Supremely Wrong
Posted on Friday, July 1st, 2005 at 11:45.
I firmly believe that the judicial branch is the most flawed aspect of the American government. Three rulings this past week reinforced my sentiment. Being a Supreme Court Justice means that you are officially never wrong, even when the rest of the world knows that you are looney. In case you were living under a rock this week, three important and troubling rulings were announced.
- Eminent Domain: Yes, the government can officially seize your property to build a strip joint because it will generate tax revenue.
- Digital Domain: Peer-to-peer technology companies are now held liable for the use of their software. This is like car manufacturers being held liable for your drunk driving.
- Establishment Domain: Acknowledging a historical Christian foundation now deemed inappropriate in court houses, but okay on government property. Apparently the Establishment Clause now means that the government must crush all expression of religious belief, even when that expression is not the least oppressing to anyone.
But wait, there’s more! Tune in next week when rabid Senate democrats filibuster until the 2008 presidential election in attempt to block President Bush’s replacement for O’Connor.
I agree with your view on two of the three rulings cited. With regard to the inevitable filibuster, how is a government with no checks and balances a good thing? And you certainly can’t tell me that Republicans wouldn’t be doing the exact same thing if the tables were turned….
And to digress: though I’m something resembling a white Christian and thus belonging to at least one majority group in this country, I firmly believe that the court system is supposed to be devoid of religious prejudice. Picturing myself in my Bengali (Islamic) friends’ shoes, how fair a trial could I expect walking into a courthouse with foundational Christian dogma on display in a country that already assumes me to be a terrorist based on the color of my skin?
I agree with checks and balances. Most democrats would rather filibuster and waste time than do any of the people’s business. And no party before democrats during President George W. Bush’s term ever prevented nominee after nominee from being confirmed. This is a new antic displayed by the extreme left currently running the democratic party.
Scott, you’re insane to think the court system already assumes any Arab a terrorist. If an Arab-American is going to court, he or she should feel assured at seeing the Ten Commandments as they are a document modeling how judges, juries, and everyone should justly live. The Bible is about love and peace. Regardless if you believe in Jesus or not, the foundations for living presented in the Bible are solid principles. The Ten Commandments are an icon of those principles.
I agree the Bible is about love and peace. I also hasten to mention that it’s also too often used as a weapon of hatred and bigotry. True, I’m generalizing and being overly hypothetical (my Bengali friend is about as upstanding a citizen as they come), but I honestly worry about a LOT of people’s interpretations of Christ’s teachings. Thankfully, you’ve convinced me that you aren’t one of those people. Why not have an icon of the Constitution instead, though? That would seem a lot more relevant….
And when Democrats no longer have a foothold in this country’s lawmaking process, it’s pretty understandable that they spend all their time fighting things. But come on…. do you REALLY support Bolton’s confirmation? And to support at least one democrat: I was very pleased with the attention Diane Feinstein paid to an issue I wrote her about as a teenager. Response, follow-up’s, and everything. Classy lady, middle-of-the-road player; wish Bush had half the smarts she does.
The politicians, the courts and the citizens of this country seem to have forgotten one salient point; the Declaration of Independence elucidated a critical point that all people are created equal and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The Constitution goes on to codify many of these rights in the Bill of Rights.
I feel strongly about the separation of church and state for the very reasons that are being demonstrated today with evangelical groups pushing a religious-based political agenda. This is a slippery slope folks. Given the path we are sliding down, will we be any better off than the Islamic countries who are run by radical fundamentalists?
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness does not mean, if you are only Christian. These rights apply to all; black, white, gay, straight, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, atheist, etc. Why don’t gays have the right to marry? Why does the government insist on censoring and controlling the free flow of ideas? Why are the rights of a private land owner less important than another Walmart? There is enough hypocrisy to go around on both sides of the aisle.
I left the Republican party many years ago because of the growing radical elements who have clearly lost sight of fundamental conservative values namely; a non-intrusive government, protecting individual liberty, and fiscal responsibility. And yet, the Republicans control two branches of the government and the deficit is spiraling out of control, the government is larger than before and our liberties are eroding. And trust me, the Democrats are no better.
I believe that you have the right to do what you want as long as you are not harming anyone else. I believe that we as citizens have a responsibility to each other to take care of each other and protect each other. I believe that if the rights of one single individual have been curtailed, then the rights of society have been curtailed.
It’s a sad statement of our republic that we have lurched into such a dualistic partisan state of governance and I for one believe that the framers of the Constitution (which I believe to be one of the most amazing documents ever written) would be rather disappointed with what we’ve done with our democracy.
A free society is a strong society because it allows for discourse and growth. The flow of ideas are so critically important. Protecting the rights of minorities against the will of the majority applies too. Tyranny must be vigorously defended against. We the voters must exercise our power and remind these politicians that THEIR power comes from US.
-sean