Two Views of the Constitution

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There seems to be two streams of thought in this country as to what the Constitution is and means. These two thoughts are diametrically opposed to each other and that is where the difficulties and the conflicts begin, not just between political parties but even within them. The problem is most people do not understand that this basic philosophical difference is the root cause of our political problems.

Let’s backup first and look at what I and many others thought was a problem with our elected representatives; they were not taking their oath  to protect and defend the constitution seriously. I think now I was wrong. They do take their oath seriously and they believe they’re defending the constitution. Now, I know there are many of you starting to question my thinking when I make statement like that, especially after writing The Oath; but hear me out.

They are protecting their version of the constitution; okay, now you’re saying wait a minute there is only one US Constitution. Well technically you are right, but here is where the problem arises and this goes back to my opening statement. Something was said on the radio this morning on the way into work that caught my attention and it was this idea of two completely different concepts of what the Constitution is, and I believe this is what is causing the conflict. Well here is the problem, one view of the Constitution is it is a charter of rights, but the opposing view is it is a plan of government; these two thoughts are poles apart.

The group that believes that the Constitution is a charter of rights looks to the Bill of Rights along with other sections to claim that the government has given you these rights and can do what is needed to expand and build on them or can reduce them in times of danger to secure your security and in either case it will promote the general welfare.

Then we have those that believe our Constitution is a plan of government or basically a blueprint a set of rules that must be followed and may not be changed unless the federally elected officials first get a change order (Constitutional  Amendment) from the owners (we citizens through our states). They believe the rights of the citizens and the States listed in the Bill of Rights are not rights granted by the government but are a
part of the rights that we are born with and therefore the federal government may not abridge these rights.

So, there is the problem in a nutshell, both groups believe they are following the Constitution and faithfully adhering to their Oaths each defending their view.

The belief that the function of a Constitution whether it is the US or State Constitutions is to provide rights because “it says so right there in the Constitution” completely misses the point. Our Constitutions are not there to bestow rights they are there to declare these rights as something that government must protect and may not trample on not something they have bestowed on us.

You must find out which view of the Constitution the candidates for federal and state offices have and then vote accordingly. Do not think that the D or R after their name on the ballot will give you clue to their beliefs, demand answers of how they will protect your freedoms not what ‘goodies’ they will bring back to your area.

“A government big enough to give you everything you need, is a government big enough to take away everything that you have….”

William Kennedy [send him email] is the State Director for the North Carolina Tenth Amendment Center. A strong supporter of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights with special emphasis on State Sovereignty protected by the Tenth Amendment.

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This entry was posted on Friday, March 16th, 2012 at 7:32 am. It is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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WilliamSchooler
WilliamSchooler

You are right, but I still think you miss the philosophy as a concept, to mean LIBERTY and this is the concept if you apply all the terms, rules and guidelines you have an instrument of Liberty to restrict government. To limit them so that life may carry out its activities in the form of ideas and testing. Simply put we learn by doing, by challenging ideas, by adding ideas and then to make these possible we make decisions.

 

I know most want it to be more complex or complicated so it will go along with that sophisticated thinking. It does not have to be and the truths usually are not complicated, it is others making them complicated. Many also get caught up in the word and symbol game without looking through history to really see the manipulation of language which there has been plenty of. Then we have the good old habit of having to be right and having to make others wrong which is a school yard game that never ended.

 

Liberty by all accounts means to be free of intrusive Government which history provided us proof. If you allow them to grow they will take over as the prime authority and becomes intrusive into your personal life. So we have a concept that means to be free of this and a document that backs up  the claim when applied.

 

Now the opposition to this way of life and the lack of intrusion are in there constantly looking for ways to manipulate and cause confusion, but if you are clear on the concept and the philosophy this becomes a very difficult path for these people. The trap door is believing all the words spewed are some set of gospel that cannot be manipulated but it is every day so what is it you are really saying?

 

Our Declaration of Independence is how and why we are to make our choices for the Constitution because it is Life, the the person, the politic in a community we are to support and the truth of this resides in the mirror. You being life and you wanting to be in existence and create your own ideas and make your own choices. This does in no way say all ideas are good ones, just look at some of your own for that bit of truth. This foundation is a tool for a direction of determinism with very basic concepts of you, life being this concept. Notice he did not put person, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and then question why that is?

 

Concepts become simply to get or understand when they simply apply to you and apply means when you put these to use in your personal life as choices in an applied task. Learn to apply it is all I am saying here and stop the symbol superiority game, it does not work or you have not been watching. And the philosophy is Liberty period for the Constitution to have reason for anything. Why do the acts if they result in no concept, philosophy or way of life chosen to live?