Placid
07-17-2020, 06:13 AM
A very interesting and enlightening article.
Why do Americans care so much about their constitution? (https://politics.stackexchange.com/questions/26581/why-do-americans-care-so-much-about-their-constitution)
The constitution is evidently a major deal in American politics. It shows up all the time in the political discourse, often used to defend certain opinions and views, or to highlight the grandeur of America by using the constitution as some sort of symbol of freedom. Here's an overview of how much Americans google the word "constitution" (BLUE), as compared to "poverty" (RED), "climate change" (YELLOW), "child abuse" (GREEN) and "human rights" (PURPLE). Also notice the spikes every 2 years during the elections, highlighting how important the word is for the political discourse.
https://i.imgur.com/axKiLDC.png
But why? Why is the constitution so important to Americans?
Most countries have one. My country has one too. It gets mentioned here and there, but, largely, people don't really care. It's considered nothing more than a piece of old legislature crafted by a bunch of old people who, through our present-day lens, were flawed in multiple ways. The perception is that it was nice to have it back then, sure, but now, in 2017, it doesn't carry much weight, nor should it: rather, we should seek to continuously improve as a society. If mistakes were made in the past, they should be corrected rather than set in stone.
Yet in the USA, it seems to be different. Why? What is so special about the American constitution? Why do Americans have such as strong bond with their constitution, even in 2017 (the original version of the constitution came to be in 1789, 233 years ago).
3) It has beautiful language that even opposing parties can agree with.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
That's practically poetry. The words are easy to like. It's also very high ideals. Everyone wants justice, tranquility, general welfare (I could say a few things about that one). Blessings of Liberty - even though that actually doesn't mean anything specific, it points to a high ideal for a nation.
4) The constitution is a sword. It's a weapon that people can use to defend their rights, even against the US government, and that's true for both sides of the political scale. That defense is even for stuff that not everyone agrees with.
The Social Justice Warrior who wants to defend a protestors rights to burn a flag, can take that right all the way to the supreme court and win, because the constitution defends individual rights, free speech and free expression . . . sometimes to a fault.
The Pornographer is also free to take his case to the supreme court. The constitution defends his right to produce and sell smut, and, I'm not just talking about Larry Flint, but there's a form of political pornography too - Steve Bannon, Alex Jones and Donald Trump sell things that sound good, that have no basis in truth. The liar, the spin doctor, the rabble rouser and the smut peddler can all use the constitution as a rallying cry.
And the small government (and/or anti-government) libertarian can use the constitution to defend his rights and interest. While it didn't hold up in the supreme court, people have argued that the income tax is unconstitutional because it's not specifically mentioned (legally that's a questionable argument), but there is a feeling that the constitution defends the libertarian against an overreaching government (sorry - that's too general). There's also the 2nd amendment that many people feel protects their rights to buy and own guns (it's more complicated than that, but that's another aspect that gun rights advocates love about the constitution).
and finally 5) - covered above, but he Constitution is represents ideas that even people who don't like government can like. "Promote domestic tranquility / general welfare" - Even people who are generally anti-government still want tranquility and general welfare. Maybe not tax and spend welfare, but everyone I know wants general welfare.
So, we have a document that defends the individual's rights on both sides of the scale, a document written at the birth of the nation, and written in beautiful language promoting the highest ideals by people in history that remain popular. There's lots to like.
I was surprised that the American constution enshrines Trumps' rights to tell lies!!! :shock:
The Constitution is important on several levels:
First of all, it is the basic law of the United States. Congress can't overrule it, and we see it as the foundation of our freedom. Many of the freedoms we enjoy today exist because they are enshrined in the Constitution. Examples include freedom of speech, freedom of religion, due process of law, and so forth.
Secondly, ever since the deeply contentious election of 1800, it has resolved basic questions in a way that is seen as legitimate. Even in 1860, when most Southern whites hated Lincoln and everything he stood for, and even though he only won about 40% of the popular vote, there was no question that he had won the election, because the Constitution said so.
Thirdly, its prohibition of trade barriers among the States made the United States into a free trade area early in its history. This has remained the case right up to the present day. A strong case can be made that this is the foundation of American prosperity. For a contrast, look at all the contention surrounding the EC, Brexit, and so forth.
Fourth, just as many successes of American society can be traced to the Constitution, so can its greatest failure -- the failure of the original Constitution to ensure racial equality.
Fifth, the Constitution deliberately makes it difficult to pass a new Federal law. The President, House and Senate are all chosen in different time intervals, with votes apportioned differently. That makes it harder to get something done. Not only that, if it doesn't pass muster with the courts, it may be overturned. In light of the number of bad things Government can do, a lot of people think that's all a feature, not a bug.
Lastly, the continuity ensured by the Constitution is remarkable. How many other countries have had continual popularly elected government since 1792?
