It’s also worth pointing out that things usually happen for a reason. All those wacky laws that fill up checkout-lane humor booklets all came about as the result of honest lawmaking. I’ll bet there’s even a good story behind why it’s illegal to bring a monster into the city of Urbana-Champaign after dark.
The “3/5 compromise” wasn’t a “mistake”, it was an ugly but necessary kludge whose primary purpose was to get the document ratified by all the colonies, including the slaveholding ones. The framers had to grit their teeth while putting it in, but they knew that ratification was a more pressing concern than ending slavery, and if they pressed for ending slavery, the United States would never come to be.
Similarly, if codifying Islam gets the Iraqi constitution ratified by all parties, it’s not a “mistake”, it’s a recognition of the reality on the ground, and getting a democratic constitution passed is way more important than trying to solve all the country’s social ills at the same time. The earlier the constitution is in place, the longer Iraq will have to beome a society that operates under the rule of law, and the better the chances for ironing out those problems peaceably later.
It didn’t work out that great for us– we had to fight a civil war when our constitutional “mistake” came to a head. But Iraq is doing no worse than us so far, and they might study our history and do yet better.
… Then again, I just finished reading Jon Stewart’s America book, and after all it snarky one-liners about how stupid Reagan was for supporting SDI and how Jefferson’s sexual indiscretions defined him far more than the Declaration of Independence did, I’m in something of a mood.
Maybe a little OT:
How many people realize that slavery in the US wasn’t based on race? If this were so, there would not have been any free blacks before Emancipation. You’ll not find any laws that state “Africans are slaves because of their race”. Article 1 of the US Constitution does not mention race as a factor in slavery, only distinguishes between “free” persons, “those bound to service for a term of years” and “all other” persons. Even the “Indians not taxed” provision makes clear that Indians’ status was not based on their race, but on their exemption from paying taxes. Slavery was based on property rights. Indentured slavery, which involved many whites, was based on contractual promise.
11 years, 2 months, 13 days from Declaration of Independence to Constitution (the signings, that is). Four years from the Treaty of Paris to the Constitution. And that’s without trying to establish things while fighting off a somewhat vicious insurgency. So, Steve’s right. 30 months. Quite an accomplishment. And if you insist on it being perfect from the start, then you must think there’s a few amendments to our own Constitution that weren’t really necessary. Like, say, the Bill of Rights? The post-civil war trio?
And if you insist on it being perfect from the start, then you must think there’s a few amendments to our own Constitution that weren’t really necessary. Like, say, the Bill of Rights? The post-civil war trio?
————–
How about taking back a bit further and include the Articles of Confederation?
It’s also worth pointing out that things usually happen for a reason. All those wacky laws that fill up checkout-lane humor booklets all came about as the result of honest lawmaking. I’ll bet there’s even a good story behind why it’s illegal to bring a monster into the city of Urbana-Champaign after dark.
The “3/5 compromise” wasn’t a “mistake”, it was an ugly but necessary kludge whose primary purpose was to get the document ratified by all the colonies, including the slaveholding ones. The framers had to grit their teeth while putting it in, but they knew that ratification was a more pressing concern than ending slavery, and if they pressed for ending slavery, the United States would never come to be.
Similarly, if codifying Islam gets the Iraqi constitution ratified by all parties, it’s not a “mistake”, it’s a recognition of the reality on the ground, and getting a democratic constitution passed is way more important than trying to solve all the country’s social ills at the same time. The earlier the constitution is in place, the longer Iraq will have to beome a society that operates under the rule of law, and the better the chances for ironing out those problems peaceably later.
It didn’t work out that great for us– we had to fight a civil war when our constitutional “mistake” came to a head. But Iraq is doing no worse than us so far, and they might study our history and do yet better.
… Then again, I just finished reading Jon Stewart’s America book, and after all it snarky one-liners about how stupid Reagan was for supporting SDI and how Jefferson’s sexual indiscretions defined him far more than the Declaration of Independence did, I’m in something of a mood.
So gimme fifty dollars and we’ll call it even.
It’s on the dresser, toots.
So with you on the Nip/Tuck thing…
One of the best written and produced shows on the television, in my opinion.
Though I want to know why keep calling Tara, Kat, what’s up with that? And how did she go from Defense Attorney to Investigator.
I was so on the Kat is the Carver bandwagon, my mate thinks the new Dr. is the Carver, I think it is no one we’ve met yet.
Maybe a little OT:
How many people realize that slavery in the US wasn’t based on race? If this were so, there would not have been any free blacks before Emancipation. You’ll not find any laws that state “Africans are slaves because of their race”. Article 1 of the US Constitution does not mention race as a factor in slavery, only distinguishes between “free” persons, “those bound to service for a term of years” and “all other” persons. Even the “Indians not taxed” provision makes clear that Indians’ status was not based on their race, but on their exemption from paying taxes. Slavery was based on property rights. Indentured slavery, which involved many whites, was based on contractual promise.
“Toots”. A highly undervalued term of art.
Toots? Undervalued term of art? I don’t think so.
Why, just the other day I nudged a buddy and said, under my breath, “Check that blonde out. She’s got great toots.”
It was what, something like 12 years between the Declaration of Independence and the writing of the US constitution.
Iraq took 30 months?
Where’s the downside here?
Yeah, three may be unhappy, but 78,000 are alive who would otherwise be dead. Fuzzy Moral Math
People will choose freedom over dictatorship, when given a choice between the two.
Let us all give thanks to those men and women who put the comma in the preceeding sentence.
Well, Well, Well
Stephen Green gets it right…
11 years, 2 months, 13 days from Declaration of Independence to Constitution (the signings, that is). Four years from the Treaty of Paris to the Constitution. And that’s without trying to establish things while fighting off a somewhat vicious insurgency. So, Steve’s right. 30 months. Quite an accomplishment. And if you insist on it being perfect from the start, then you must think there’s a few amendments to our own Constitution that weren’t really necessary. Like, say, the Bill of Rights? The post-civil war trio?
And if you insist on it being perfect from the start, then you must think there’s a few amendments to our own Constitution that weren’t really necessary. Like, say, the Bill of Rights? The post-civil war trio?
————–
How about taking back a bit further and include the Articles of Confederation?