Poll: How should the US Constitution be ammended

[Tsukasa Buddha]

Soviet State?

In the Soviet Union the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only party allowed by the Constitution. Kinda goes against proportional representation and instant run off voting.

Also, my amendments made no mention of central planning of the economy.

 

[gdnp]

In the Soviet Union the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only party allowed by the Constitution. Kinda goes against proportional representation and instant run off voting.

Also, my amendments made no mention of central planning of the economy.

To trolls, they are still the same.

I am more interested in your suggestion of doing away with the senate. Is this on the basis of the lack of proportional representation, the desire for a unicameral legislature, or both?

 

[Bob Blaylock]

If we could get all levels of government to strictly obey the Constitution as it now stands, I solidly believe that this would be of far greater benefit to this nation and its people than any change that could be made to the Constitution itself.

 

[Wowbagger]

Remember: The spirit of the Constitution involves the granting of freedoms, and the respect of responsibility.

My choices from your poll:
Protect abortion rights - The government has no right to control pre-human fetus in one's body

Right to privacy - I think we already have this, to a certain degree. But, I suppose we could always use more. It depends on how this is worded, though.

change/eliminate the electoral college - One Person, One Vote! Eliminate the electoral college! Its original intent is no longer applicable. Simple majority is the only true democratic way to vote!

Other - I will get to those in a moment.

But first some commentary on some of the ones I did NOT vote for:

The ones about the second amendment - The government has no right to keep arms away from responsible adults. Though, it does need the power to assess that responsibility in a reasonable manner.

Ban flag burning - Yeah, right! How is that supposed to demonstrate freedom and democracy?! There is a difference between defending the country and defending symbols of the country.

Ban the income tax - As much as we do not enjoy paying it, the people of the U.S. have to pay for the services provided by the government they are running, somehow. The real issue is to improve the way it is spent!

I am a little iffy on the last two: congressional term limits, and balanced budget. When I learn more about the nitty-gritty issues, I will let you know.

Anyway, here are some other amendments I thought of:

1. Allow former convicts the right to vote. Once you have served your time for your crimes, you should have all of your rights restored, including voting.

2. Also, give the citizens in U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, etc. the right to vote for President. (But, do not give them senators or representatives, until they become states.)

3. Marriage is between two consenting adults, of any gender. (perhaps establishing a minimum age would be fair, also.)

4. Establish an equal opportunity for public education, for democratic citizenship. And, clarify the separation of Church and State, in public education.

5. Your Right to Party!! (you gotta fight for it!)

I am sure I will think of others.



ETA: Also, repeal the DMCA!! I don't think that counts as an ammendment. But, it would be a good idea.

 

[geni]

Well in line with the recent ruleing on arms the "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts," bit should probably be removed from "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries".


Asside from that I would tend to argue that there would be some benfit in amending to to better reflect the federal goverment's current role rather than messing around with the interstate commerce clause and the interstate highway funding.

 

[geni]

If we could get all levels of government to strictly obey the Constitution as it now stands, I solidly believe that this would be of far greater benefit to this nation and its people than any change that could be made to the Constitution itself.

Technicaly that would require people being free to own shoulder lauched AA weapons which are kinda required for a modern militia to be truely effective.

 

[geni]

Right to privacy - I think we already have this, to a certain degree. But, I suppose we could always use more. It depends on how this is worded, though.

You right to privicay is a politician's right to be corrupt.

ETA: Also, repeal the DMCA!! I don't think that counts as an ammendment. But, it would be a good idea.

Without the DMCA pretty much every interactive website or companies that offer hosting services would be sued into oblivion by the likes of getty and corbis withing a few months. For the most part the DMCA is actualy pretty good.

 

[gdnp]

Right to privacy - I think we already have this, to a certain degree. But, I suppose we could always use more. It depends on how this is worded, though.

I have heard others advocate a right to privacy. To me, the concept is so vague that to try to write it into the constitution would open a huge can of worms. I have no idea how it should be worded.

change/eliminate the electoral college - One Person, One Vote! Eliminate the electoral college! Its original intent is no longer applicable. Simple majority is the only true democratic way to vote!

I too wonder if the founding fathers would have instituted an electoral college had they been writing the constitution today. I doubt it.

Ban flag burning - Yeah, right! How is that supposed to demonstrate freedom and democracy?! There is a difference between defending the country and defending symbols of the country.

I am gratified by this suggestion's lack of support. I just threw it in because it was so prominently touted a few year's back. A sledgehammer to "cure" a nonexistent problem, that would clearly do more harm than the problem it is supposed to fix.

1. Allow former convicts the right to vote. Once you have served your time for your crimes, you should have all of your rights restored, including voting.

I have to admit that this one has always puzzled me. The constitution sets out who has the right to vote (age and citizenship initially, and amendments for women), but no where does it give the government the power to strip the right to vote from convicts. I presume that there is some common law principle that allows this to be done, but it seems to be at the discretion of the state. Unfortunately, the pro-convict voting bloc is not particularly powerful, so I don't see much chance of this happening. Better luck with democratic legislatures.

2. Also, give the citizens in U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, etc. the right to vote for President. (But, do not give them senators or representatives, until they become states.)

can't argue with this. Last I heard, taxation without representation was tyranny.

3. Marriage is between two consenting adults, of any gender. (perhaps establishing a minimum age would be fair, also.)

clearly, you just want God to send more hurricanes, don't you?

