If you could, how would you change the Constitution?

[Observer]

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I hear from a lot of people around here that the Constitution is an archaic, outdated document, no longer applicable to today's society. That makes me wonder what changes you would make if we had a Constitutional Convention today and you could make whatever changes you wish.

What existing provisions would you eliminate, and why?

What new provisions would you add, and why?

[Undecided]

Well, without thinking too much about it, i would start by adding some sort of social safety net, to some degree.  The trick would be in how to limit it so that it doesn't become a monster.  This would include government-provided health care, at least to some level, not so much the British model but more like how Brazil does it.  In the process, I would clarify what is meant by promoting the general welfare.

Secondly, I would "clarify" the 2nd Amendment, making it clear what classes of weapons are protected, while explicitly providing for some restrictions.

There are probably some sort of additions that need to be made to account for the information-connected world we live in now.

I think I'm in favor of adding term limits.  I would also make some changes to take big money out of the election equation.

[Boffo]

I would add an amendment allowing the voters who elect any federal official the right to bypass him and his self serving cronies and have the ability to remove/recall said politician by a reasonable and fair referendum process.

I would add an amendment requiring all federal employees to be held to the same rules and requirements of social security and medicare as the rest of the nation.

I would require that all elected official only be allowed to invest their personal wealth in U.S. savings bonds, giving them an incentive to keep the country's financial base strong

oh, I could come up with a couple dozen more but don't want to hog space from the "living document" crowd who are obviously busy preparing their manifesto lists..........

[Undecided]

I would add an amendment allowing the voters who elect any federal official the right to bypass him and his self serving cronies and have the ability to remove/recall said politician by a reasonable and fair referendum process.

I would add an amendment requiring all federal employees to be held to the same rules and requirements of social security and medicare as the rest of the nation.

I would require that all elected official only be allowed to invest their personal wealth in U.S. savings bonds, giving them an incentive to keep the country's financial base strong

oh, I could come up with a couple dozen more but don't want to hog space from the "living document" crowd who are obviously busy preparing their manifesto lists..........

Can't we recall elected officials now?

[Observer]

Not in many cases. Only 18 states have a provision for recalling Senators or Representatives. There is no federal law providing for that.

[Undecided]

Who would be in favor of a clause requiring a balanced budget?  Perhaps with an exception for time of war. but then the debt must be paid off in the following years.

[Boffo]

(recall)  It should be a federal uniform mandate.

Tough enough to not be made a political tool, but realistic enough to make our reps conscious of that fact that we put them there, we can remove them without having to wait 4 to 6 years.

ok, with the onslaught of left wingers flooding this thread with coherency right around the corner, I'll slide a couple more in

make Right to Work a national mandate and not only as an employment issue, but also to open up bidding on federal contracts. 
No employee should be forced to feed the political machine of one party in order to feed his family.

make concealed carry a national mandate, codifying the 2nd amendment.  the status quo of no felons, no nuts and no kids is reasonable.

pass a balanced budget amendment, and if you must leave a little wriggle room for congressionaly declare war, catastrophic national disaster.

Require all bills that arrive at the Presidents desk to contain ONLY provisions relating to the bill itself and nothing else.

ok, I'll wait for the masses of antiScaliaites to take over

[IM2]

Government paid for health care and education. Retirement protection for seniors. Constitutuionally guaranteed equal rights for women and children under the age of 18. Nationalized transit.  2 term limit for all reps. Limit the 2nd amendment to military use only. Make specific provisions for recall. Clarify or provide specific powers of state and federal governments.

I know there are more I can think of but not right now.

I would add an amendment requiring all federal employees to be held to the same rules and requirements of social security and medicare as the rest of the nation.

They are.

[makesenseplease]

I think I would leave it exactly as it is written.

[Pepsi]

a clearly worded separation of church and state amendment.. there should be no doubt that religion has no place in gov't and vice versa

[makesenseplease]

a clearly worded separation of church and state amendment.. there should be no doubt that religion has no place in gov't and vice versa

 

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment

[Pepsi]

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment

yea that clearly establishes the freedom of religion but it does not seem to be clear enough for some who think there is room for interpretation of religion in gov't.. so much so that they put "in god we trust" on our money and make all kids recite a pledge to a nation "under god"

[makesenseplease]

yea that clearly establishes the freedom of religion but it does not seem to be clear enough for some who think there is room for interpretation of religion in gov't.. so much so that they put "in god we trust" on our money and make all kids recite a pledge to a nation "under god"

Religion in gov't?  Christ himself would not get involved in gov't.

In fact, he tells us to obey our leaders.

The only printing most people see on money is the numbers so that's a mute point.

Who "makes" all kids say "under God"?

The only person breathing that can make Whodat say something that you don't want him to say would be Mrs. Pepsi.  At least I hope so.

[Undecided]

The more I think about it,k the more I think we should just mandate that wars be paid for as we go.  There would be far fewer of them, and there would be no tax cuts at the same time.

If we were thinking about going to war, but everyone in the country was told that it was going to cost them $20,000, whatever the number would be, for the first year, take it out of your pocket or your bank account and lay it on the table.  We wouldn't have any wars unless it was truly for our survival.

[Observer]

Government paid for health care and education.

Do you understand that the "government" pays for nothing? It has no money of its own.

Retirement protection for seniors.

Okay. what does that mean?

Constitutuionally guaranteed equal rights for women and children under the age of 18.

What rights? Are you suggesting that children should have the right to vote, among others? What rights do women not have that men do?

Nationalized transit.

?

 2 term limit for all reps.

Limit the 2nd amendment to military use only. Make specific provisions for recall. Clarify or provide specific powers of state and federal governments. [/quote]

Term limits are good. Provisions for recall would be good. Your 2nd Amendment idea would lead only to a military dictatorship. the powers of Congress ARE clearly enumerated already. All other powers belong to the states, or the people.

I know there are more I can think of but not right now.

That is probably best.