The Danger of a Corrupted Constitution

[RobbyS]

All besides the point. After James II was overthrown, the monarch reigned but did not rule. However, the power of the monarch remained, now centered in, as Hansard put it, The Estates-general of Great Britain and Ireland, which consisted formally of Church, king, Lords and Commons.” It was this concentrated power that the colonies rebelled against, and it is concentrated power that the Tea Party opposes. The Establishment really does want to be an “Establishment,” one like that which ruled in Great Britain in 1776.

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

Pretty ironic considering that the US Federal Gov’t has more power over the states than the the Crown ever had over the largely self-governing American colonies...

[RobbyS]

This has been true since the Civil War. One reason why the Civil War Amendments were long not enforced was that potentially they in effect made the States subordinate to the Federal Courts. So it began with the Court restricting State power over the railroads and other corporations thru the Commerce Clause and the Contract Clause. Once the progressives too charge, then other powers were taken away from the States. Death by a thousand cuts. Dred Scott--to protect slavery --restricted the power of the states to protect its inhabitants. Showing that the war was not about state’s rights within the Constitution but about the states as sovereign entities. Hence the terms of the Confederate Constitution.

[RobbyS]

Incidentally, and this comes off the top of my head, a truly “Tea Party” change in government would entail a new Judiciary Act that would radically change the jurisdiction/make-up of the Federal Courts. This is not going to happen, because there are too many lawyers in politics, and nothing horrifies them than the thought that they might have to adjust to a new way of doing things and create a whole new professional network. They don’t mind letting bureaucrats set impossible new standards for truck engines, but the very idea of producing an efficient legal system just makes them wet their pants.

[OneWingedShark]

but the very idea of producing an efficient legal system just makes them wet their pants.

Isn't that all the more reason to enact such changes?

[RobbyS]

And how are you going to get the many lawyers in Congress to go along with this? The bishops who supported Henry VIII’s usurpation of the rights of the pope had a very personal, even professional interest in going along with the king. What incentive could we offer to the lawyers? Jefferson was trained in the law but quit his practice at 31. So he had no brief for lawyers. Who among out leaders today has the same view?

[OneWingedShark]

And how are you going to get the many lawyers in Congress to go along with this?

Hm, seems like it might be rather easy if another 2,000+ page, "we have to pass it to find out what's in it" type bill wouldn't mind the addition of a single page, no?

The bishops who supported Henry VIII’s usurpation of the rights of the pope had a very personal, even professional interest in going along with the king. What incentive could we offer to the lawyers?

Not having them hanged and/or shot. {It is an incentive.} -- Though that's likely a different implementation track.

Jefferson was trained in the law but quit his practice at 31. So he had no brief for lawyers. Who among out leaders today has the same view?

What do you mean "had no brief for lawyers"?

[RobbyS]

Kind of pun, but I meant, of course, he didn’t like the business. If you recall that while the physicians and the non-Anglican preachers were solidly behind the Revolution, the lawyers were split down the middle, waiting to see who won.

[StonyBurk]

T’anks. And I hear that some retired Army Col.and professor has prepared a program to train our Military to defend against a mythical citizens group with the Tea Party values: Who take over a town and seek to expand their territory- the Mayor calls the Governor from his house imprisonment, the Gov.
calls on the Military because he feels helpless against these “citizens” reminds me of similar reports read elsewhere.