I have observed that few congresscritters and few citizens understand the Constitution. This is not just a problem local to my critters. The problem is much more wide-spread than that. Even on this thread there are those who tell me they don't know the voting record of their represenatives, but intend to vote for them neverless. Is that responsible?
The lack of knowledge displayed by the average American in the Founding Principles of this Nation is anything but a local problem. Just because the majority believes, thinks, acts, or even votes one way or another doesn't doen't mean it is right. "What is right" is not subject to majority rule. If the majority fails to adhere to "what is right", then the fault must lie with the majority. Surely you have observed that in your own life by now.
The Bill of Rights is not subject to a majority vote. It is an absolute measure of individual freedom. Undereducated Americans have allowed Constitutional issues to become subject to the whims of Congress. The Founders warned of this time and again.
If this Nation is to survive, the government must be kept compliant to the restrictions dictated by the Constitution. Never forget that this is a Nation "By the People and for the People". It is the responsibility of the citizen to preserve Constitutional rule. The natural tendency of the "governors" is to take charge of people right down to the last detail. American citizens have traded away rights for pretense of security. There is no government in history that has taken away citizens rights in bad times only to restore them in better times. Governments govern. Let us be sure this government stays in the hands of the citizens. There are some really bad laws on the books; and, some of the worst come from the present Administration.
Please! Don't take my word for this. Go read the Founding Documents including the "Federalist Papers" and perhaps "The Political Writings of Thomas Jefferson". Don't forget Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry. If you are under the illusion that "those dead guys" couldn't possibly write anything pertinent to today, you are in for a shock. These are works of philosophy, not "cookbooks" for running law and government. Those writings are timeless.
Much of this material is on the internet. If you read this stuff, you will become a better Republican and, more importantly, a better American. This Nation is founded like no other, and we are losing it out of ignorance.
I will also point out to you that even the Founders themselves disagreed on what the founding documents meant, and what the scope of the new government should be. Many of the arguments we have today were present before 1800 - the specific issues differed, but the arguments themselves were quite similar. (Since you've read many of the historical documents, you know this already.)
As for your comment, "There is no government in history that has taken away citizens rights in bad times only to restore them in better times", I must beg to differ. OUR government has done so. As an example, you need look no further than the Sedition Act referenced by Scenic Sounds earlier on this thread, but there are other cases.
The question, however, is how to deal with the current situation - is a third party a viable option, or does it, as a practical matter, move the country to the left, since it tends to split the conservative vote and result in the election of liberals?
I tend to believe the latter, and I also believe that some of the third party candidates are running not to get elected, but to line their own pockets or increase their speaking fees. I would like to see some of the "fringe" parties work at building a base at local, and then state levels - I think that might be more effective both at "educating the masses" and building a base than running at national levels is at this point in time.