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Yes, things change. And some things are worth preserving.

That's right. Like our freedom, our system of government, our unity as a nation.

Willing to tell states they have to have term limits for congresscritters is more important than the institution of marriage?

Apples and oranges. Hell, not even. The founders never claimed to have created a perfect, unalterable system. They were quite sure it needed adjustments that they would not live to comprehend, as the system was put to the test in real life. That's why they created an amendment process.

When it comes to term limits, you are talking about representatives in the US Congress--the NATIONAL (federal) legislative body. It is therefore the shared domain of the federal gubmint and the states, and in the case of congressman, the people. So there is appropriately some interplay. Since the Constitution sets out the term lengths for those office holders, it doesn't seem far fetched to me to revisit the original terms with the benefit of 200+ years of experience.

In the case of a federal marriage amendment, you are taking an area where the national government has NO business, NO authority, NO jurisdiction, and lording over the states and the people. Granted, the amendment process requires state legislative review, but evenso, what's objectionable is widening the scope of the national government into social areas where it doesn't belong. It turns out that even something procedurally correct can be philosophically wrong. The proper roles of the various branches should be preserved.

The only area where the feds have a proper say in the matter is the area where Fred has staked his ground--that states should not be required to recognize the marriage laws of other states. I'm cool with that. Leave it to the people, pissant. It's called freedom. If there was even a hint of a movement for gay marriage in 1787, it would not be a problem today. It would have been dealt with. So Fred would rather screw with the full faith and credit clause in the constitution than just get rid of the problem altogether.

So some group of gays in a liberal state decides that marriage really includes tom and harry too. And so you want to change the constitution to protect other states from recognizing tom and harry, and screw with the judiciary to keep them from dealing with tom and harry, but it is only meddling with constitution if we ban this ridiculousness? What planet are you on, feller.

Section 1 - Each State to Honor all others

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

'Social' issues dealt with in the constitution and our history include, to name just a few....

1st amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The 2nd Amendment: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment 8 - Cruel and Unusual Punishment. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. The Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act was signed into law on July 8, 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln. The act banned plural marriage and limited church and non-profit ownership in any territory of the United States to $50,000.

Amendment 13 - Slavery Abolished. 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Amendment 15 - Race No Bar to Vote. 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

In the 1913 income tax provisions, an accommodation was made for exemption from taxation of religious, charitable, educational, and scientific organizations.

The Harrison Narcotics Tax Act: "An Act To provide for the registration of, with collectors of internal revenue, and to impose a special tax on all persons who produce, import, manufacture, compound, deal in, dispense, sell, distribute, or give away opium or coca leaves, their salts, derivatives, or preparations, and for other purposes." The courts interpreted this to mean that physicians could prescribe narcotics to patients in the course of normal treatment, but not for the treatment of addiction.

Amendment 19 - The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

The Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation Act of 1977: to establish federal criminal penalties for the depiction of minors as participants in sexually explicit conduct in pornographic films, books, or other visual media.

The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act: Any physician who, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly performs a partial-birth abortion and thereby kills a human fetus shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both. This subsection does not apply to a partial-birth abortion that is necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself. This subsection takes effect 1 day after the enactment.