VII.6: Should We Change the US Constitution?

by
Share this page

Should We Change the US Constitution

Our Constitution is made up only of language. And language is merely a frail collection of words.

That’s true, no matter how brilliantly the words are written. Yet, given America’s military power that frail collection of words is the only thing that stands between us and what could potentially become the most unimaginable and tyrannical force the world has ever seen. Does that mean we should be afraid to change the US Constitution?

Our constitution is not the source and cause of our freedom! Thomas Jefferson certainly didn’t think so:

Where, then, is our republicanism to be found? Not in our Constitution certainly, but merely in the spirit of our people. … (Jefferson 1816)

And another writer expanded that idea:

We are given to attributing our liberty to the securities of a constitution. No greater mistake could be made. The traditions of English liberty which the forefathers brought to this country … have been the source of our liberties. The Constitution is simply the measure of the rights delegated by the people to their governmental agents, and secures them practically no rights which they did not have before its enactment. (Pierce 1908, 309-10)

We are not free because of our Constitution. Rather, we have our Constitution because we are free. So should we be free to change the US Constitution as we please?

Jefferson said yes:

Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence and deem them, like the Ark of the Covenant, too sacred to be touched. They ascribe to the men of the preceding age a wisdom more than human and suppose what they did to be beyond amendment. I knew that age well…. It was very like the present, but without the experience of the present; and forty years of experience in government is worth a century of book reading. (Jefferson 1816)

Even Abraham Lincoln did not hold the Constitution as sacred:

This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it. (Lincoln 1861)

The only way to change our government would be to change the US Constitution that defines it.

And as Senator Tom Coburn put it, “the greatest threat to the continuity of our form of government is our government itself.” (Coburn 2003, XIX)

We all know that our government works by such methods as political theater and pork-barrel politics. But as children we were all taught an idealized history. However, an in-depth study into history shows that our government has worked mostly the same as now from its beginning. Human nature has always been human nature.

And most other governments are even more corrupt than ours.

Do you think we could make our government work better? Does the thought of changing our system frighten you? It should! But it should be clear that America has been coming off the rails for a long time.

How would you change the US Constitution? Would you rewrite the it, amend it, or leave it alone?

This site is for discussing how to improve our political system. It is NOT for discussing party politics or political figures. So if you have a non-partisan question or comment, feel free to leave it below.

To top of page

Next post

Sources:

Coburn, Tom A. 2003. Breach of Trust. Nashville, TN: WND Books.

Jefferson, Thomas. 1816. “Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Kercheval, 8 October 1816,” Founders Online, National Archives, version of January 18, 2019, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-10-02-0309. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Retirement Series, vol. 10, May 1816 to 18 January 1817, ed. J. Jefferson Looney. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2013, pp. 435–436.]

Lincoln, Abraham. 1861. First Inaugural Address. http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/1inaug.htm (Accessed Feb. 20, 2016).

Pierce, Franklin. 1908. Federal Usurpation. New York: D. Appleton and Company.

42 thoughts on “VII.6: Should We Change the US Constitution?”

  1. I am currently writing a paper that is very related to your content. I read your article and I have some questions. I would like to ask you. Can you answer me? I’ll keep an eye out for your reply. 20bet

    Reply

  3. Hey there I am so grateful I found your weblog, I really found you by error,
    while I was researching on Bing for something else, Regardless I am here now and
    would just like to say thanks for a marvelous post and a
    all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I
    don’t have time to browse it all at the minute but I have saved
    it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will
    be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the fantastic work.

    Reply

  7. Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?

    Reply

  8. I needed to compose you this little bit of observation just to say thanks yet again about the pleasing tactics you have featured here. It’s certainly shockingly open-handed of people like you giving extensively all that a number of people might have advertised as an electronic book to earn some bucks for themselves, principally since you might have tried it in the event you considered necessary. The advice in addition acted as the good way to realize that some people have the same eagerness really like my own to find out a little more regarding this problem. I know there are many more enjoyable moments up front for many who read through your site. sumatra slim belly tonic reviews

    Reply

  10. I needed to post you one tiny word to be able to say thanks a lot the moment again for your personal exceptional tactics you’ve contributed in this case. It’s certainly wonderfully open-handed with you to give unreservedly precisely what a lot of folks would’ve sold as an e-book to end up making some cash for their own end, most importantly seeing that you might well have tried it in the event you desired. The principles additionally served to be the easy way to comprehend most people have the same fervor just as my very own to figure out good deal more when it comes to this issue. I know there are some more pleasurable sessions ahead for individuals that browse through your website. tonic greens

    Reply

  11. Needed to draft you this very small note so as to thank you so much over again considering the fantastic advice you’ve featured in this article. It is simply strangely open-handed of people like you to offer freely all that a number of people would’ve made available as an electronic book to help with making some dough for their own end, most notably considering the fact that you could have done it if you considered necessary. These inspiring ideas likewise acted to be the easy way to understand that some people have a similar zeal similar to mine to find out somewhat more with reference to this problem. I’m sure there are many more enjoyable times in the future for people who read through your blog post. provadent

    Reply

  17. Thanks for your marvelous posting! I certainly enjoyed reading it, you could be a great author.
    I will be sure to bookmark your blog and will come back in the future.

    I want to encourage you continue your great writing, have a nice holiday
    weekend!

    My homepage – provadent work

    Reply

  18. Definitely believe that which you said. Your favorite reason appeared to be
    on the internet the simplest thing to be aware of.
    I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while people consider worries that they just don’t know about.
    You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out
    the whole thing without having side effect , people could take
    a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

    Also visit my web site :: billionaire brain wave

    Reply

  29. Hi there to every body, it’s my first pay a quick visit
    of this web site; this weblog contains amazing and in fact good information in favor of visitors.

    Feel free to visit my blog … herpafend

    Reply

  34. I’m not positive the place you’re getting your info, however good topic.
    I must spend some time learning much more or understanding more.
    Thanks for great information I used to be searching for this information for
    my mission.

    My blog post – testoprim-c 200

    Reply

  36. May I simply just say what a relief to discover a person that truly understands what they’re talking about over the internet.
    You definitely realize how to bring an issue to light and make it important.
    More people must look at this and understand this side of the story.

    I was surprised you aren’t more popular because you most certainly possess the gift.

    Here is my web blog sight care

    Reply

  38. Unquestionably believe that which you said. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the internet
    the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed
    while people consider worries that they just do not know about.

    You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal.
    Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

    Feel free to visit my blog post; tonic greens and herpes

    Reply

  40. [url=https://fastpriligy.top/]buy priligy dapoxetine online[/url] Fifteen of the patients were premenopausal, 17 perimenopausal, and 119 postmenopausal

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Verified by MonsterInsights