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Lady Freedom Returns

(14,120 posts)
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 12:20 PM Jan 2013

The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, The Bill of Rights.

These three documents are the building blocks of this country. They are also the center of many of the fights between the two parties. I do not know how many times they come up in arguments with Conservatives. I am also shocked at reading answers to many Conservatives where people on our side don't know what they ( The Conservatives) are talking about and bending to make their argument.

Here are links to copies of these great documents to help if you find yourself in an argument and you need to find the information and use it.


Read the full Declaration of Independence at http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

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.

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.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.





Read the full Constitution for the United States of America at http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.




Read the full Bill of Rights at http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html

The Preamble to The Bill of Rights

Congress of the United States
begun and held at the City of New-York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

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.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.




10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, The Bill of Rights. (Original Post) Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 OP
The Captain says it best! One of the 99 Jan 2013 #1
3 documents and a host of amendments to bring us to where we are today. randome Jan 2013 #2
That is the beauty of these documents Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 #4
That's why we need something comparable for a new century. randome Jan 2013 #5
But we have it. Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 #6
A new 'Declaration' of some sort or a new 'Bill of American [something]' would help us go forward. randome Jan 2013 #9
THey can still do that if allowed to. Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 #10
FDR had it figured out in 1944 libtodeath Jan 2013 #7
Thanks for bringing that up! Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 #8
Kick. Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 #3
 

randome

(34,845 posts)
2. 3 documents and a host of amendments to bring us to where we are today.
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 12:31 PM
Jan 2013

We need another 'batch' of changes that reflect life in the 21st century. Something about breaking up 'too big to fail' institutions and declaring that the health of the planet is too important to leave to private enterprise.

What should it be called?

Lady Freedom Returns

(14,120 posts)
4. That is the beauty of these documents
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 05:02 PM
Jan 2013

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are made to change with the times. They are also designed to remind us where we've been.

 

randome

(34,845 posts)
5. That's why we need something comparable for a new century.
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 05:05 PM
Jan 2013

And a new era now that the GOP's grip on power is waning. It's time for a 'Bill of American Ethics' or something.

Lady Freedom Returns

(14,120 posts)
6. But we have it.
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 05:27 PM
Jan 2013

We add to them. It is our way to change and remember what was done. It is our laws and our history. It shows what was wrong and what we did to fix things.

It is not that we need new, but to allow for these documents to do what they were destined to do. To change with time.

These documents are the closest thing to living as objects can be. Lately, however, "certain" groups have tried to stop them from doing this. They like it the way they are written. They see that as they grow, their "groups" lose power to the whole.

It is a mater of demanding for the growth. As for "ethics", that word is a double edge sword.

 

randome

(34,845 posts)
9. A new 'Declaration' of some sort or a new 'Bill of American [something]' would help us go forward.
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 05:35 PM
Jan 2013

I think we are too wedded to the past. Yes, the Constitution and Bill of Rights are still important but I think we need something new that doesn't break from the past but pushes our vision a little into the future.

Lady Freedom Returns

(14,120 posts)
10. THey can still do that if allowed to.
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 05:46 PM
Jan 2013

It is just many are scared to allow it. It is that fear that we must fight. That fear will not allow anything new. If it will not allow for The Constitution and The Bill of Rights to grow as it was designed, it will fight in darkest force against anything else.

I repeat, it is that fear we must fight.

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