A 28th Amendment

I got into a discussion about a proposed 28th Amendment to our Constitution a few days ago. Turns out there’s more than one proposal calling itself the 28th Amendment. I’m talking about the one that begins, “The rights protected by the Constitution of the United States are the rights of natural persons only.” There may be similar ones. There certainly are some calling themselves the 28th Amendment that address very different subjects and are totally misinformed. But the restriction of constitutional rights to natural persons is worth talking about.

The Dysfunctional House

I’ve spoken often about why sequester type budget cuts threaten a weak economy and can worsen the debt. Today I want to talk about history.

In 1787 the delegates to the Constitutional Convention struggled over the shape of Congress. Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia had the largest populations. The Carolinas and Georgia realized they had far fewer people, but since the primary activity of most Americans was farm or plantation labor, they thought their size would eventually give them large populations. So they formed a six state coalition for representation in proportion to population, especially with the added voting power of three fifths the number of their slaves – turning the principle of majority rule into a deal with the devil.

Real Election Fraud

Republican efforts to exclude voters from the polls have been in the news lately. A Pennsylvania judge recently decided it was OK to require voters to have photo IDs there. Many states have been doing that.

Indiana anti-voter fraud efforts got the blessing of the U.S. Supreme Court under John Roberts in 2008.[*] Indiana Republicans claimed to be terrified that poor people would show up at the polls fraudulently trying to vote, and worse, they would vote for Democrats. So they required picture IDs. Their claims have been repeated in many states. 

Occupy Wall Street vs. Have a Tea Party

A bumper sticker said “I work so that someone on welfare doesn’t.” No, I work to support captains of finance who make costly problems for everybody else, threatening their jobs, their homes and the food on the table. What the titans of finance caused doesn’t compare with what little the rest of us can do to affect the economy.

Obama’s Choices Among Boehner’s Disasters

I’m going to be away for a few weeks and it looks like all heck will be breaking loose in Washington while I’m away. Meanwhile, I’ve been trying to figure out President Obama’s options.

Contaminated Money and Political Nonsense

            We’ve spoken before about separating the legitimate causes of anger from the misleading claims that threaten to wreak havoc on America. Lots of Americans are angry, about taxes, spending, jobs, prospects, or fairness to the middle-class which has been getting squeezed out. And they are right to be angry.

Watching Revolutions in North Africa and the Middle East

 

We are all hoping for true democratic revolution in North Africa and the Near East. Movements for democracy have made themselves felt from Morocco to Iran. Some have been crushed. Others, particularly in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt may be on the verge of success. We wish them well.

A World on Fire

In 1793, Revolutionary France sent Edmund Genet as minister to the U.S. Finding the Washington Administration determined to remain neutral between England and France, Genet threatened to take his case to the American people. Americans were offended. We don’t stand for foreign meddling in American politics.

Gun control – because it’s necessary and proper

If winning is the only thing, there is no democracy. If winning is by murder and intimidation, there is only Darfur, Iraq, the Congo, what was once Yugoslavia, and scores of other killing fields around the globe.

Invest in America

Many of us share the feeling that the election was decided by slogans. But how could it be otherwise?