questioning everyone involved when Constitutional limits are ignored.

[Tublecane]

“We have a lot of problems facing us, including the government usurping powers that were never granted to them by the constitution, but saying the constitution ‘isn’t in effect’ because of this is false”

How else would the Constitution not be in effect? People not following it is the very definition of that. Oh, okay, nothing’s perfect and no law can be followed with absolute and perfect fidelity. But we’re way beyond even a sliding scale between deviations and fidelities. We’re not even close. Our system of government, except in name, wouldn’t even be recognizable to a citizen of 1850 (and not due to amendments), and everyone knows it.

We still talk about it, and still abide by some few of its restrictions and allowances. But we still talk about the Magna Carta, too, which was my point.

[Tublecane]

“Anyone can break any law, that doesn’t invalidate the law...it simply means that the law breaker must face justice.”

What about when there’s no justice to be faced, because the authorities don’t recognize law as having been broken? What is there to face up to?

[Kaslin]

They want to abolish it, by stepping on it

[Mr Ramsbotham]

It doesn’t say anything, you have to read it.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

It’s easy to tell if somebody knows what the Constitution says.

If they agree with me, then they know what it says. If they don’t, then they’re a clueless hack who needs to go back to civics class.

/random FReeper

[Stepan12]

Cherish the Constitution? Suppose someone mentions that gold and silver are money and paper is not supposed to be money under our Constitution. That the fiat currency we now hold is absolutely illegal. What will be the reaction from the Liberals and even many Conservatives to that?

Incidentally, the constitutional requirement that the President be a natural born citizen has not gone over to well with the election of Obama.

[Lady Jag]

So That explains why pols claim it's outdated. They don't know what it says!

[Lady Jag]

Painting by Jon McNaughton

[Leep]

We the People blah blah blah...Limited Government..blah blah blah..Life, Liberty...yadda yadda yadda...