Comments on: Ah, those crazy Framers http://www.blipnet.net/2004/10/20/ah-those-crazy-framers/ the better it gets, the better it gets Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:35:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: jon collins http://www.blipnet.net/2004/10/20/ah-those-crazy-framers/#comment-85 jon collins Mon, 25 Oct 2004 13:18:55 +0000 http://www.blipnet.net/archives/2004/10/20/ah-those-crazy-framers/#comment-85 sigh. declaration of independence, constitution. details. that was a dumb mistake, wasn't it? sigh. declaration of independence, constitution.

details.

that was a dumb mistake, wasn’t it?

]]> By: Jason http://www.blipnet.net/2004/10/20/ah-those-crazy-framers/#comment-84 Jason Sat, 23 Oct 2004 15:26:44 +0000 http://www.blipnet.net/archives/2004/10/20/ah-those-crazy-framers/#comment-84 And the constitution was even a better idea in 1787 when it was written ;-) And the constitution was even a better idea in 1787 when it was written ;-)

]]> By: jon collins http://www.blipnet.net/2004/10/20/ah-those-crazy-framers/#comment-83 jon collins Thu, 21 Oct 2004 14:41:23 +0000 http://www.blipnet.net/archives/2004/10/20/ah-those-crazy-framers/#comment-83 because states were using their autonomy to do bad things (like slavery, preventing women from voting), the federal government slowly started making the states meet minimum requirements. Like, you don't have to like black people, but you can't make them do work if you don't pay them. Or, you don't have to provide kids with a *good* education, but you do have to give them something. (for the record, the supreme court has declared that there is no fundamental right to education.) let's face it, the power of the states has been dwindling for the past 100 years, and that's a good thing. The states can still act as labs for new legislative ideas (like marriage in Massachusetts). The real clincher is Clause 18. Besides, just because the Constitution as expressly written was a terrific idea in 1774, doesn't mean that it passes muster today. Rather than reflexively saying "but that's not what the constitution says!" we should all be asking, "what *should* the constitution say?" I think we're a better country now than we were a century ago in the realm of states having fewer rights and the federal government having more. But that's just me. because states were using their autonomy to do bad things (like slavery, preventing women from voting), the federal government slowly started making the states meet minimum requirements. Like, you don’t have to like black people, but you can’t make them do work if you don’t pay them. Or, you don’t have to provide kids with a *good* education, but you do have to give them something. (for the record, the supreme court has declared that there is no fundamental right to education.)

let’s face it, the power of the states has been dwindling for the past 100 years, and that’s a good thing. The states can still act as labs for new legislative ideas (like marriage in Massachusetts). The real clincher is Clause 18.

Besides, just because the Constitution as expressly written was a terrific idea in 1774, doesn’t mean that it passes muster today. Rather than reflexively saying “but that’s not what the constitution says!” we should all be asking, “what *should* the constitution say?” I think we’re a better country now than we were a century ago in the realm of states having fewer rights and the federal government having more. But that’s just me.

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