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Only one in six adults claims detailed knowledge of the Constitution. As the franchise expanded, so did the scope of government's "enumerated" powers and deference or submission to "majority rule." We could argue the extremes of libertarian and socialist interpretations of the Constitution, but as Hamilton said, "Real liberty is not found in the extremes of democracy." I like Ben Franklin's response to a woman who asked him, "Well, sir, what is it going to be?" His answer, "A Republic, IF YOU CAN KEEP IT!"
1 posted on 09/16/2005 7:43:32 AM PDT by albertp
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To: albertp
What will public schools teach about the Constitution? Most likely, they will emphasize

That all-important "right to privacy" among the varied emanations of saving penumbras.

2 posted on 09/16/2005 7:50:52 AM PDT by jwalburg (If I have not seen as far as others, it is because of the giants standing on my shoulders.)
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To: albertp

I'll let them ban the pledge of allegience when they replace it with a daily recitation of the US constitution.


6 posted on 09/16/2005 8:13:47 AM PDT by z3n
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To: albertp
The author complains that the Tenth Amendment prevents the forced teaching of the Constitution. Pretty funny, the Tenth is completely disregarded by US government. The number of court cases guided by it can be counted on one hand. The courts and the people go wild over most of the others.

The structure of this passed law says when educators receive Federal monies they must teach the US Constitution. I didn't read the whole thing, but I'd bet there's no mention that the Federal government shouldn't be funding local (state) schools.

It didn't mention that the sovereign states power has been shrunk to nearly nothing by the illegal Federal Income Tax, which is required by the Constitution to be gather by apportionment from the states after _they_ exercise their right to direct tax. After this slate of hand, they then feel obligated to turn around and give some of it back to the state on their terms.

Seems to me there are illegal reasons that they can force the teaching of the US Constitution, since the states haven't worked to restore the taxing issue and now line up at the Federal feeding trough.

Seems to me trying to teach the sheeple the US Constitution is an awesome thing, in spite of the illegalities of getting it in place. Thank you Congressmen Byrd for seeing fit to add something useful onto this pile of broken and twisted law.

7 posted on 09/16/2005 8:20:51 AM PDT by veracious
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To: albertp

It would appear that a number of public officials in New Orleans are Constitution-challenged, especially when it comes to the Bill of Rights.


8 posted on 09/16/2005 8:25:19 AM PDT by billnaz (What part of "shall not be infringed" don't you understand?)
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To: albertp
There is nothing in the document that permits the federal government to tell local schools what they can and cannot teach.

This is the ironic part. There's nothing in the Constitution that permits the federal government to fund local schools, either.

That the requirement is linked to the funding is a red herring.

10 posted on 09/16/2005 8:27:54 AM PDT by Oberon (What does it take to make government shrink?)
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To: albertp
The following excerpt from the Business Week article "Roberts Robes Himself in Pragmatism" illustrates the impact of the philosphy of pragmatism upon us all.

Thank you John Dewey, [NOT!]

"PRECEDENT POLICY. Now, as congressional lawmakers dug into Day Two of confirmation hearings for John Roberts' nomination to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, they put the commerce clause front and center. Business was listening intently, as were activists on both ends of the political spectrum. The root question is this: Where does Roberts draw the line on federal power?

His answer was surprisingly equivocal: In essence, he told lawmakers it depends. But the full impact of what he said should make business -- and some liberal activist groups -- smile, even as it likely will alarm advocates of a strict "constructionist" interpretation of the Constitution.

Business doesn't give a whit about judicial philosophy. What it wants from the courts is consistency and predictability -- tools for planning in the short term. That's one reason Corporate America mourned the resignation of Sandra Day O'Connor. "

11 posted on 09/16/2005 8:29:17 AM PDT by yatros from flatwater (If the end justifies the means, then why aren't we "as Elokim" already?)
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To: albertp
a citizenry that doesn't even note the irony in using an approach inconsistent with the principles of the Constitution in order to promote understanding of the Constitution

So true, many people interpret the constitution in a manor that favors their point of view, disregarding the fact that they actually are undermining the true intentions setforth in the document.

13 posted on 09/16/2005 8:48:04 AM PDT by Realism (Some believe that the facts-of-life are open to debate.....)
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To: albertp

My daughter is studying the Constitution in High School. I was prepared for some watered-down "interpretation" but found that-- at least, so far-- they're going through it pretty thoroughly. Her notes on Article I are longer than the Article itself. I plan to keep an eye on this, especially when they get to the BOR.


17 posted on 09/16/2005 10:43:20 AM PDT by oldfart ("All governments and all civilizations fall... eventually. Our government is not immune.)
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