seidman needs to find a country that more suits him, one that changes its constitution everytime he doesn't like it, like some of the african/south american/asian countries. We have forged our country, supposedly based on the concepts of our constitution. 'Ditching' sure would cause the destruction of our country, something the democraps are hell bent on progressing. You see pal, the very part that allows you to put out dribble that you write about, protects you from the government. Please resign your high faluting self proclaimed self rightousness and move to say....Borneo or some other 8th world countries and see how far your dribble carries you. shame on you too

Nothing lasts forever. That includes the Constitution, the Bible and any other invention of man. One of the clearest examples is the current state of government where companies have been given all the rights of people without any of those nagging responsibilities that serve to keep the individual citizen in check. Do you really believe this was the original plan? The one man/one vote system no longer works since individuals can't bribe lawmakers nearly as effectively as individual citizens with the notable exception of the rising number of billionaires now taking over the planets resources.

Ever single right we were guaranteed within' the constitution has now been circumvented by corporate greed and power. Yes, it is time for a do-over.

The Constitution basically is a good framework, such as the separation of government powers. However, it was enacted more than 200 years ago, when the world was a far different place, and the amendment process is not always enough to keep up. Is it too much to suggest that amendments be put out to public vote, such as propositions in the state of California?

The absurd notion that the problems in America are caused by the Constitution are plain ignorant. If we want to return this country to its former glory, we should examine how we can better adhere to it instead.

Seidman is not only a looneytunes, he's got his facts wrong. We are not insisting on adherence to the Constitution - and that's the problem. If we actually were adhering to it, 9/10ths of the federal government would simply not exist today. And, we would be a much freer, more highly civilized and prosperous nation.

Mr Horton has it exactly right.

We are a nation of law.
There is no better law than the Constitution.
You folks that want to change it are too lazy to abide by it.

Every law, every federal department or agency or every federal action, not provided for in the Constitution has no foundation and is totally illegal in the United States of America.

Typical LIberalist/Socialist Mentality

The Constitution does not give you rights. Your rights are given to you by your Creator. You were born with them. The Constitution exists to limit government. Its purpose is to help you keep your rights. They are not guaranteed except by the blood of patriots. But the true nature of the universe is entropy. All material systems begin with order and move inexorably to disorder. Whether biologic or inanimate, everything dissolves. Everything disintegrates. But human thought is not a material system. Thought does not have to entropy. The ideals and principles brought forth in our founding documents are capable of standing forever. They need not be allowed to disintegrate. They can be protected and projected into the future by those of us who are willing to guard them and to teach them to each new generation. The Constitution was perfectly placed between Tyranny and Anarchy. Just enough rule to control government. Just enough freedom to avoid chaos. I think I will fight an die, if necessary, to keep it.

JC said:
"And your idea that amendment be put to a popular vote is precisely what the founders protected us against - mob rule by a straight democracy. That is why we have a republic, to to protect the little guy, the individual, from the majority."
I've always like this example: What if the majority ruled that we go back to slavery? Would it be ok because the majority ruled it? The more separate our powers remain, the better off we are.

Mr. Mayor, as the young folks would say: "You're right on." Every foundation must rest on solid bedrock so the structure that rises from it will withstand the test of time. The structure I surmise Mr. Mayor is speaking of is the United States of American. The Constitution of the United States of America is the solid bedrock upon which that structure rests.

Here is what Thomas Jefferson had to say about the constitution. From a letter 1816 to Samuel Kercheval: "Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the Ark of the Covenant, too sacred to be touched. They ascribe to the men of the preceding age wisdom more than human, and suppose what they did beyond amendment. I knew that age well; I belonged to it, and labored with it....But I also know that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times." I would suggest that the "new discoveries" Jefferson talks about in his letter could be weapons that kill large groups of people quickly like assault rifles with large bullet clips. Maybe the constitution needs to be modified ,if we have put up with these high gun/ murder rates. It could be the Supreme court decision to treat corporation as "people". or to allow corporations to give unlimited funds to political candidates. It could be the poorly designed election system that keeps or discourages people from voting. It could be the undemocratic gerrymandering of districts that takes away the representation of a "Republic" form of government.

