How important is the Constitution?

Question

These days there are lots of concerns about the Bush Admin. violating Constitutional protections in its War on Terror. The argument that it's for our own protection can be very persuasive to many people. The question is: what sacrifice is it worth to keep to the tenets of this 200 year old document. Our elected officials take a oath to defend it, but someone saying: 'If I have to violate the Constitution to defend the American people, then by God I'll do it', would also find many supporters. If we give up the Constitution for the sake of 'safety', are we still America?

Answer 1

The Constitution is the very foundation of our country. Without it, we are nothing. The United States has a very mixed population of different races, religions, etc., that is held together by the principles put forth in the Constitution. The Constitution is what makes our country "The Land of the Free." So to answer your question, the Constitution is extremely important. Bush is violating the Constitution, taking away our rights and turning our country into something that the Founding Fathers would have been ashamed of. Bush wants power, the power of a king. As long as Bush is in control, we are not free. I could go on and on. I hope that my account doesn't get suspended or something for this, but I wouldn't be suprised if it was.

Answer 2

"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
- Ben Franklin

Breaking the rules set down by the Constitution is a very dangerous precedent to set, particularly when it comes from an elected official, especially our Chief Executive. This is not to say that it's not necessary - sometimes it is. But it is a solution that must be saved as the very last of last resorts, after other solutions have been tried and failed.

The Constitution is what makes us America. It's the set of ideals to which every American should aspire, which should permeate the very air we breathe, which should help us decide the path that we should take as people and as a nation.

Bush doesn't give a crap for the Constitution. He may claim that all the unConstitutional and frequently illegal actions he sanctions are necessary to prosecute the War on Terror, but he started his assault on our liberties before 9/11 ever happened. Or am I the only one who realizes that the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives has never given one thin government dime to any group which wasn't Christian?

Answer 3

sort of a silly question. For all the hand wringing that the liberals do about constitutional violations--congress might pass a law that's unconstitutional, the president may issue an executive order that is unconstitutional--this much is true--both groups CAN do that. However, suit will be filed, and if the law or executive order is unconstitutional it will be struck down by the Supreme Court. The supreme's interpret the law of the land. No worries about any statements anyone makes about violating the constitution--they can try-but hasn't been allowed in 200 + years

Answer 4

It's the beliefs and idea's this country is based on, or was.
Now its toilet paper for so many politicians and we allowed it to happen and continue to everyday we let them keep breathing.

The constitution does not have a clause that says "open to interpretation" it simply states the way it shall be, somewhere along the line some assclowns got the idea it was negotiable.

There are SO many "laws" written in violation of the constitution from federal all the way down to town "laws" that it sickens me.

I look forward to a time when we can clone the forefathers back to life, to come kick the **** out of all of us and the criminals we gave there country over to.

The Constitution is a statement of fact, it is not open to interpretation, and never was, the forefathers knew wtf they were doing, how DARE we presume to know better, THEY created a country, we can barely keep it from falling apart.

Honor your country and its founding ideas, which is what can make us great, cause we sure as hell ain't right now.

Restore the bill of rights, the constitution, and remove both presidents and all of congress, immediately while we still can.

Answer 5

The Constitution of the US is LAW OF THE LAND.

Any sacrifice is worth defending this document, and NO sacrifice is worth compromising it.

If a lawmaker, sworn to uphold the Constitution states that (s)he will violate it, then we should see to it that said lawmaker is thrown out of office, because this person has violated an oath of office.

Millions of our military have sacrificed their lives so that we may have the freedoms guaranteed in the US Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Without these documents, we would fail to be the United States of America. We might be in name, but not in spirit, because the Founders of this great nation would have been nixed for other ideologues.

Answer 6

You need to study up on your history.

The Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land, and nothing, or no one, may ever supersede it. The Founders had the insight to write the Constitution in such a way, that many of the issues we would have with our current form of government would be resolved simply by interpreting the Constitution. And when something is not in there, the Congress has the ability to add it; and they have.

