Do America's founding principles have any relevance in the federal government today?

Question

Regerugged, it sure seems that way sometimes, and it seems prevalent on both sides of the political fence.

Patriotwww, I agree. But it could be argued that the founding principles had little to do with the unfetterred will of the people either. The founders demanded representation, but warned against the “tyranny of the majority” with equal fervor.

Everythingyoumissed, nice response, if a bit one-sided. But I must disagree on one point: It has always been a federal crime to threaten to kill the President, and the Secret Service has done the same under Carter, Clinton, or any other Democrat. They take every threat to the President seriously, and they don’t ignore any perceived threat, no matter how minor. In this case, the girl (14 years old, not 12) posted a picture of the president, scrawled "Kill Bush" across the top and drew a dagger stabbing his outstretched hand. The Secret Service pulled her out of class (9th Grade Biology) and questioned her for two hours. Every once in a while someone slips up and demonstrates a desire to kill the president (either real or in jest), and these demonstrations have always been met with a relatively harsh response. I say relatively, because in a majority of countries in the world, the person making such a statement would simply disappear without trial.

Answer 1

Unfortunately No. Washington has stopped even using them as a guideline! If it does not make them money they do not care about it and will ignore it. This applies to the Constitution, Bill of Rights and every Civil Right!

Very Sad.

People that just throw away their rights stating that "If you have done nothing wrong, you do not have anything to worry about" are sadly mistaken. They need to realize that a right, once lost, is rarely regained.

Perhaps they need to read history, specifically the history as to how Hitler was able to take the control that he did.

Answer 2

Well, they should. But in my opinion, our federal government has completely lost touched with the citizens of this country.

Where is equality in a tax cut that only goes to the wealthy? Or the equality of a glass ceiling for women and non-whites? Or how we don't want to allow Mexicans into the country unless they fight in Iraq?

Where is a government for and by the people when it is controlled by a heartless man who has lied to the American people on several occasions? A government controlled by two parties who, in general, listen to money before they listen to their constituents?

What happened to individual liberties? We can no longer say anything that criticizes the president or the war without fear of being tracked down or our property stolen. A 12-YEAR-OLD girl was taken out of class by secret service men because of a derogatory picture of Bush she placed on her myspace.

There is no such thing as checks and balances anymore. Bush can do what he pleases, he can stay in Iraq as long as he wants, and we're supposed to feel guilty if we don't blindly follow the president. Let alone, Bush doesn't even have to follow the constitution and wait for congress to declare war.

Our "freedom of the press" no longer exists either, with conservative moguls controlling what goes to print or on air. The NY Times took over a year to report on Bush's wiretapping.

There's so much more, but I think that proves my point.

Answer 3

We still have a Constitution in the US. Sometimes, when it suits them, people in the federal government follow the Constitution.

Answer 4

Nope, government is this big lopping machine of special interests and has very little to do with the will of the people!