What even is the Supreme Court? Or the idea of a flexible document? Or Jefferson's idea of a living constitution?

Jamie. No. The US is not a democracy. It is a representative republic. The Constitution outlines the powers of the Federal Government. All others belong to the states. See the 10th Amendment. So if Idaho wants to allow abortion and same sex marriage, that is their right. The Federal government simply does not have those powers. They are not in the constitution. Read the Roe v Wade decision. First, the SCOTUS had to invent a right to privacy, and then in that right to privacy they created a right to abortion.

Democracy is a horrible idea. It is 3 wolves and a sheep voting as to what is for dinner. It is 51% of the population who are on the government dole woting to increase their benefits.

Hey, at least he's using the analogy correctly now.

TrP - The constitution is 'living' as in it allows amendments. The SCOTUS has become activists, legislating from the bench.

Jefferson was a brilliant man. Here are some highlights of his life. He answers your question.

Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped.

At 5, began studying under his cousin's tutor.

At 9, studied Latin, Greek and French.

At 14, studied classical literature and additional languages.

At 16, entered the College of William and Mary. Also could write in Greek with one hand while writing the same in Latin with the other.

At 19, studied Law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.

At 23, started his own law practice.

At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.

At 31, wrote the widely circulated "Summary View of the Rights of British America" And retired from his law practice.

At 32, was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress.

At 33, wrote the Declaration of Independence.

At 33, took three years to revise Virginia's legal code and wrote a Public Education bill and a statute for Religious Freedom.

At 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia succeeding Patrick Henry.

At 40, served in Congress for two years.

At 41, was the American minister to France and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams.

At 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington.

At 53, served as Vice President and was elected president of the American Philosophical Society.

At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active head of Republican Party.

At 57, was elected the third president of the United States.

At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase doubling the nation's size.

At 61, was elected to a second term as President.

At 65, retired to Monticello.

At 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.

At 81, almost single-handedly created the University of Virginia and served as its first president.

At 83, died on the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence along with John Adams.

Thomas Jefferson knew because he himself studied the previous failed attempts at government. He understood actual history, the nature of God, His laws and the nature of man. That happens to be way more than what most understand today.

Jefferson really knew his stuff.

A voice from the past to lead us in the future:

John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the White House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement: "This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe,we shall become as corrupt as Europe." -- Thomas Jefferson

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." -- Thomas Jefferson

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world." -- Thomas Jefferson

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." -- Thomas Jefferson

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." -- Thomas Jefferson

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson

"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." -- Thomas Jefferson

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." -- Thomas Jefferson

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical." -- Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802: "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

I'm glad we are getting to serious discussion and away from name calling.

Here are some more facts about Thomas Jefferson:

Thomas Jefferson once broke a mirror over the head of a black cat while standing under a ladder on Friday the thirteenth. The next day he won the lottery.

Thomas Jefferson could hear sign language.

Once a cobra bit Thomas Jefferson’s leg. After five days of excruciating pain, the cobra died.

It is considered a great accomplishment to go down Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel. Thomas Jefferson once went up Niagara Falls in a cardboard box.

When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone he had 3 missed calls from Thomas Jefferson

Some magicans can walk on water, Thomas Jefferson could swim through land.

Thomas Jefferson and Superman once fought each other on a bet. The loser had to start wearing his underwear on the outside of his pants.

At the age of 27 Thomas Jefferson counted to infinity – twice.

Thomas Jefferson once kicked a horse in the chin. Its descendants are known today as Giraffes.

Thomas Jefferson grew a beard at the age of eighteen. Seconds.

Thomas Jefferson was born in a log cabin that he built himself.

Thomas Jefferson could light a fire by rubbing two ice-cubes together.

Jamie - well, so much for intelligent discussion.

BOG, I don't think you should thrust that article you posted about us Danes. It is severely Historical inaccurate. In DK we have always thought our welfare state as a bumblebee - should not physical be able to fly, yet it does. The welfare state here has always been in reform, sometimes towards more welfare, sometimes towards less - it's flexible in regards to the current economical situation of the people. The current economical doctrine goes all the way back to the beginning of the 90'. And the party the "liberal" politician quoted in the articled is part of, is on the left side of most of your democrats. The thing focused on in the articled, our safety net for persons without a job, have been in reform since the start of the 90. It was way more generous than it is now, and the reason was that we had a severely bad job situation in the 70 and the 80.

