Is the US Constitution outdated?

Question

The constitution was written 220+ years ago when we didn't have all the things we have now and as such it was written for very different times and for a lot fewer states and peoples. Ammendments have been added but these simply paper over the cracks, so to speak. Is it time a brand new constitution, probably based on the original one, was drafted bring it up to date?

The question was an attempt to gain opinion rather than to promote a re-write or to champion its current status. It was merely to suggest, for open thought, the possibility, or not, of bringing what is an old document written for a differnt age up to date. It was not a back door attempt to suggest getting rid of the right to bear arms (although I know this is a hot topic). I am not trying to be political, just inquisitive.

Someone wrote: "It's the highest law in the land. It's the longest lasting and most important legal document in the history of the world" I guess that the Magna Carta, the UK constitution, does not count? It outdates this by some 500+ years.

someone else wrote: "The Constitution was written based upon the understanding of human nature and how to expand a republic. It could never be outdated, since it wasn't written for a specific time period."
I agree, but my point is human nature has changed and continues to evolve and as such it could become outdated. To my knowledge the US is no longer expanding as a republic and as such this part surely is now redundant?
I am not advocating change, scrapping it, or a rewrite, i am just trying to instill healthy debate. as such i could be seen as devil's advocate.

Answer 1

This is an interesting question.

Jefferson thought that to prevent the Constitution from going out of date there should be a Constitutional Convention every 20 years or so. Needless to say, there hasn't been a convention since his time. There are some people who have been calling for a new Constitutional Convention to either revise the current one or write a brand new one. Several areas of the world have had or are holding constitutional conventions--Iraq, the EU, and other places among them.

I think there is a need for such a convention in the US, but there are many barriers and fears. Some feel the present one should be left alone--it's currently the longest enduring contract in the world, so maybe don't touch it. Other people feel--well, it's broken and time to fix it. Other people wonder who meets--current Congress (that would just make matters worse), an independent group of citizens (who selects them?), etc. What is going to be retained and what thrown out? Many people may agree that the electoral college method of selecting presidents should be thrown out in favor of direct election. But what about gun control? What about all the current issues that affect us? Some people think that if we held a convention, we would either get bogged down in a ten-year struggle that would get nowhere, or that we'd further tear the country apart.

I think that what we need is a great man who proposes a new constitution and persuades the people to support it. But there are no great men on the current political scene, no George Washingtons or Thomas Jeffersons. All the current crop of politicians are hacks and wimps (or crooks).

Answer 2

The Constitution is still a viable document, but it could use some "upgrades".
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Remember, the Constitution allows us to bear arms against a tyrannical and oppressive government. And a second American Revolution is way overdue! Even Thomas Jefferson once said:
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

But, we're like lobsters comfortably languishing in a pot of lukewarm water. Only when the water reaches a boiling point will we start screaming in agony over our own apathy.

Politicians know that if they can distract us with non-binding resolutions about gay marriage and flag burning, we'll just continue slumbering in the pot while they just continue sucking off the taxpayers' teat.

It's time to demand our country back; and it's time to take up arms against the Bush administration for putting taxpayers TRILLIONS of dollars in debt so he can fight a personal vendetta against Saddam Hussein and steal all of Iraq's OIL.

Voting won't do anything. Vote crooked Republicans out and all we do is replace them with crooked Democrats. The Republicrats have a strnglehold on our political system, and the only way to eradicate that is by eliminating the wealthy, the powerful, the influential, and the celebrities that rule the world.
This is supposed to be a country FOR the people, not for the special interests and the well-connected. -RKO-

Answer 3

The Constitution was written based upon the understanding of human nature and how to expand a republic. It could never be outdated, since it wasn't written for a specific time period.

I think you should read about Alexander Hamiltion, the founder of our modern nation. There wasn't another founder (exept for maybe Franklin) that can be compared to him.

Answer 4

It's the highest law in the land. It's the longest lasting and most important legal document in the history of the world. What few rights we still have exist because of it. It's only around 1400 words long. It was kept short and simple on purpose. Are you suggesting that it should just be scrapped?

Answer 5

NO! it is just the beginning of the ability to get going. people want to see and understand history. should we just erase all books and start from scratch. how would you know what to write about? how would the greatest minds acquire more intelligence if they had nothing to go on. a library once burned down and people had to start over. we would have been on the moon hundreds of yrs earlier had there not been a disaster. why would you create a disaster just so you could move the date and time of the beginning to a new one that you believe is the perfect time? just think of all the problems that you haven't forseen coming to life. maybe you should keep studying and stay out of politics.

Answer 6

the constituation itself is NOT outdated, the LAST thing we need to do is rewrite the constituation, however up to date amendments ARE needed, believe it or not there have been very few amendments added to the constitution considering how long ago it was written. but the foundation of the constitution will never be outdated and therefore should NOT be rewritten.

Answer 7

The US constitution is not outdated considering that amendments thereto were already made to adopt to the dynamics of progress. The US constitution was one of the best in the world because its framers were good. Unlike other constitutions, the US constitution was brief enough to long enough to accommodate developments in society.

Answer 8

How would you resolve the Second Amendment?