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Is It Time to Ditch the U.S. Constitution?

A law professor at Georgetown University thinks so. What do you think?

Luis Michael Seidman, a professor of constitutional law at Georgetown University, wrote an op-ed for the New York Times on the last day of 2012 suggesting it was time for the U.S. Constitution to go.

In his op-ed, Sneidman blames the U.S. Constitution for many of our present day problems.

"As the nation teeters at the edge of fiscal chaos, observers are reaching the conclusion that the American system of government is broken. But almost no one blames the culprit; our insistence on obedience to the Constitution, with all its archaic idiosyncratic and downright evil provisions," Seidman wrote.

The Constitution, however, set up a way to make changes — through the amendment process. Following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School late last year, however, the Second Amendment is one that has come sharply into focus as gun control is hotly debated.

What do you think? Is it time for the U.S. to consider a new constitution in keeping with more current issues — or would that defeat the whole purpose of exactly why the U.S. Constitution was set up in the first place?

Marie February 5, 2013 at 04:05 am
One reason why the statement of a prior president who stated "This government is made for a religious and moral people. It is not effective for any other." is correct is because no matter how many laws a government makes, it cannot have effective control of the people. People must be self-motivated to do good instead of evil, seek truth instead of dishonesty & corruption, and practice good will instead of malice. These things come from being a religious and moral people...and is something that the government cannot create no matter how many laws and prisons and corretion programs it creates. This country became a place of high ideals because every single one of the signers of the Constitution regarded a faith in God and our rights from God to be important...as well as the ideals of being a virtuous, righteous person. Withdraw that from society and you withdraw all that is good from society. Remove the Constitution...and you are condoning murder, stealing, giving false witness against others, sexual immorality, respect for parents, and all of the foundations of the family which is the bedrock of our society...and who is going downhill because of the destruction of the family.
Marie February 5, 2013 at 04:08 am
The people must be self governing because all of the laws our government has created and all of the prisons, and programs to rehabilitate people will never be able to govern the people of our country...we must have a religious and moral people who are self governing. When people follow the law of God, there is no need for governmental laws because the people govern their own conduct and do not break God's laws....which were the basis of the laws of our country.
Glenn Parsons February 5, 2013 at 01:07 pm
Hummm! A good bit of class envy/warfare and liberal whining. Typical.
Racer X February 5, 2013 at 01:45 pm
Amen Mr. Orr.
Racer X February 5, 2013 at 01:57 pm
George-
You worry about assault rifles and high murder rates as a basis for changing our Constitution. Why do you ignore that 50% of the murders committed in this country are perpetrated by a certain 12.9% of our population? The biggest tragedy in this being that 90% of this group's victims are within the very same 12.9%. Though an unpopular subject, it still seems like a much bigger problem. If the 12.9% group only committed 12.9% of the murders, there would be an instant drop of nearly 30% in murders in the US. As far as "new discoveries" go, yes, we had no assault rifles in those times but, then again, the bad guys didn't have them either. You are very naive for a man of your years.
Racer X February 5, 2013 at 01:59 pm
JK- Amen and hallelujah!
Racer X February 5, 2013 at 02:03 pm
Good point Ms. Osier. The problem is that Government has become so large and complicated, holding them accountable is becoming impossible. It is far easier now, due to the complexity of modern issues, for the Government to divide the majority and do as they please. The 15% at the far Right and the 15% at the far Left keep the 70% of those of us who could likely agree on most issues divided, all so Congress AND the President can be in their little club.
Marc February 5, 2013 at 02:07 pm
What a great idea. Lets just dump the very thing tens of thousands of our soldiers have died to protect. The very thing tens of thousands of people from foreign lands have moved here for and millions of others wish they could. The very thing that protects the fool who wishes this to happen. What needs to be done instead is for America to wake up and quit putting people in office who stomp all over it to push their own agendas.
Chris P February 5, 2013 at 02:08 pm
Rather than ignore the Constitution perhaps our politicians (especially the President) should try something novel such as adhering to it.
Karsten Torch February 5, 2013 at 03:26 pm
Joe, thank you, exactly what I was going to say....
Elizabeth February 5, 2013 at 03:47 pm
Joe, very well said!
Karsten Torch February 5, 2013 at 04:12 pm
Chris P - not going to happen, too inconvienient, and no power grabs available if you adhere too closely to it.