 

[gtc]

Protect abortion rights - The government has no right to control pre-human fetus in one's body

But who decides when a fetus becomes human?

change/eliminate the electoral college - One Person, One Vote! Eliminate the electoral college! Its original intent is no longer applicable. Simple majority is the only true democratic way to vote!

What about instant run-off? That way, even if you would prefer a minor party candidate, you can still select between the two front-runners.

 

[Piggy]

None of the above.

Is the Constitution broken?

 

[Piggy]

But who decides when a fetus becomes human?

The old standard was when you could feel it moving around.

The new standard was elaborated in RvW, but it ends up being essentially the same -- after the first trimester.

 

[gdnp]

None of the above.

Is the Constitution broken?

I would turn the question around: Is the constitution perfect?

 

[gtc]

The old standard was when you could feel it moving around.

The new standard was elaborated in RvW, but it ends up being essentially the same -- after the first trimester.

Thanks.

 

[Texas]

Remember: The spirit of the Constitution involves the granting of freedoms, and the respect of responsibility.

My choices from your poll:
Protect abortion rights - The government has no right to control pre-human fetus in one's body

Right to privacy - I think we already have this, to a certain degree. But, I suppose we could always use more. It depends on how this is worded, though.

change/eliminate the electoral college - One Person, One Vote! Eliminate the electoral college! Its original intent is no longer applicable. Simple majority is the only true democratic way to vote!

Other - I will get to those in a moment.

But first some commentary on some of the ones I did NOT vote for:

The ones about the second amendment - The government has no right to keep arms away from responsible adults. Though, it does need the power to assess that responsibility in a reasonable manner.

Ban flag burning - Yeah, right! How is that supposed to demonstrate freedom and democracy?! There is a difference between defending the country and defending symbols of the country.

Ban the income tax - As much as we do not enjoy paying it, the people of the U.S. have to pay for the services provided by the government they are running, somehow. The real issue is to improve the way it is spent!

I am a little iffy on the last two: congressional term limits, and balanced budget. When I learn more about the nitty-gritty issues, I will let you know.

Anyway, here are some other amendments I thought of:

1. Allow former convicts the right to vote. Once you have served your time for your crimes, you should have all of your rights restored, including voting.

2. Also, give the citizens in U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, etc. the right to vote for President. (But, do not give them senators or representatives, until they become states.)

3. Marriage is between two consenting adults, of any gender. (perhaps establishing a minimum age would be fair, also.)

4. Establish an equal opportunity for public education, for democratic citizenship. And, clarify the separation of Church and State, in public education.

5. Your Right to Party!! (you gotta fight for it!)

I am sure I will think of others.



ETA: Also, repeal the DMCA!! I don't think that counts as an amendment. But, it would be a good idea.

I counted 5 new amendments in your list and several revisions to existing amendments almost all having to do with social issues favored by liberals. That is fine but is it realistic or desirable? To add or change an amendment it takes a 2/3rds majority vote of both houses of congress followed by ratification of 3/4 of the states for each new or changed amendment. Now the fly in the ointment is when the amendment process is opened it is WIDE open to competing amendments.

Take for example your desire to make abortion a discreet right formally recognized in the Constitution, the immediate effect would be a competing Amendment to outlaw all abortions. The outcome of having each amendment being put before congress and gaining support of three fourths of the states votes could easily mean that you would get the exact opposite of what you wanted. The same with your marriage amendment and even more so since almost 3/4 of the states already outlaw same sex marriages. Opening the Constitution for amendments that could just as well be addressed in legislation is very unpredictable and potentially dangerous and why the Founders made it very difficult to do so.

 

[Tsukasa Buddha]

To trolls, they are still the same.

I am more interested in your suggestion of doing away with the senate. Is this on the basis of the lack of proportional representation, the desire for a unicameral legislature, or both?

Both .

Also, because it is undemocratic for having really long terms that are staggered, so it holds back the movement of the people.

I don't think inefficiency is the key to democracy .

 

[Tsukasa Buddha]

1. Allow former convicts the right to vote. Once you have served your time for your crimes, you should have all of your rights restored, including voting.

2. Also, give the citizens in U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, etc. the right to vote for President. (But, do not give them senators or representatives, until they become states.)

Oh, good catches.

 

[Texas]

Both .

Also, because it is undemocratic for having really long terms that are staggered, so it holds back the movement of the people.

I don't think inefficiency is the key to democracy .

Prior to the 17th amendment Senators were appointed by the state governors not elected. The reason for their longer terms was to fulfil the role as the "deliberative" body in congress not subject to the same pressures of being re-elected every 2 years. The House is where the action is and the senate is there as the foot on the throttle.

 

[Tsukasa Buddha]

Prior to the 17th amendment Senators were appointed by the state governors not elected. The reason for their longer terms was to fulfil the role as the "deliberative" body in congress not subject to the same pressures of being re-elected every 2 years. The House is where the action is and the senate is there as the foot on the throttle.

And it shouldn't be there. It held back anti-slavery legislation for a long time. And then add to that the non-proportionality.

I just don't see why inefficiency should be necessary for democracy.

 

[jj]

My vote: "Leave it the (old-rule-8) alone!"

 

[Texas]

And it shouldn't be there. It held back anti-slavery legislation for a long time. And then add to that the non-proportionality.

I just don't see why inefficiency should be necessary for democracy.

Oh baloney. You are asking for "pure democracy" and should be very careful because the results you would get are not the ones you think you would get.