I Have A Simple Question For The Class... DO YOU... In Total... Respect Our Government/System ???

[Savannahmann]

58. As a principle on Paper?

Yes. In principle, as it is intended to operate. Yes.

In practice? Not so much.

As an example. The First Amendment.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

Congress shall make no law. The First Amendment is intended to be a guide, for good and moral men/women to use. Just this side of a commandment from God. But with the same limitations. Congress shall make no law. Notice how it doesn't say The Supreme Court shall rule that any law which.... But it says Congress shall pass no law.

How many times (Citizens United excepted) has the Supreme Court had to tell the Government that they were enforcing a law which abridged the First Amendment? How many times has the Supreme Court had to rule on a Religious Display? How many times has the Press found themselves targeted by Politicians?

On paper, the Amendment is a good thing. In practice, not so much. Take any amendment you want. The 4th Amendment. We're so much smarter now, so much more evolved. Yet we're trampling that like it has been woven into a door mat at the main entrance of a popular shopping mall. Fifth Amendment, The Supremes just ruled that you have to specifically say that you are invoking your right to remain silent or they'll use that right against you. I could go on and on.

The words, and meanings on paper, are a wonderful and amazing thing. Each branch given responsibility, each branch given authority, and each branch equal. If a Judge misbehaves then that Judge can be impeached. In practice, it's almost never done, no matter how outrageously the Judge has behaved. Congress was given immunity while in session, the idea being this way Virginia could not hold up delegates from South Carolina and affect legislation. Good in principle, but abused in practice.

The nation in principle, I love. The nation in practice, well I despair of ever loving it again. We forgot that just because we can do a thing, doesn't mean we should.