DuffmanOhYeah
Golden Member
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<< So, no. I don't believe that the BoR are the only rights we have.
But it's become painfully obvious in actions taken by both the fascist left and right that these rights are about the only ones we are supposedly entitled to, and even they are constantly under attack.
I'm more of a libertarian than anything else, and I agree, the BoR was a bad idea, but now it's essential since we've lost our country's libertarian heritage. >>
I think the Bill of Rights was a great idea. The founders believed that certain rights were so fundamental that they needed to be spelled out lest the limited government they were setting up later tried to over reach its power. The 9th and 10th amendments were included to counter the notion that if a right was not in the Constitution then it was not a right. The founders were very concerned with the natural tendency of governments to grow and amass powers and tried to take steps to ensure that would not happen with our government. I suspect they never anticipated the creative uses the Interstate Commerce Clause would cover given 20th century court decisions. >>
You have your history backwards.
Actually, our most important founders were opposed to the BoR. Hamilton, Madison, Adams, and Jefferson all opposed the concept of enumerating rights, as they felt these would limit freedom only to those rights. They caved to public pressure spurred on by the likes of Patrick Henry. People feared that such a limited constitution would not protect basic rights. Our founders added the Ninth and Tenth Amendment in an attempt to protect nonenumerated rights, but unfortunately, our courts all but ignore these amendments.
Sadly, the founders were right. We now see a popular belief that if it isn't in the BoR, it isn't a right. Not only that, but we have revisionist boobs even trying to redefine and limit the rights that ARE enumerated.
[edit] oops, I forgot to add refrences. Read the Federalist Papers by Hamilton and Adams to see the opposition to a BoR.
In fact, anyone who wants to understand the original intent of our Constitution should read the federalist papers. They were written, for the most part, by Hamilton, Adams and Jay and were published to sell the idea of a Constitution and central federal government to the people. They talk, in detail, about every concept in the Constitution, and go on to explain what rights are inherent to to the people. Both Hamilton and Adams also point out their intent that the ownership and carry of arms is an inherent right of every American. >>
Holy Crap, can you get anything right???? Shut your mouth if you have no idea what you are talking about. First off, the Federalist papers were written by Hamilton, MADISON and Jay. Second of all, Jefferson was a republican, landing him in the group squarely in favor of the bill of rights. The Bill of rights was given as a concession to the republicans by the federalists to pursuade them into ratifying the constitution. It wasn't in fact added until after the document's ratification.
I am absolutely done with this thread. I simply cannot argue with your ignorance. My attempts will be futile. I have yet to hear you cite any cases or posess the slightest bit of knowledge on the procedure and interpretation of the rights of the people vis a vis the constitution. You have utterly failed to present any factual evidence that will refute what I have said. I hope you enjoy your life wallowing in your festering pool of myopic benightedness.
