Jack & Jill Politics

I think Elon James White pretty much covers the ridiculous fantasy of a perfect America that’s been ruined by progressives looking to give people like blacks and Indians and women rights. Of any kind. The Constitution is the backbone of our nation, no doubt. But the people who wrote and signed it — many of whom were slaveowners — were not perfect nor was the document they created. It’s a sign of our dynamism, drive and creativity as a country that we’ve continued to innovate upon the great experiment of democracy since it was launched here a couple of centuries ago. The vision of the founders of a nation governed not by a king but by its free and equal people bound by laws and not monarchical caprice remains compelling. We’ve just managed to expand the definition of free and equal in the Constitution over time — something that has improved lives not diminished them.

The GOP can read the Constitution on the House floor today and everyday as far as I’m concerned. I hope it’s a reminder of how far we’ve come in this country — and the spirit that got us there. WE are the protectors of the ideals of the Constitution in terms of ensuring life, liberty, equality and all that good stuff for ALL Americans. Especially since the Tea Party seem willing to accommodate some modern realities with the Constitution when it suits them. The GOP can read the Constitution on the House floor everyday as far as I’m concerned. I hope it’s a reminder of how far we’ve come in this country — and the spirit that got us there.

From ThisWeekInBlackness.com:

As we prepared ourselves for the ridiculousness that was proposed by the newly elected Republicans of the 112th congress–the reading of the Constitution in full–some were wondering how far they were willing to go? Although many conservatives and tea partiers look at the Constitution as an infallible piece of awesomeness, others remember a key section within it that was a little less than the spectacular rainbow laden orgasm that they pretend it was. Perhaps three fifth’s less.

‘Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.’

Oh dear. That’s awkward.

In this ridiculous piece of theater that house conservatives drummed up to appease their Tea Party base, they forgot about the reason why we have amendments. The Constitution and by extension the founding fathers weren’t the saints that conservatives try to make them out to be. They were rich white males. The constitution was written for and by rich white males.Even Justice Scalia as recently as this week said that our amendments didn’t offer equal rights to women. But don’t worry–the Republicans didn’t want to have to deal with the awkwardness of reading about when I would’ve been considered three fifths human. They’ve compromised and read the amendment for that part.

Sigh.

The Constitution isn’t, wasn’t and never will be perfect. Trying to govern by a a few hundred year old piece of paper isn’t going to work. Even as we fix–which we have been doing–it still falls short and doesn’t take into consideration things that will occur. Hell, it didn’t take into consideration the human rights of people that were probably in the next room when it was being written. Governments all around the world are taking better care of their citizens than we do ours but forget that. If it ain’t in this shit right here–this shit right here? Forget it. The Constitution–and America–has to grow with the times (which, again I say, it HAS but it has to continue.) To create the inane resolution that every bill that is now introduced on the floor of congress has to show its basis in the Constitution is absurd. [snip]