Coming in from the Wilderness

I must say I've been away for quite awhile. I have felt drained over the last few months. It seems as though the situation keeps getting worse. In the interim since my last post we've had the 9/11 intelligence bill pass.

I used to joke about this country hearing the term "papers please!"
Now it is coming to pass. It seems noone bothers to learn from history.
In addition it seems very few citizens have ever read and understand our constitution.

During the whole Schiavo debacle there were times I thought I had somehow slipped into an alternate universe.... I was watching CNN during that period, and actually heard for the first time in my life a Republican arguing for Federal power trumping a state decision, and a Democrat use the term "states-rights"!!?!?!?


During my hiatus I have been doing alot of reading. I was amazed to find how far the definitions of Liberal and Conservative have morphed from their original meanings.

I would say I am a Classical Liberal. I think the first sentence under the heading : "Usage of the word liberalism" describes me perfectly. In addition, the term Classical Conservative also seems to fit. Read the portion under the heading "An introduction to conservatism"


Finally, I believe it is important to catalogue the blatant violations of our constitution. I will be posting examples from time to time. To begin with,
I offer this example :

U.S. Constitution: Sixth Amendment
Sixth Amendment - Rights of Accused in Criminal Prosecutions


In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

As it currently stands this is no longer the case. As long as the penalty for EACH charge is less than 6 months you do not have the right to a jury trial.

To any sane person the word ALL means ALL not some nor a few, nor a subset but ALL.

If you know of any other examples please post me a link.