And our constitution is so much different from yours. Our parliament is meant to be able to decide those things you don't want your parliament to have control over.

Mfart- "I don't think you should thrust that article you posted about us Danes." It was in the New York Times. They publish liberal opinion, not news. That is why I thought it odd they attacked socialism, and it might be true..

Why would NYT support actual socialism?

So liberalism=socialism. No comments

Prin "So liberalism=socialism. No comments" it is hard to make generalizations and labels that fit every situation. . The Nazi's were Socialists, but I wouldn't call them liberals. I think the best descriptor are Statists - those who want big government and the taking from producers to promote their agendas, , and Libertarians, who cherish individual freedom.

TrP "Why would NYT support actual socialism?" They believe in it.

jamiet: Stop mis-attributing to Jefferson. Everyone knows Chuck Norris did those feats.

They wouldn't be a successful private enterprise the way they are if they believed in socialism.

TrP "They wouldn't be a successful private enterprise the way they are if they believed in socialism." They are not successful. They will be out of business in 5 years, IMHO.

NYT has always been critical of socialism.
"Statists - those who want big government and the taking from producers to promote their agendas, , and Libertarians, who cherish individual freedom." The opposite of statist is actually anarchist.

TrP "The opposite of statist is actually anarchist." Interesting point. I am much closer to an anarchist than a statist, but I do want a government to defend my individual property rights. I own weapons, am not afraid to use them, or fight alongside our military in defense of liberty. But I don't have the firepower to take out a tank.

BOG, I have a doubt: for you, the rights to property are more important than:

a)the right to health
b)the right to education
c)the right to a decent work
d)the right to a decent habitat
e)the right to peaceful political organization
f) any combination of the previous ones

???

"The country was founded on the fact that the primary role of government is to protect property from the majority. And so it remains" - Chomsky.

Princ - Interesting.
There is no right to health. People are free to eat sugar and grains
There is no right to education. People are free to live off society
There is no right to decent work. People have a right to live in the streets
There is no right to a decent habitat - people can choose to live in the street
And so on.

Life. Liberty and pursuit of happiness are inalienable rights. All of your"rights" are choices.

How may people who have no access to health, education, or employment meaningfully pursue happiness?

Have you read the 10th amendment in its entirety, BOG? Just because a right isn't named doesn't mean the right doesn't exist.

"There is no right to a decent habitat - people can choose to live in the street"
When I say habitat I don't mean just a house, but also basic services like water and electricity.
Now seriously, who chooses to live in in street or without basic services. I'd invite you to visit Haiti just to understand the implications of this.

"There is no right to health. People are free to eat sugar and grains"
"There is no right to decent work. People have a right to live in the streets"
No relationship between respective first and second sentences.

I won't even speak about education, the info you've given me is enough for me.

BOG: Do you support a potential of social mobility? Or economic competition between businesses?

Capitalism is the ultimate source of social mobility. Not a caste system or political connections. And yes, economic competition leads to better products and lower prices.

"Capitalism is the ultimate source of social mobility." If this is true, what is your explanation for all the disparity between the rich and the poor within countries, and the disparity between rich countries and poor countries? If there is so much mobility, why haven't people equalized more? I await your response.

Monopolies create aristocracies of sorts and deny social mobility that only government can return if driven by the right people. Monopolies also destroy competition, also only government can fix. Why are you such a big government hack?

Thuc -" If there is so much mobility, why haven't people equalized more? " Because the Bell Curve is real. Equality of opportunity does not result in equality of results. Why don't all students get A's, regardless of their effort? Where is Grade Equity? Why aren't you paid as much as Ronaldo? You can kick a ball. Because you don't have his talent. Countries like Mexico - with its location and natural resources, are challenged because of corruption. Zimbabwe is a basket case because government takes land from farmers and gives it to party hacks.

So tell me - why aren't all basketball players paid the same as Lebron James? Why aren't all soccer players paid like Ronaldo? The market sets rates of pay. Why does a Lamborghini cost more than a Kia? where is car equity?

Your argument for equity comes from ignorance, and your religious belief in socialism.