Is Rule of Law dead?

[Andy Horning]

We each have our favorite parts of the state and federal constitutions. But most of us oppose others' favorite parts with at least equal fervor. In fact, it seems to me that most of us willingly give up what used to be considered precious rights in order to deny others theirs.
The as-written constitutional design, and therefore, Rule of Law, has essentially been dead at least since the New Deal.
Are we all OK with this? Or do we want our politicians on a leash?

[Andy Horning]

This is what I'm all about at http://wedeclare.wordpress.com/

[Ben McCann]

I am not okay with the RULE of LAW being dead. Our Constitution has not been used in many years... It is very sad, I would love to see our country return to this.

Ben

[Steve Stuck]

Mr. Horning,
I have been thinking about your question all day. I thought about while mowing my property and while attending services earlier this evening.

I have weighed all options, different angles to be looked at and would have to say yes. Rule of Law is dead and at every level. I was going to post different examples, but what is the point. Every aspect of the Constitution has been ravaged since Woodrow Wilson. That has then sent a signal for citizens, courts and politicians to follow.

I do have proposals to fix it, but too much to type here.

[Andy Horning]

I'm afraid that y'all are right. I'm guessing that what comes next is predictable, and grim.
Sigh...

[Steve Stuck]

I somewhat disagree with that. I think we have rough patches, but I do see glimmer of light. Take for instance one issue that I study a lot on is taxes. 3-5 years ago I was called "crazy" for promoting the FairTax. But today, I have a lot of people talk to me not just about the FairTax but economic freedom. Then the conversations turn into freedom and liberty themselves. Then it turns into other issues that many agree on.

The winds will shift because Americans are somehow born with this desire to offset certain things when it comes to intrusion. Now don't get me wrong, some of these things with Rule of Law have taken quite awhile to achieve, but they can be dismantled in the same way.

[Andy Horning]

Well of course I hope you're right and I'm wrong!

[John R.(Dick) Troll]

http://www.aclu-in.org/

Andy:
After the lawlessness of the past 8 years I can understand why you are concerned about the rule of law in our country. If you are really interested in the rule of law I suggest that you give your financial and emotional support to the American Civil LIberties Union. No other organization in America so relentlessly focuses on America as a nation of laws and not men. Time after time after time the ACLU has fought off the tyranny of the majority to protect the rule of law. No matter how unpopular their position might be they do not shy away from protecting and preserving the rule of law not men.
We are fortunate that the Indiana chapter of the ACLU is headquartered here in Indianapolis. Just last year our local ACLU preserved our rights in the First Amendment to our Constitution from an unlawful attack by those who wanted to ignore the rule of law in the name of sexual modesty.

I included a link to the Indiana ACLU for your ready reference.

[Andy Horning]

I wish I could agree that the ACLU is on the side of law! Sadly, I have actually read the constitutions...repeatedly and with the background information of the "Antifederalist" and Federalist Papers, Madison's Diaries, and I don't know how many letters and such written by those responsible for writing our state and federal constitutions. I say "sadly" because they don't say at all what we've been told they say, we've been lied to, and I feel politically homeless.
Constitutions are leashes on political authority, not on citizens. And the current administration is at least as bad as the last one in destroying every letter of that law.
My blog is all about this subject. If you scan through my annotated Bill of Rights (http://wedeclare.wordpress.com/the-bill-of-rights/) and Indiana Constitution (this contains a link to a PDF: http://wedeclare.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/do-it-for-the-children/), you'll see that I'm miles and ages beyond the ancient authoritarianism of our current government...and the ACLU.

[Sarah Brown]

I'm not OK with this... the death of liberty, the end of freedom… the way politicians ignore the Founding documents that make us free.
I think everyone should be free to do what they believe is best, as long as other people do not get hurt... I’m not talking about hurting people's feeling though- free speech naturally offends people. I think that our nation is great because of the liberty, justice and freedom secured for us by the bill of rights and the Declaration of Independence. The more we ignore the "Rule of Law" the weaker our nation becomes.

I don't believe in political unity. I think a government is healthiest when people don't all agree. Throughout history the only way governments have arrived at political unity was by killing and binding all those who disagreed with the ruling power. America is great and prosperous because our rule of law protects people from being deprived of life, liberty, property. America is great because people are free to say what they believe even it the majority or ruling power does not agree. Many people wish to silence those who believe differently, and take away the rights of those who live differently, and make laws to force people to live according to their whims. If our government tries to keep making laws that force people into certain lifestyles and choices our whole nation will fall into ruin, and the result will be death and chains for those who speak freely, worship boldly, use the wrong kind of light bulb, and choose alternative lifestyles.

Don't tread on me....or any free thinking American. Let Liberty Triumph.

[Sarah Brown]

PS. You had my vote. Don't tell my friend Mitch.

[Andy Horning]

So YOU were the one!
Thank you.
By the polls I've seen, only about twenty percent of Hoosier voters knew their choices in the voting booth; less than ten percent saw any of the televised debates. You're a precious rare citizen, Sarah.

[Steve Stuck]

You got my vote too sir. Those are amazing stats that you just published. Where did you get them? Did you ever see the video interviews of people leaving the voting booths and asked about who they voted for and not knowing much about policy. Even some thought Palin was Obama's VP.