Did the founding fathers ever consider a situation like what we have now?

[LittleApple81]

Because we need a Constitutional LAWYER or SPECIALIST to see what the actual population can do about our 3 branches of government. All of them are controlled by murderous, stupid, thugs and apparently nothing can be done because they are in control (Asshcroft contempt of congress? no because Orrin Hatch is the chair of the committee). What about impeachment? What about energy thingies?
Anybody knows?

[StopThief]

1. Ummmm. . . . .

Vote?

[indepat]

2. Sadly it's who counts the votes that counts most

[stellanoir]

3. "It's a republic, if you can keep it."

-Ben Franklin

As for voting, support HR 2239 & S1980 or bend over and kiss your democracy goodbye.

[Cleita]

4. Well, we went through an industrial and then technological

revolution after they framed the Constitution. This is why I have always thought we should have another Continental Congress to update it for the modern world.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

17. Most people are too closed minded for this

We have this popular notion that our Constitution is perfect, and it's not, really. However, would you really want such partisan people that are playing the game NOW to re-frame our government? Oh hell no!

[Cleita]

20. No I certainly wouldn't hand if over to our Congress, but

I think we should have delegates from all demographics, and half of them should be women, a group that was passed by the first time. Also, we aren't trying to change it as much as update it. by that I mean put in provisions for stuff the founding fathers couldn't have foreseen like the A-Bomb.

[2Design]

5. They wrote Christianity out of the government

Their Congressman weren't stupid enough to turn all their power over to the president. They believed in the check and balance system for that reason.

[outinforce]

9. They Also Left

a great deal of the power to the individual States.

There was, I think, a great deal of wisdom in doing that.

[On the Road]

6. Yes, They Considered Much Worse Situations

and there are plenty of checks of balances built in. The result is that the bastards will be voted out this year just like the framers intended.

And if they don't go peacefully or commit fraud -- well, to paraphrase Jefferson, a little popular revolt once in a while is a good thing. And check out what else he said on the subject here:

http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/quotations/jeff1770.htm

[outinforce]

7. "Energy Thingies"????

I'm intriqued.

What are "energy thingies"????

[LittleApple81]

16. Sorry, I just wanted to post and could not even start listing all

the "thingies":
i.e.,
Cheney's meeting with his cronies to create our "energy policy"
All the votes not to enforce CAFE standards
Tax breaks for humongous cars that consume energy
Tax breaks for oil "exploration" almost nothing given to research for alternate sources of energy.
etc. etc.

[sui generis]

8. vote is good

but in reality Ashcroft should have been detained IMMEDIATELY when "contempt of Congress" was brought up. It is pointless to have a law without the ability to enforce it, and contempt of congress is pretty severe. If we don't start practicing what is in the constitution then we deserve what we have, and all of that begins with voting.

[punpirate]

21. Wouldn't you just...

... love to be the person who told the cop carrying Ashcroft off to his cell, "book `im... and if he starts screamin' for a lawyer, he'll get the same thing his political detainees get." Nah, I guess not... that would be torture.

But, you're right--they let him walk on it... he walked off and left the committee there pissing on their own shoes.

[whistle]

10. Well, King George III of England was insane...

...and look what resulted from that.

http://www.americanrevolution.com/KingGeorge3rd.htm

[JDPriestly]

11. Vote and get out like-minded voters

The Constitution gives us the power to vote. We must vote. The problem is making sure our votes are counted. One way would be to verify independently how many Democrats vote for Democratic candidates -- maybe some sort of post-vote self-reporting device. Ideas, anyone?

Personally, I'm voting absentee ballot and making a copy of my ballot.

[kaitykaity]

12. They did think of this.

The House comes up ever two years, and the House has the power
to draw up articles of impeachment.

[htuttle]

13. Ben Franklin had this period of history pegged

"(Our constitution) will fail, as all such constitutions have in the past, because of the essential corruption of the people. He pointed his finger at all the American people. And when the people become so corrupt, he said, we will find it is not a republic that they want but rather despotism -- the only form of government suitable for such a people."
-- Gore Vidal, quoting Ben Franklin

[Democracy Died 2004]

14. Our founding fathers knew

Exactly what to do about tyranny.

A little rebellion now and then...is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government.
Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826), Letter to James Madison, 1787

[Cat Atomic]

15. Didn't Franklin say that he was certin the Republic would eventually

collapse into dictatorship of some sort?

[tom_paine]

18. Technology has made some things possible that weren't possible before

Like Extreme (Targeted) Gerrymandering.

Like Goebbelsian Propagagand combined with American Marketing Strategies and Psychomanipulation Techniques

Etc Etc

[doni_georgia]

19. yeah, it's called the 2nd Amendment - seriously

That was the whole purpose of that amendment - for the people to be able to rise up if they ever needed to. Not advocating that mind you (attention all lurkers who might think I am advocating violent overthrow - I do not own a gun and have no intention of ever owning or using one).