The Consititution is just about perfect. It accounts for the inherent problems with people and a large government. Democracy is not ideal, and we were not set up that way. In fact, we've gotten too democratic as it is. The Constitution is set up to limit government, and government's influence in our lives. It says very little about what the Federal government can do, but a lot about what states can do, and even includes the admonishment about if something is not specifically granted to the federal government, then that right belongs to the states, or the people. The Constitution is only outdated and needs to be updated for those that love government, and the bigger the better. The opportunity to meddle more and more in our lives, restrict our freedoms, and try to take care of us. In other words, make us dependant on government, thereby growing the government even more. We're already almost there, what with roughly 47% of the country paying no income taxes. Once that number increases over 51%, our country is lost. And that number is increasing in spite of our Constitution, not with the help of it.
Cathy Gillespie February 5, 2013 at 04:22 pm
Check out these awesome young people who believe in the Constitution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF2Zp3pTrSw Please let the students in your life know about our We The People 9.17 Contest - entries due July 4th!
r patton February 5, 2013 at 04:23 pm
Seems to me we have two types responding here, Communists and Patriotic United States Citizens.
r patton February 5, 2013 at 04:23 pm
Which are you?
r patton February 5, 2013 at 04:24 pm
Chris, as good as that would be, you know the King doesn't do anything except what he wants to do.
Chris P February 5, 2013 at 04:25 pm
Well articulated Karsten. This only emphasizes the need for the Second Amendment!!
r patton February 5, 2013 at 04:25 pm
Exactly!
r patton February 5, 2013 at 04:27 pm
Nothing lasts forever Everyman, I am willing to bet the Constituton, the Bible etc will be around for centuries after you turn into worm food.
Chris P February 5, 2013 at 04:52 pm
Since we have a "President" not a "King" we can, in theory, impeach this president. As I said in response to another commenter, this only emphasizes why need to support the Second Amendment!!!
Karsten Torch February 5, 2013 at 04:56 pm
What I do find interesting is that those that think the Constitution isn't doing what it's supposed to do anymore because it's behind the times are the same that want it to be doing something different than what it was designed to do - namely, protect us from our government. It's the same group that says a free market doesn't work, as evidenced by what we have now, with our downturns and such, even though that same overbearing government has never allowed us to have a truly free market economy.
The rest of us can kind of see where the failures came from, and pinpoint, usually, the government program that caused the failure in the first place.....
Nathan Horton February 5, 2013 at 05:00 pm
Please see my blog post in the Lawrenceville Patch Titled: "Bring Back the Constitution: http://lawrenceville-ga.patch.com/blog_posts/bring-back-the-constitution
c February 5, 2013 at 05:14 pm
The only problem with the Constitution is that it is no longer enforced. The Constitution was fine until FDR took all the wind out of it by threatening the Supreme Court. I think we need to save the Constitution by adding an amendment limiting the number of Supreme Court Justices so that no President can do what FDR did ever again and the Supreme Court can get back to the business of deciding on Constitutionalism instead of deciding on popularity.
Racer X February 5, 2013 at 05:30 pm
I can't believe that we, citizens (presumably) of the United States, are even having this discussion. All I see when I read of people wanting to get rid of our Constitution are traitors. Why not just burn our flag while you're at it.
Seidman is an over-"educated" dolt.
Dave Norling February 5, 2013 at 06:05 pm
I agree! The U.S.A. is the greatest country in the world because of our Constitution written over 200 years ago. Send Seidman and any other unpatriotic complainers to change another country's constitution to suit them.
flyinby February 5, 2013 at 08:05 pm
what a freaking jerk idiot. he's lost. there are plenty of such failed countries he can enjoy himself in. ship his keister off to one of them. take his pick.
Jared Kline February 6, 2013 at 10:59 am
The Constitution is more than a legal document. We, as Americans, do not have our rights because the Constitution gives them to us. The Constitution recognises our rights, it does not grant them. The rights are ours as Americans, and the Constitution was meant to warn government officials of their limits. These limits are natural for America, and to try to do away with them in favour of fascism, communism, Marxism, socialism, capitalism, or any other "ism" is just plain wrong for America, and if "we the people" accept the idea that an elite group in a distant national capitol can change this, then "we the people" will deserve what we get.
Tammy Osier February 6, 2013 at 11:31 am
Jared Kline, it also protects those rights. When the federal government begins creating anything, it has overstepped its bounds.
YT February 6, 2013 at 12:33 pm
One simple answer: NO!
Good Grief Y'all February 7, 2013 at 02:34 pm
The Constitution is a living document. Early on, leaders recognized the need to adapt it to change and correct what was left out, and it was amended with the 1st and then the most revered 2nd. So, it was not perfect in the beginning, and it is not perfect now, which explains all the arguing over it.
So many experts, so little time, engaging in an exercise in futility. The Constitution is not going to be replaced. It would be nearly impossible to even amend it for any reason, taking years, decades maybe.

