Caltrops - Motherfucking News - Constitutions can be changed, friend.

Forum Overview :: Motherfucking News

by Damocles 04/25/2003, 4:31pm PDT

Lufteufel wrote:

ydrt wrote:

Cyrris wrote:

(A)Religious Governments don't work

I think it's a bit strong to say they don't work. They just don't work in a way that fits well with most of the modern world.

Even if we can get democracy to work for a bit in Iraq, what do we do if in 10 years down the line a religious group wins the elections and then just continues to win them? Where is the line between freedom of choice and freedom to be like America?

The whole point of the Bill of Rights is that there are certain individual liberties that a simple majority of voters should not be allowed to disregard. As Hayek said, "the fact that we have seen millions voting themselves into complete dependence on a tyrant has made our generation understand that to choose one's government is not necessarily to secure freedom."

Dear God (ironic), I wish I knew why this particular fallacy keeps on popping up. American education may suck, but the Constitution is something that I would have thought every American would know well enough to be able to cry "bullshit" at this.

Yes, the Bill of Rights most certainly can be changed, expanded, or eliminated based on the will of the people. Ever heard of an "Amendment formula"? Granted, it takes a whole lot of people and their representatives to make it happen, but if 80% of Americans had said "I don't like the (second, third, first, eighth, whatever) Amendment" and made it clear that it's a voting issue, better believe that that Bill of Rights could get changed. And, yes, that means theoretically that a demagogue with the entire country behind him could actually do an astonishing amount of damage to the American constitution, and make it stick. As anybody who had even heard of Prohibition might point out.

(And as for Hayek, considering his definition of "tyrant" appeared to be "anybody/thing that impedes free markets", I think a somewhat more objective source would be better suited to making your points. )