No to ditching it and starting over. Good heavens, there would never be enough agreement to even get started. Yes, to amending what needs to be and having the courage to do it.

Keep the Constitution, ditch the greedy politicians

JK you're right. It's not the constitution that's flawed, it's men in power. That's why the constitution is so valuable- it's concept of the separation of powers is like none other. It's keeps corruption from corrupting absolutely. That is, unless we don't hold them accountable. All it takes is one man in power bypassing congress among other things that are unconstitutional, getting away with it and doing it again and again until it become the norm. that's why we have such a schism in our country right now. many are fighting to preserve it and open people's eyes, and the other half doesn't want to see because they profit from it or have bought into politicians deceptive words. It's a tough place to be, but hopefully there are still good men who won't give up and will continue to take a stand for what's right.

What a great idea. Lets just dump the very thing tens of thousands of our soldiers have died to protect. The very thing tens of thousands of people from foreign lands have moved here for and millions of others wish they could. The very thing that protects the fool who wishes this to happen. What needs to be done instead is for America to wake up and quit putting people in office who stomp all over it to push their own agendas.

Rather than ignore the Constitution perhaps our politicians (especially the President) should try something novel such as adhering to it.

Chris P - not going to happen, too inconvienient, and no power grabs available if you adhere too closely to it.

The Consititution is just about perfect. It accounts for the inherent problems with people and a large government. Democracy is not ideal, and we were not set up that way. In fact, we've gotten too democratic as it is.

The Constitution is set up to limit government, and government's influence in our lives. It says very little about what the Federal government can do, but a lot about what states can do, and even includes the admonishment about if something is not specifically granted to the federal government, then that right belongs to the states, or the people.

The Constitution is only outdated and needs to be updated for those that love government, and the bigger the better. The opportunity to meddle more and more in our lives, restrict our freedoms, and try to take care of us. In other words, make us dependant on government, thereby growing the government even more. We're already almost there, what with roughly 47% of the country paying no income taxes. Once that number increases over 51%, our country is lost. And that number is increasing in spite of our Constitution, not with the help of it.

Check out these awesome young people who believe in the Constitution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF2Zp3pTrSw Please let the students in your life know about our We The People 9.17 Contest - entries due July 4th!

Seems to me we have two types responding here, Communists and Patriotic United States Citizens.

Which are you?

What I do find interesting is that those that think the Constitution isn't doing what it's supposed to do anymore because it's behind the times are the same that want it to be doing something different than what it was designed to do - namely, protect us from our government. It's the same group that says a free market doesn't work, as evidenced by what we have now, with our downturns and such, even though that same overbearing government has never allowed us to have a truly free market economy.

The rest of us can kind of see where the failures came from, and pinpoint, usually, the government program that caused the failure in the first place.....

Please see my blog post in the Lawrenceville Patch Titled: "Bring Back the Constitution: http://lawrenceville-ga.patch.com/blog_posts/bring-back-the-constitution

The only problem with the Constitution is that it is no longer enforced. The Constitution was fine until FDR took all the wind out of it by threatening the Supreme Court. I think we need to save the Constitution by adding an amendment limiting the number of Supreme Court Justices so that no President can do what FDR did ever again and the Supreme Court can get back to the business of deciding on Constitutionalism instead of deciding on popularity.

The Constitution is more than a legal document. We, as Americans, do not have our rights because the Constitution gives them to us. The Constitution recognises our rights, it does not grant them. The rights are ours as Americans, and the Constitution was meant to warn government officials of their limits. These limits are natural for America, and to try to do away with them in favour of fascism, communism, Marxism, socialism, capitalism, or any other "ism" is just plain wrong for America, and if "we the people" accept the idea that an elite group in a distant national capitol can change this, then "we the people" will deserve what we get.

Jared Kline, it also protects those rights. When the federal government begins creating anything, it has overstepped its bounds.

One simple answer: NO!

The Constitution is a living document. Early on, leaders recognized the need to adapt it to change and correct what was left out, and it was amended with the 1st and then the most revered 2nd. So, it was not perfect in the beginning, and it is not perfect now, which explains all the arguing over it.

So many experts, so little time, engaging in an exercise in futility.

The Constitution is not going to be replaced. It would be nearly impossible to even amend it for any reason, taking years, decades maybe.