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EMILY GOLDSTEIN June 18, 2013 at 09:49 pm
Rabies tag on dog leads to a disconnected owners number
David Binder June 18, 2013 at 06:03 pm
And it's not posting my comment how I typed it. It's jumbled on the "Boards" banner.
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 06:11 pm
Yea, sorry David. We are still dealing with some "issues." It rejected Jason's blog, andRead More none of us, not even our top regional editor, is being given authority to release it. Poor Jason, I know he so hates being rejected! And we hate it happening to him. The people not being "bugged" by technical issues, however, are reporting that it is super easy to use.
Tammy Osier June 18, 2013 at 01:08 am
Sadly, Mr. Newman, we have people who live in a utopic vision of the world and refuse to believeRead More that this can happen. Sounds a bit like 1984. Ironic too, is that in the bible, when the Lord was referring to people being blinded and going astray, he referred to them as sheep, and that phrase has been coined today to denote the same type of mentality. This could happen if our watchmen stop guarding the gate.
Karsten Torch June 18, 2013 at 12:39 pm
What's sad is that people will accuse you of needing a tinfoil hat because of this post. But weRead More are marching inexorably toward this end, the only thing we can really control is how quickly or slowly we get there.....
TheSkalawag June 18, 2013 at 08:29 pm
I don't think that Ray needs a tinfoil hat but I just don't see the inexorable march to theRead More dystopian world Ray is foretelling either. I do understand the gloom and doom outlook and I attribute that to the unrealistic quest for the Norman Rockwell version of life in America. That kind of life was made for tv. Life never really was like that. At least not that I remember anyway. And I would wager not for the majority of Americans.
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 03:05 pm
Tom, I will see if I can find the connection.
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 05:51 pm
Good news! Her name is Izzi and she has been reunited with her owners.
Tom Laverick June 18, 2013 at 09:42 pm
Great News!!!!
tijensen June 15, 2013 at 12:34 pm
The better assignment would have been how could you have written a letter to try and convince themRead More not to commit suicide. To persuade them about all the wonderful things you love about them, how special they are and what the world would miss if they were not in it. A creative teacher could have used the same exercise to teach a life lesson that may have helped someone save a life down the road.
Tammy Osier June 15, 2013 at 12:40 pm
TJ, exactly. Like you said, a GOOD teacher would have found a way to make students think outside theRead More box yet still examine the mood of the story. But I do agree with ggy that it might have been more appropriate for a college aged student. High school (girls especially) have so much drama going on inside of them, and confusion about so many things, that it might be impossible for them to be objective in an assignment like that. Boo to the teacher.
flyinby June 15, 2013 at 08:34 pm
strikes me as more subversive attempts by perverted minds dedicated to influence all our childrenRead More with this sick mindset: http://larouchepac.com/node/11188 http://www.naturalnews.com/040744_euthanasia_children_mercy_killings.html http://www.lifenews.com/2013/06/06/sarah-palin-blasts-sebelius-for-denying-girls-lifesaving-lung-transplant/ http://cnsnews.com/blog/judie-brown/lives-unworthy-be-lived-and-polst http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/the-elite-are-attempting-to-convince-us-that-killing-off-our-sick-grandparents-is-cool-and-trendy suicides higher than car crashes past few yrs http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2207089/56-million-suicide-prevention-programme-launched-study-reveals-Americans-lives-die-car-crashes.html http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/02/08/more-states-consider-legalizing-assisted-suicide-as-baby-boomers-age/
