The Constitution, the people, and stupidity...

I am still undecided on what to think about the majority of Americans. I cannot decide if you are ignorant, apathetic, or just downright stupid. I see plenty of stupidity on a daily basis, but when it comes to our country, and its political system, I have not yet decided if the boat we find ourselves in is due to stupidity alone.

A long time ago, James Madison, our 4th President made the following comment. He said, "Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government."

Any discussion of government, or consideration of laws and legislation, should therefore take into consideration the historical background. Only then can you understand our Constitution and our form of government. To learn the history behind these documents you must look to the writings of those people who were involved in creating them, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, Washington, and many others.

That is where I find a problem with people today. Too many people say that our government only has our best interests in mind. Daniel Webster once said, "Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard people against the dangers of good intentions."

I would hope that people have enough of an understanding of U.S. history to be familiar with the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary War, and the framing of the Constitution. If not, then trying to explain the following concepts will be an exercise in futility. I do not wish to sound condescending, but I feel the need to explain the following in terms that a 5 year old could understand. It is obvious that many people today have forgotten the principles I am about to outline.

The Declaration of Independence states, "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..."

That is a simple, yet profound statement. It lays out the reason for governments, and the authority under which it acts. Governments are created to secure our rights, and they get their powers from us, the people.

Next, the United States Constitution states, "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Again, with the simple phrase, ‘We the people’, this Constitution outlined the duties and authorities given to this form of government our country was to create.

Finally, returning to the Declaration of Independence, "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

The Declaration basically says that if a form of government is not doing its job, and is violating our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it. Basically that means that if we built it, we can fix it our tear it down and build another one that does what it is supposed to do.

To make it clearer, I would like to quote Abraham Lincoln, “Our safety, our liberty, depends upon preserving the Constitution of the United States as our fathers made it inviolate. The people of the United States are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.”

Returning to my main point, the American people have forgotten the role of government. The government works for us, not vice versa. If an overwhelming majority of the public disagrees with the actions of its leaders, then those leaders should heed the voices of the people. The people of this country gripe, complain, and moan about any number of actions their government takes, yet they refuse to do anything about it.

How many career politicians do you see in office? This country keeps getting worse because we continue to vote back into office the same worn out trash as our Senators and Congressmen.
That is why I say people are either ignorant, apathetic, or stupid. Otherwise things wouldn’t have gotten to the point they are today. Which of the three are you?