Doing away with the Constitution would not only require a revolution, but would allow our leaders (in all the branches) to go unchecked, and have ABSOLUTE powers. That document is the only thing standing in the way between you, and who-knows-what type of government.

Answer 7

let me see if I can put it in perspective

Its like the foundation of a house
it has to be solid or the house won't stand

Our laws may change but they never violate the precepts of the constitution( in theory any way)

A long time ago,an army laying seige to a fortress would
mine the earth out from under the foundations of the walls causing the foundations to break and the walls to fall under their own unsupported weight.

Now we are under attack and the enemy is using the openness of our society,supported by our laws and our constitution to sneak into our country and do us harm (like 9/11), to raise money to support terrorism,(big bust yesterday) , to educate their warriors and scientists who can use our technology against us.(The 9/11 suicide pilots were educated here) and to infiltrate our society prior to our "conversion".

There are provisions to suspend the rights of individuals to save the country and that son is what is happening. I have no problem with that.They can listen to my cell phone calls if they want to. I don't care ,cause I'm not doing anything wrong.They aren't after me.

It's happened before too Lincoln did it to preserve the union.
FDR did it to win WW2. And considering the insidious nature of infiltration now is a great time to do it.

By the way did you know they caught some terrorists sneaking in over the Texas border about 4 weeks ago? they got here through Cuba and Costa Rica then up through Mexico.

Answer 8

We are, but not with the rights we had.

Of course, people are pinpoint focused on the Patriot Act and don't seem to be paying much attention to such things as Campaign Finance 'Reform' (You are no longer permitted to write or utter the name of a political candidate outside government-approved guidelines). The attempt to revive the so-called 'Fairness Doctrine' is another example. Government wishes to dictate the programming of radio. Is anybody paying attention?

Furthermore, there is a dreadful drumbeat of prohibition in the distance. Just as happened in the early 20th century, people are raising more and more heck about what other people eat, drink, smoke, etc. If nationalized health care goes through, imagine how much more pressing the state's need to legislate what you keep in your fridge...

Mind your rights. While everybody is glowering at the fall-guy, Congress might just quietly take away some liberties that they think you aren't qualified to possess.

Answer 9

i don't see the evaluation. they are the two significant, yet nor is or ever has been in conflict with the different. If the 'conflict on terrorism' ever did conflict with the shape, i could say that the shape became into extra significant. yet this is the seize. people interpret the shape distinctive. as an occasion, the easy passage, "Congress shall make no regulation respecting an enterprise of faith, or prohibiting the loose exercising thereof" has 2 hundred million distinctive meanings to 2 hundred million distinctive people with each and each particular of their interpretation of this particularly hassle-free passage. So be careful how emphatic you get on your perspectives.

Answer 10

Anyone who gives up any freedom without it being done in the appropriate manner (Constitutional Amendment) is crazy! Even for our security! IIf we do, then we have already lost!

Pretty soon you will have no constitutional rights by Fiat!

Why is it that Britain can do it, Italy can do it, Germany can do it, without giving up anything and without attacking an Innocent country!

"This Government, the offspring of your own choice
uninfluenced and unawed, adopted upon full investigation and
mature deliberation, completely free in its principles, in the
distribution of its powers, uniting security with energy, and
containing within itself a provision for its own amendment, has
a just claim to your confidence and your support. Respect for
its authority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in its
measures, are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims of
true liberty. The basis of our political systems is the right
of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of
government. But the constitution which at any time exists till
changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people
is sacredly obligatory upon all. " George Washington 1797

And that means Bush!

Give me one example where the government needs to violate the constitution? If they don't have probable cause, they do not get a warrant! They do not get to look at my e-mails and places I have searched! They don't need to arrest me and throw me into a Navy Brig for 3 1/2 years as a US citizen with no charges!

We have agencies to protect us, and if they did their job they could! Almost NOTHING is a secret these days!