This entire thread has me in awe.
Now, I agree with what most of you are saying, but some, like telewinz, have got me really wondering what in the hell is wrong with America.
So, to prove my point, I'll give you a little bit of info:
#1
The Document: Bill of Rights (Preamble)
What it says:
THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.
What it means: It's 1791. You've just been through a 7 year war, the failure of the Articles of Confederation, the painful drafting and acceptance of the U.S. Constitution. People noticed that there was quite a bit of GRAY AREA in the Constitution -- the way you see which will decided whether you are a conservative, liberal, or a moderate (aka: indecisive dumb@$$) -- and were AFRAID that it would be open to future corruption, leading to tyranny. You just ESCAPED tyranny, so why would you go out of your way to write a governing document that would take you back? As for the "wanna-be survivalist" talk, take a look -- THESE people were afraid of government too. These people WERE NOT elected officials, they were educated, philosophical people who had opinions on which governing documents were based.
Once again the entire goal of the United States of America was to establish and preserve FREEDOM and LIBERTY; It was never about any form of security, other than the security that you get when you use your GOD-GIVEN freedoms to their intended purposes.
#2
The Document: The Bill of Rights.
What it says:
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
What it means: When new laws are made, or when the constitution is modified, those laws MAY NOT overturn or modify the Bill of Rights. It also means that just because something isn't specifically listed in the Bill of Rights, that doesn't mean it isn't a legitimate right. For example: the bull???? argument that "Driving is not a right, it's a privelege -- the Constitution says nothing about having a right to drive a car," is COMPLETELY Constitutionally infirmed.
#3
The Document: The Bill of Rights.
What it says:
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
What it means: If the Constitution doesn't say that the government can do it, THEY CAN'T DO IT. The more "grayish" areas are up to the States and the People to decide. So, with this definition, it means that IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED that a conservative outlook on the government is THE correct stance, period.
#4
The Document: The Declaration of Independence.
What it says:
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
What it means: That when you've finally had it, and want nothing to do with those who are denying you your very God-given rights, fine; But they ought to at least tell them why, out of respect.
#5
The Document: The Declaration of Independence.
What it says:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
What it means: Gee, where to start? Even if there was no such thing as government, you would still have rights. God, or Nature, whichever you prefer, has given them to everyone. You have but to claim them.
The only legitimate purpose of government is to protect your rights. Not to make you safe.
When the government forgets this small fact, it's time to change. You have a right and a duty to do this. But it should not be done for frivolous reasons. Society is generally more disposed to "bear their cross" than to make a stink, but eventually the time to make a stink will come. That time is when the governmental patterns all lead to all-out slavery (that sound familiar?), and your job is to put together a new gov't.
So there's the difference between someone who knows American principles and an Anarchist -- The former will instate a form of government that will correct the reasons for revolution/rebellion/"the big stink," whereas the latter will not instate a new form of government.
And if you just plain won't respect the founding fathers, then we're just going to have to agree to disagree.
Wes
