|
Opinion #1
Debater: interested
|
|
Is the earth only 6000 years old?
|
To suggest that Constitutions should not evolve is as apt as to say that the earth and its inhabitants should not evolve. Should we still be a microbe in the briny?
A "Constitution" is a framework only. Many statutes are also a part of any Constitution. Should we still be burning witches because the Constitution before this "illegal" Constitution permitted it.
Times change; circumstances change. And Constitutions must change in light of those. It is why Constitutions are often described as "Living Trees." The part of the Constitution that is to prevent the development is, in particular, the power of the Courts to review legislation; also the right to impeach.
The federal government can never ignore "pesky" lines in the Constitution without Congressional approval AND Court review. If you think it does, then challenge it in Court. You have that right and it cannot be taken away from you.
Constitution are carefully written - when written. But only to facilitate legal interpretation.
|
|
|
|
Opinion #2
Debater: The Wild Goose
|
|
A "living, breathing" constitution is an effectively meaningless one.
|
Times may change, but human nature is fundamentally constant. Particular circumstances may change, but the principles of justice are immutable and fixed. If the rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights are indeed, as many claim, fundamental and permanent human rights, meant for all time, can any judicial interpretation change this fact?
Yet this is what happens. Through the process of constitutional "evolution", rights that are fixed and permanent, rights that are engraved in the natural law, disappear.
To trust the congress and the Supreme Court to "protect" the constitution and restrict the government is like having the fox guard the henhouse. Many claim "checks and balances" will protect us. Some say that I can appeal to the supreme court if I have a grievance against the government- but the court is itself an arm of the government. This is like saying that if I have a grievance against Joe, I can appeal to Joe's brother, Jim, for a "fair" judgment!
|
|
|
Supporting URL[s]:
|
|
http://www.mises.org
|
http://www.lewrockwell.com
|
http://www.lewrockwell.com
|
|