regarding the 'tea parties' and other such

[Don Quixote]

Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech or of the press or the right of the people peacefully to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances

in other words, all citizens have the right to make public asses of themselves as long as they do it peacefully

however, it sure beats the alternative

 

[SmarterthanYou]

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

 

[Don Quixote]

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

but what if you are in the minority

the right is there, but what can you do peaceably?

since the abuses were performed under both dem and rep rule (surprisingly most under rep rule) where will those who want change find the citizens and the money for such change

i have always wondered about the things passed despite the 10th amendment...like civil rights and the drug laws - who profits

 

[SmarterthanYou]

i have always wondered about the things passed despite the 10th amendment...like civil rights and the drug laws - who profits

I've thought about making an entire thread devoted to the supreme courts failure to uphold the constitution and those would be two MAJOR topics in it.

 

[evince]

You are not the "desider"

 

[SmarterthanYou]

You are not the "desider"

as the constitution pertains to me, yes I am. just as how it pertains to YOU, you are the decider. It's really that simple.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Yes, but we have a mechanism for doing so peacably. There called elections. We are the most economicaly and politically stable nation in the world. Nations governed under absolute despotism rarely, if ever, could make this claim.

 

[SmarterthanYou]

Yes, but we have a mechanism for doing so peacably. There called elections. We are the most economicaly and politically stable nation in the world. Nations governed under absolute despotism rarely, if ever, could make this claim.

elections are indeed the second step to change and should not be dismissed out of hand.

 

[Minister of Truth]

Yes, but we have a mechanism for doing so peacably. There called elections. We are the most economicaly and politically stable nation in the world. Nations governed under absolute despotism rarely, if ever, could make this claim.

We were the most economically and politically stable portion of the globe in the 1760s as well. Americans had the highest standard of living in the world, and we had American diplomats at the Court of St. James, where they could petition Parliament and advise the king.

 

[Good Luck]

but what if you are in the minority

the right is there, but what can you do peaceably?

since the abuses were performed under both dem and rep rule (surprisingly most under rep rule) where will those who want change find the citizens and the money for such change

i have always wondered about the things passed despite the 10th amendment...like civil rights and the drug laws - who profits

It is unlikely that if it comes to the need, throwing off a government that no longer serves the purpose of the governed can be thrown off peaceably. That is why the 2nd Amendment follows the 1st.

And abuses, as far as I can tell, escalate. The Bush administration screwed the Consiotution from 12 directions. But then this new administgration has taken what Bush did and is literally in the process of trumping it. First, despite promises to the contrary, the FISA contgroversy is being upoheld and extended. Second, the new leadership of DHS has come out with a terrorist threat estimate that literally names every political belief that opposes the current president. They name, as a group, people who oppose abortion as potential for terrorism. Ditto people who oppose gun control, oppose progressive taxation, support the constitution, etc. It is the most vile piece of anti-American slude to be published by a government organization.

In short, when it comes to obeying constitutional constraints and respecting constitutional protections, the republicans, under Bush Jr. were - overall - worse than the democrats under Clinton (despite their gun ban bullshit); while the Clinto era was worse the Reagan/Bush Sr., which was worse than Carter, which was worse than Nixon/Ford, etc. etc. etc. And now from all appearances, the new Dem. regime is going to take things one or two (or is it three?) steps farther.