Would you consider the Constitution to be a Liberal or Conservative Document?

[Bandit]

When it was created it was a very Liberal Document but as time has gone by has it remained so? :shrug:

[Angry Dragon]

1. I would say so

that is why the right wants to destroy it

[sharesunited]

2. By today's standards, and in retrospect, it seems pretty conservative.

Amendments liberalized it (except Prohibition).

And constitutional jurisprudence further liberalized it beyond what the political process could ever hope to achieve.

Which brings us to the current majority who would like to undo so much of that progress.

[H2O Man]

3. Both.

Not "conservative" in the modern sense, but in the literal sense. And liberal in every sense.

[OHdem10]

4. Historically, it has always been considered a Liberal Democratic

Document with emphasis on rights of the Individual
and Liberty.

The Europeans have warned us (appearances on programs
such as Charlie Rose)it is imperative that Liberals
rightfully reclaim Liberalism (upon which the Consitution
is based.

[ixion]

5. Let's put it this way: If the 'conservatives' back then had had there way...

there wouldn't even BE a constitution. We'd still be a British Principality.

[Ozymanithrax]

6. It is not the document, but how it is interpreted that is important.

Certainly, the Revolutionary War was a liberal revolution. The document, along with the Bill of Rights was liberal in intent, though times have changed.

But it can be interpreted many ways. The school of "Original Intent" is highly conservative.

[Orsino]

8. +1

Until we came up with the radical notion of extending those supposedly inalienable freedoms to everybody, the document supported some of the worst conservative excesses.

[xchrom]

7. it's a document born out of the enlightenment.

it is liberal. -- but there can be a conservative view of the document -- after it's created.

not sure i made myself clear.

[Johonny]

9. it was born before modern liberal/conservative politics were created

thus you probably should look at it as an influence on the modern political landscape, but not a product of it.

[kctim]

10. Neither

Both 'sides' only believe in the parts of the Constitution they agree with, not the Constitution as a whole.

[Bandit]

11. Interesting..What part do you think Liberals do not believe in?

You probably believe that Liberals do not believe in the second amendment but I think that is not true. At least none of the Liberals I know. However just as there are limits on free speach there should also be limits on the 2nd amendment as well and there are. An average person can not own a nuclear weapon....or a shotgun with less than an eighteen inch barrel. Are there any other portions of the document you believe Liberals do not believe in?

[blindpig]

12. Liberal or conservative....

it is a bourgeois document.