I think it's time to make a few changes to the Constitution. No, not the Bill of Rights, but repealling some others and adding a new one.

First off, I support a Constitutional amendment that states the following:

"Any act which does not threaten another's right to life, liberty, or property shall not be a crime."

Also I support the repeal the 16th amendment and replace the income tax system with a national retail sales tax. A tax on consumption. Also, there would be no sales tax on basic needs such as food.

And I support the repeal of the 17th amendment. States should choose Senators.

Also, I'm kind of leaning towards supporting a one-term limit to all political offices. However, at some point there could be good people who actually serve the public instead of buying votes that we would lose.

Why not just start over with a whole new constitution?

Because then we would be accused of plagarization.

accuatlly that aint a bad idea except for who are we gonna allow to write it?


Hurricane

"Any act which does not threaten another's right to life, liberty, or property shall not be a crime."
while the general principle of this is good, a weasel worded lawyer could argue that, for example, looking at child pornography could be a constitutionally granted right covered by this amendment

Problem with a sales tax as opposed to an income tax, is that it encourages the rich to hoard their wealth instead of spending it, with detrimental effects on the economy. It hits the middle classes, who spend a high proportion of their income, harder than the rich (or poor, who spend most of their income on tax-exempt goods). It's also more difficult to enforce.

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Originally posted by Thehurricane:
accuatlly that aint a bad idea except for who are we gonna allow to write it?

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First we need one or two people to publish an initial draft, then we need a diverse group of people to read it over and give ideas ect to make it better. I am currently writing a constitution myself acctually, its based on the american, chinese, and soviet constitutions.

[This message has been edited by Fascistsmasher (edited 01-30-2003).]

Screw writing a new one, how about we bring back the old one.

I am seriously considering sending a copy of the Constitution and all it's amendments to the White House. We just need to make sure that Dubya and John Ashcroft have the same one.

I am more than willing to bet that 95%+ of government officeholders have never read the Constitution or even skimed it. I am willing to bet that 99.9%+ of police officers have never read the Constitution, Bill of Rights, or the laws from their state.

Anyway, laws would need to be immediately passed which define my new proposed amendment. I suppose that age-limit laws would still stand on alcohol, porn and the like. We could just come up with a uniform age for you to be treated as an adult. Perhaps, at age 18 you would be able to legally buy alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, drugs, guns, porn, and serve in the military.

[This message has been edited by buttthrax (edited 01-30-2003).]

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Originally posted by buttthrax:
I am more than willing to bet that 95%+ of government officeholders have never read the Constitution or even skimed it. I am willing to bet that 99.9%+ of police officers have never read the Constitution, Bill of Rights, or the laws from their state.

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Since your numbers are so high, Nox will take some of that bet ... especially on the cops. Have you ever looked at the cirriculum of a police acadamy (spare me the movie drivel)?

Nox

*Extreme numbers added for effect*

Maybe 49.9% skimed it in high school.

I stand by the bet concerning the cops. I think you are not just wrong ... but VERY wrong. Cops are trained in the law at the academy.

Nox

Anyway, laws would need to be immediately passed which define my new proposed amendment. I suppose that age-limit laws would still stand on alcohol, porn and the like. We could just come up with a uniform age for you to be treated as an adult. Perhaps, at age 18 you would be able to legally buy alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, drugs, guns, porn, and serve in the military.

Well i disagree with that law, alot of people who reached the age of 18, are still in high school. So kids that are 14,15,16,17 are hanging with someone who can buy them alcohol easily. Porn no harm in that,guns i think should be 18 you just shouldnt be able to get a CCW.

Sure cops are trained in the law and most of them know the law.

The problem is that most of them choose to ignore the law. Or at least the part they break when they say "we we're just doing our jobs."

"That wallet looked like a gun." So we threw 41 shots at him.

"Rodney King was resisting."

"The kid made a face." So we toned him up.

"He grabbed my groin." Sure, you didn't see it but that was the reason I punched him in the face after we cuffed him.

Cop excuses are better for laughs than criminal excuses.

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Originally posted by Global Dominator:
"Rodney King was resisting."

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Initially he was.

Nox

Ah, yes. My proposed amendment would require immediately and clear definition which would be drafted along with the amendment itself.

But just think about it, the only crimes that should be are the ones where someone is attempting to deprive someone of or threatening somebody elses right of their life, liberty, or property.

For example, being punched in the face would fall under your liberty not to be punched in the face.

By violating somebody else's rights, you forfeit your own.

Oh, and next time, put my word in quotes, please.

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Originally posted by buttthrax:
I am more than willing to bet that 95%+ of government officeholders have never read the Constitution or even skimed it. I am willing to bet that 99.9%+ of police officers have never read the Constitution, Bill of Rights, or the laws from their state.

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Last time I checked every American Citizen has taken a Constitution test. Or did that just slip your memory?

Anyway I like your Ammendment, but it could have flaws especially when exploited by shrewd lawyers. People would be going on a suing rampage accussing other of threatening their life, liberty and property. The fact that an Ammedment like that could be interpreted in so many different (and technical) ways would defeat its purpose.

LowLife

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Originally posted by LowLife:
Last time I checked every American Citizen has taken a Constitution test. Or did that just slip your memory?

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What?!

Who the hell told you that? Naturalized immigrants take basic US history knowledge.

I guess it slipped my memory, because I don't remeber taking a test to get my Constitutional rights.

How old are you buttthrax? 12? Because there's no way you can get through High School without a constitution test - at least a public school. I don't know about private schools, but I'm pretty sure they take it too.

LowLife

Ive gone to private school my whole life, and never took a constitutional test, or basic US history test that was mandated to recieve a diploma.

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Originally posted by Nox:
I stand by the bet concerning the cops. I think you are not just wrong ... but VERY wrong. Cops are trained in the law at the academy.

Nox

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police are often trained with what is quipped as tactical law. this means that they are told how to covertly describe something that is going on in a place or they can tell someone under what rule by rule lay and subrule they are causing trouble.

This is not what i would call being "taught law"

i learned what they are taught in a month, so dont tell me that they are taught law, they are merely shown a summary of it.

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Originally posted by piggarro99:
they are merely shown a summary of it.

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Then why are they tested? Don't they have to study?

Nox

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Originally posted by Nox:
Then why are they tested? Don't they have to study?

Nox

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you say they are trained and taught law, and i say that they are not.

law

torts and equity (contract)
civil
criminal

all they see is criminal

you can not study a third of a subject and then say that they see it all, or study it all, that is an insult to me and my law colleagues

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Originally posted by piggarro99:
all they see is criminal

you can not study a third of a subject and then say that they see it all, or study it all

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Point made.

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Originally posted by piggarro99:
that is an insult to me and my law colleagues

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No insult intended.

You know that when I make an insult I really give it my best shot.

Nox