U.S. Constitution

[EveryB]

I believe that the U.S. Constitution is becoming too outdated for the people of this age.

I think that the political scientists should revise the U.S. Constitution.

 

[sirwinsalot]

well don't we already just revise to the time of our era?

 

[samsara15]

If they revised it we would lose what little freedom we still have. Face it, we have become a business driven nation. The new constitution would be a capitalist manifesto.

 

[jaywoodard]

a capitalistic country doesn't sound too bad though

 

[samsara15]

It might not be too bad, if we had much control of CEOs and corporate boards, and business wasn't heavy into buying government influence.

 

[MarkVI]

It might not be too bad, if we had much control of CEOs and corporate boards, and business wasn't heavy into buying government influence.

Exactly!

The original constitution was written by rich, white, land-owning (and slave owning) men. It was, in part, a constitution to perpetuate their way of life, to keep the wealthy in power.

To fix these problems we need:
+free and fair elections, a paper trail to accurately recount the votes to avoid stolen/manipulated elections like those of 2000 and 2004.
+free time on every network for candidates to state their position- bring an end to the smear adds
+public funding of campaigns, cut out corporate contributions. free the candidates to work for the people- not the rich and wealthy "elite" whom buy off OUR representatives.

 

[USMC the Almighty]

Exactly!

The original constitution was written by rich, white, land-owning (and slave owning) men. It was, in part, a constitution to perpetuate their way of life, to keep the wealthy in power.

Laughable. The Constitution was what this country was founded on and it shall remain so.

And your mischaracterization of our Founding Fathers explains your socialist leanings. These were men like Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton -- men who came from nothing and made something of themselves just like the United States itself. People like them are representative of our country and the American Dream -- that everyone has the opportunity to elevate themselves on the social and economic ladder. They were vehemently against aristocracy, oligarchy, tyranny, and the like which is why they fought so hard on civil rights.

And your cheap shot on Jefferson for being slave owning is asinine. It is intellectually dishonest to apply 21st century standards to 18th century men. Grow up.

To fix these problems we need:
+free and fair elections, a paper trail to accurately recount the votes to avoid stolen/manipulated elections like those of 2000 and 2004.
+free time on every network for candidates to state their position- bring an end to the smear adds
+public funding of campaigns, cut out corporate contributions. free the candidates to work for the people- not the rich and wealthy "elite" whom buy off OUR representatives.

You're right on the first two.

 

[MarkVI]

I may not be dancing in delight that we disagree, but I'm sure glad someone is, finally, really adamant and justified in the disagreement.

I'm just saying that it was a different time, I ended up changing the meaning a bit too much. About growing up: I'm still working on it

I agree with what you're saying about them working and earning their elite status, but the widening gap between the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor is increasing faster than ever before. People (why am I bringing this up, I don't know...) like Paris Hilton are born into their wealth and didn't have to earn it. I don't feel that it's deserved wealth, even though it is inherited.

Life isn't fair and some people have to work harder than others to get to the same level economically.

Just the first two of those election solutions would make me more than happy. This is the people's country.

I don't like corporate contributions to political campaigns, but that's just me.

I love this country and the free exchange of ideas.

Thanks for calling me out and correcting me on some of my statements.

 

[USMC the Almighty]

I may not be dancing in delight that we disagree, but I'm sure glad someone is, finally, really adamant and justified in the disagreement.

And it's nice to see that this thread is also active with people who disagree with me and allow me to apologize for my harsh tone.

I'm just saying that it was a different time, I ended up changing the meaning a bit too much. About growing up: I'm still working on it

Very well then.

I agree with what you're saying about them working and earning their elite status, but the widening gap between the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor is increasing faster than ever before. People (why am I bringing this up, I don't know...) like Paris Hilton are born into their wealth and didn't have to earn it. I don't feel that it's deserved wealth, even though it is inherited.

I am in agreement with you here and I find it equally reprehensible that people like Paris Hilton are born into wealth and instead of using it to improve this country, she instead wallows in it without producing anything of substance for this country.

If I were her parents (who did earn their wealth) -- I would be horrified.

Life isn't fair and some people have to work harder than others to get to the same level economically.

Right. But I believe that capitalism is still the best economic system out there (see my thoughts in the capitalism thread) because of this opportunity it affords every American. Despite the circumstances, you always can make it big and become successful.

I love this country and the free exchange of ideas.

Thanks for calling me out and correcting me on some of my statements.

Likewise.

 

[MarkVI]

I think that the problem with inherited wealth is when the people forget where they come from. The U.S. is a country of refugess from all over the world.

I'll add a quotation Greg Palast made in the opinion article Loser Nation:

America is a nation of losers. It's the best thing about us. We're the dregs, what the rest of the world barfed up and threw on our shores.

John Kennedy said we are "a nation of immigrants." That's the sanitized phrase. We are, in fact, a nation of refugees who, despite the bastards in white sheets and the know-nothings in Congress, have held open the Golden Door to a dark planet.

People don't know the struggle, the sweat, tears, and blood that got us where we are today if wealth is just handed to them. They can not truly appreciate it since they did not work for it. It disconnects them from real people like you and me.

On the topic of capitalism, I read what you wrote and agree.
It's the best economic system we've come up with so far. We all have odds to work against, it's just a matter of perseverence.