Octo Slash June 14, 2013 at 12:18 pm
My kids drink coffee every morning because they need something to accompany their cigarettes.
Tammy Osier June 14, 2013 at 01:12 pm
Tr - the perfect diet - the Mediterranean diet has a lot of fish in it. Olive oils etc... OurRead More American diet has a lot of animal fat in it and look at us as opposed to other nations! Fish oil is brain food. A multi is good, but we should ask our pediatricians about adding fish oil to our kids' diets. We should get our (good) fats through diet. Good fats help vitamins go where they are supposed to and do what they're supposed to do.
Deedee June 15, 2013 at 08:12 pm
My grandma always drunk coffee all day and I started around 30 and I am no good without at least oneRead More cup a day but she always stated that we couldn't have any as kids because it will stunt our growth. I have always felt that there is something to many of those old sayings and did not let my son touch it.
Tammy Osier June 17, 2013 at 01:53 pm
DR, seems like an oxymoron doesn't it? I'd like to hear from someone who is actually from there toRead More find out their spin on why they even enter a contestant in the first place. It's my understanding that a woman that shows that much skin in public will be flogged or worse? Maybe democracy is taking ahold in some places, who knows?
Good Grief Y'all June 17, 2013 at 03:24 pm
I was wrong. Guys are interested pageants. You would no doubt be happy if the contestants justRead More wore the face shawl with their bikinis.
Karsten Torch June 17, 2013 at 04:30 pm
Couple of thoughts - One, why hold it in a land where there is going to be this kind of protest?Read More Just move it and don't worry about it. Other, I find it interesting how the Muslims want us to be understanding and inclusive of their beliefs, but don't even think they'll allow anything they don't agree with. Just a tad bit hypocritical...
R June 14, 2013 at 02:06 am
You mean the FEES don't you? Cause they aint taxes don't you know...
Bonnie June 14, 2013 at 11:50 am
I call it a "rainbow!"
M.K. Osborne June 14, 2013 at 03:30 pm
Fees is when its lightning too .
Mr. B June 13, 2013 at 01:29 pm
They're not Americans. They don't deserve to step foot on American soil.
Good Grief Y'all June 13, 2013 at 01:34 pm
Meh, a difference without distinction.
Good Grief Y'all June 13, 2013 at 01:37 pm
Huh, you learn something once in a while on Patch blog threads. I didn't know you must be anRead More American citizen to be tried and convicted of crimes against America . . . ;p I think John and Sarah could handle them . . . you betcha! They would probably beg to be sent back to Gitmo. LOL
EMILY GOLDSTEIN June 7, 2013 at 10:35 am
We don't know yet..it was not me who found her. They had Gwinnett pick her up after staying withherRead More for a few hours..we will know after they process her there. I have contacted golden retriever rescues to let them know so they can see if they have lost ads ..or if need be rescue her
EMILY GOLDSTEIN June 8, 2013 at 02:24 am
She is so sad and missing her owner ANIMAL ID#32243 I am in PEN 114, FEMALE, GOLDEN RETRIEVER. TheRead More shelter thinks I am 3 YEARS OLD. I will be available for adoption starting 6/12/13. FOUND STRAY, LARGE, FRIENDLY Contact the shelter for more info 770-339-3200.
EMILY GOLDSTEIN June 10, 2013 at 03:11 am
Reunited!