Why do Americans care so much about their constitution? (https://politics.stackexchange.com/questions/26581/why-do-americans-care-so-much-about-their-constitution)
The constitution is evidently a major deal in American politics. It shows up all the time in the political discourse, often used to defend certain opinions and views, or to highlight the grandeur of America by using the constitution as some sort of symbol of freedom. Here's an overview of how much Americans google the word "constitution" (BLUE), as compared to "poverty" (RED), "climate change" (YELLOW), "child abuse" (GREEN) and "human rights" (PURPLE). Also notice the spikes every 2 years during the elections, highlighting how important the word is for the political discourse.
https://i.imgur.com/axKiLDC.png
But why? Why is the constitution so important to Americans?
Most countries have one. My country has one too. It gets mentioned here and there, but, largely, people don't really care. It's considered nothing more than a piece of old legislature crafted by a bunch of old people who, through our present-day lens, were flawed in multiple ways. The perception is that it was nice to have it back then, sure, but now, in 2017, it doesn't carry much weight, nor should it: rather, we should seek to continuously improve as a society. If mistakes were made in the past, they should be corrected rather than set in stone.
Yet in the USA, it seems to be different. Why? What is so special about the American constitution? Why do Americans have such as strong bond with their constitution, even in 2017 (the original version of the constitution came to be in 1789, 233 years ago).
3) It has beautiful language that even opposing parties can agree with.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
That's practically poetry. The words are easy to like. It's also very high ideals. Everyone wants justice, tranquility, general welfare (I could say a few things about that one). Blessings of Liberty - even though that actually doesn't mean anything specific, it points to a high ideal for a nation.
4) The constitution is a sword. It's a weapon that people can use to defend their rights, even against the US government, and that's true for both sides of the political scale. That defense is even for stuff that not everyone agrees with.
The Social Justice Warrior who wants to defend a protestors rights to burn a flag, can take that right all the way to the supreme court and win, because the constitution defends individual rights, free speech and free expression . . . sometimes to a fault.
The Pornographer is also free to take his case to the supreme court. The constitution defends his right to produce and sell smut, and, I'm not just talking about Larry Flint, but there's a form of political pornography too - Steve Bannon, Alex Jones and Donald Trump sell things that sound good, that have no basis in truth. The liar, the spin doctor, the rabble rouser and the smut peddler can all use the constitution as a rallying cry.
And the small government (and/or anti-government) libertarian can use the constitution to defend his rights and interest. While it didn't hold up in the supreme court, people have argued that the income tax is unconstitutional because it's not specifically mentioned (legally that's a questionable argument), but there is a feeling that the constitution defends the libertarian against an overreaching government (sorry - that's too general). There's also the 2nd amendment that many people feel protects their rights to buy and own guns (it's more complicated than that, but that's another aspect that gun rights advocates love about the constitution).
and finally 5) - covered above, but he Constitution is represents ideas that even people who don't like government can like. "Promote domestic tranquility / general welfare" - Even people who are generally anti-government still want tranquility and general welfare. Maybe not tax and spend welfare, but everyone I know wants general welfare.
So, we have a document that defends the individual's rights on both sides of the scale, a document written at the birth of the nation, and written in beautiful language promoting the highest ideals by people in history that remain popular. There's lots to like.
I was surprised that the American constution enshrines Trumps' rights to tell lies!!! :shock:
The Constitution is important on several levels:
First of all, it is the basic law of the United States. Congress can't overrule it, and we see it as the foundation of our freedom. Many of the freedoms we enjoy today exist because they are enshrined in the Constitution. Examples include freedom of speech, freedom of religion, due process of law, and so forth.
Secondly, ever since the deeply contentious election of 1800, it has resolved basic questions in a way that is seen as legitimate. Even in 1860, when most Southern whites hated Lincoln and everything he stood for, and even though he only won about 40% of the popular vote, there was no question that he had won the election, because the Constitution said so.
Thirdly, its prohibition of trade barriers among the States made the United States into a free trade area early in its history. This has remained the case right up to the present day. A strong case can be made that this is the foundation of American prosperity. For a contrast, look at all the contention surrounding the EC, Brexit, and so forth.
Fourth, just as many successes of American society can be traced to the Constitution, so can its greatest failure -- the failure of the original Constitution to ensure racial equality.
Fifth, the Constitution deliberately makes it difficult to pass a new Federal law. The President, House and Senate are all chosen in different time intervals, with votes apportioned differently. That makes it harder to get something done. Not only that, if it doesn't pass muster with the courts, it may be overturned. In light of the number of bad things Government can do, a lot of people think that's all a feature, not a bug.
Lastly, the continuity ensured by the Constitution is remarkable. How many other countries have had continual popularly elected government since 1792?