A clip from an AP article about HORSE #1
“We say ‘All men are created equal’ but does that mean we need to make everyone entirely equal at all times, or does it mean everyone gets a fair shot?” says Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center for Justice, which promotes expanded voting rights, public financing of political campaigns and other progressive causes. “Individualism is baked into that phrase, but also a broader, more egalitarian vision. There’s a lot there.”
This quote is an example of “Multiple Personality Syndrome (MPS)” in the Constitution (actually in this case, from the Declaration of Independence). Consider the following from the Constitution:
Everyone can say what they feel needs to be said.
However, everyone can carry weapons.
Further, religious social behavior is above reproach.
“Slavery’ was ended by the 13th Amendment. So what about indigenous and racial rights??? Never mentioned in terms either of equal or fair chance doctrine. What happened to “40 acres and a mule”? Black farmers were run off their farm, that’s what. In 1921 the ‘Black Wall Street’ community in Tulsa was burned to the ground for being successful. Does the Constitution even work?
Only men are created equal. Not until 1920 were women recognized as citizens ‘with all the rights . . .’
The 4th amendment protects individuals from search and seizure of personal information and possessions without due judicial process. Has anyone told Big Data about the 4th Amendment?
Finally, in the 14th Amendment agreed to in 1868, the Constitution guarantees “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Mariner has raised rabble about the Constitution to show that it is as political a beast as any legislation written today. Is it a real expectation for Congress to open the Constitution for an update every time the culture changes? If Congress could, it wouldn’t make any difference. Just ask any black, indian, woman, immigrant, multinational, poverty-stricken person, billionaire or venture capitalist.
The core question is what tools are available as a starting point to restore a ‘unified and principled nation’? When one considers the hodge-podge of laws, regulations and political idiosyncrasies that meaninglessly guide our American Nation, where do we begin?
Is it even possible to politically mandate social attitudes about equality and having a truly fair shot? What is the tool?
Ancient Mariner