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0 pointsstevenwoo3y ago0 comments

Also The Declaration of Independence is more an aspirational document that has almost nothing to do with the Constitution when it comes to laws, because some pigs were more equal than others, i.e. slaves and native Americans and women could not vote, and we are still dealing with problems from those parts and the undemocratic minority rule enshrined in the Constitution.

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WalterBright3y ago

As I noted, the problems in America can be traced to not following those principles. That doesn't make the principles wrong.

> undemocratic minority rule enshrined in the Constitution.

The purpose of that is to protect the underlying rights of equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I.e. the sheep is protected from the two wolves voting on what's for dinner.

stevenwooOP3y ago

We have agree to disagree, the purpose of minority rule via voting rights/congressional apportionment was to protect the rights of property owners at the time, i.e. slave owners and land owners.

None of the nice thoughts that are in the Declaration of Independence was meant to apply to people not recognized as fully human beings (women/non-white males), if we go by the originalist mindset prevalent in the legal world now. We can't have it both ways, interpreting the Declaration of Independence in the broadest possible modern sense, then interpreting the Constitution in the meaning of the writers and state of the nation in 1789 when it was ratified.

ncmncm3y ago

There really was at the time the concept of "the tyranny of the majority". The whole notion of "rights" is specifically to limit the power of the majority.

The majority normally never needs to have its rights protected. The majority serves itself. Minorities are who need protection.

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