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eniwetok

(1,629 posts)

12. We The People...

Reply to forthemiddle (Reply #6)

Sun Jan 1, 2017, 12:17 AM

Jan 2017

Two of our founding principles are government derives it just powers from the CONSENT of the governed, and we have the right to change our form of government when ever it becomes hostile to our interests.

In republican political theory of the era the PEOPLE were the sovereigns. Government exists to protect the rights of the PEOPLE. The People don't exist to serve the will of the state. Therefore the PEOPLE could undo the Articles Of Confederation that were merely an agreement between the states.

Well, WE are the People today. But if you feel bound by the politics and the will of the dead... I know I'll never change your mind.

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28 replies

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Highlight:

How are voters ever to learn to be good citizens in an antidemocratic system? [View all] eniwetok Dec 2016 OP

Let's start with going back to basics Retrograde Dec 2016 #1

Several years back? pangaia Dec 2016 #3

I know the argument... but it's deeply flawed eniwetok Jan 2017 #14

Because deist99 Dec 2016 #2

I have my facts straight... eniwetok Dec 2016 #5

Because otherwise we would have no country at all NobodyHere Dec 2016 #8

And the slave states wouldn't have signed on without provisions protecting slavery. n/t JustinL Dec 2016 #9

Sure... eniwetok Jan 2017 #13

so you agree that the Constitution set the politics of 1787 in cement? eniwetok Jan 2017 #10

You do know how this country was put together right? NobodyHere Dec 2016 #4

Exactly forthemiddle Dec 2016 #6

curious definition of "self-governed" eniwetok Jan 2017 #11

We The People... eniwetok Jan 2017 #12

but the Presidency is a national office JustinL Jan 2017 #17

state vs federal eniwetok Jan 2017 #23

we have to stop being victimized by the politics of 1787 eniwetok Dec 2016 #7

Yup, the popular vote was compromised away eniwetok Jan 2017 #15

Serious change starts at the local level. Initech Jan 2017 #16

the problem with thinking change starts at the local level eniwetok Jan 2017 #25

The vote is lost. For good. You won't get it back with voting. McCamy Taylor Jan 2017 #18

PS Democracy died in 2010 with Citizens United. Most folks just didn't realize it at the time. McCamy Taylor Jan 2017 #19

sorry.... CU may not have mattered eniwetok Jan 2017 #21

Forget democratic, is our government today even representative of the people? ck4829 Jan 2017 #20

the only way government can represent the people eniwetok Jan 2017 #26

teach civics...teach civics...teach civics annabanana Jan 2017 #22

what good is civics if the system is not responsive to the People? eniwetok Jan 2017 #24

The crappy electoral system is the core of the US' political failings: DetlefK Jan 2017 #27

our system can create contempt between natural allies. eniwetok Jan 2017 #28