If we were to have a New Constitution, the real question (besides who would write it?) would be what changes would we make? So I ask the folks who feel the need for a change, what would you delete or add to our old one?
I myself might remove the Income Tax Amendment.
I also wish to remind everyone that a new American constitution was written once, and that it changed very little of the old one. Reading my Confederate Catechism (the old time southern religion!) by Lyon Gardiner Tyler, I notice he praises the Russian government for making the right of peaceful secession "fundamental" to their Constitution, yet I do not see that right included in the Confederate Constitution, which was indeed the very chance to re-write the Forefather's Constitution, that some here seem to yearn for. In fact the Confederate Constitution calls it's own union of states a "permanent" one, which seems to suggest that secession was not an option in the Confederacy, something that under the circumstances one would think would have been spelled out clearly in no uncertain terms, especially when folks like LG Tyler claim long after the fact that this was a principle paramount to their idea of the "religion-slash-government" they felt Lincoln had denied them.
Should we allow in our new Constitution the absolute right for any state to withdraw, and perhaps join another country? It is an interesting fact that the secession movement in Alaska solicited, and recieved, the support of Ahmedinejad in Iran to take their case before the UN. So I ask this forum, if Florida wanted to secede to unite with a New Cuba, or Arizona to join Mexico, shall we say, "Go in peace, Sisters"?
Folks here lament the supposed coming downfall of America's greatness. I see no faster way to ensure it than guaranteeing dissolution and seccession, and that was equally true 15O years ago, in my opinion. Yet the same folks here who advocate the cause of secession back then, are the same ones here lamenting America's perceived weakening on the world stage today?
Another thing to ponder, when talking about making a "new constitution" is that we do have a chance right now, today, to help write a brand new Constitution for the 21st century without any special voting of two more States. It is called Iraq. If you were to write a constitution for a brand new 21st century country, here is your chance. My question to this forum is, would you guarantee Muqtada Al-sadr and his followers not only the right to bear arms, but to bear them for the express purpose of forming a militia to fight "government tyranny"?
So, what would you in this forum wish to see added to or removed in our "new" 21st century Constitution, and what rights would you hope and expect to see in the new Iraqi one?
By the way Bryan, once again, your post was absolutely excellent.